The semi-weekly messenger., 1905-09-01


practical diplomacy in handling this
delicate question" has accomplished
nothing except TO aid the negotiating
parties in carrying on their game OF
bluff, and their seeming Difference 10
him and pretense to giving heed TO his
suggestions have been nothing less
than a great insult to him and to the
American people.
The positions taken by Wall street
and Clews & CO. in the two paragraphs
which we quote below, are entirely i'll
consistent with each other.
No matter what the outcome of this
peace conference, the American peopie
will always believe that the president
welded great influence in bringing
about settlement of the terms of
peace, if such be the result of the
conference, or that he prevented an
earlier rupture between the ENJOYS. if
such occurs. They will never believe
that, through his eagerness to see peace
established, he had allowed himself to
be made tool of Or put in such ridic-
ulous attitude as the Wall street idea
necessity implies.
The Clews letter says:
While ;he market has maintained its
confident undertone. it has experience
ed periods Of irregularity. rejecting
the progress of events at Portsmouth.
nf re &c Intv
SO skillfully fought out. Wall street
is keen Judge in matters of this
kind; it thoroughly understands the
game of cxpediency. shreTGness and
bluff. and it takes little account of the
earnest, high class literature that
daily is being furnished the press of
the world by the representatives of
both Russia and Japan. Wall street
bases its optimism in this matter upon
the potent argument that both coun-
tries desire peace; that Japan has Sc
cured the objects for which the war
was undertakcn: that the mikado's
government has all the glory and pres
tige 1T can attain in the present con-
test; and that further bloodshed will
mean unnecessary sacrifice of human
life. against which mere dollars and
cents cannot weigh. Wall street recoS-
EiZeS that Russia. while beaten is by
ItO lllSdIl5 d IlldI the
war has not reached Russian terri
tory; and that the conditions are not
yet present. nor are they in prospect.
when Japan can force an indemnity
payment proIortionately as drastic as
that col!et ted by the victor IN the
FraDco-German War. Wall street is
quick to discount future happenings.
and in analyzing the situation in
it regards deeds and not
words the supreme test: ard finding
the enVoys speaking one way and act
ing anOther-expressing high ind1g-
nation at intimations of concessions
at the moment of making ;hen-it
sees the handwriting OH the wall. And
Wall street has common sense and is
usually right. Events are making for
Ieace: the game of bluff may be car
ried almost to the breaking point
so far as the present meeting of the
envoys is cOncerned--may indeed
reach the breaking point 20 all outside
But thanks to our own president
who has shown such practical dinlo-
macy in handling this very delicate
question. the Sced d has already been
scwn. and proper pressure uuon both
by their friends and allies
may be depended upon to produce the
desired elimination. 1t is row merely
I question of dollars and cents and the |
discovery of a method Of payment by |
which the car may feel he is Ereserv-
ing his national dignity and honor.
Modern diplomacy is quite equal to |
the simrle task Of providing such a
satisfactory method.
The above editorial was put in type
before the news of peace terms mad
been received from Portsmouth |
we do not think our com |
ment on the position of Clews & Co. out
of place because Of the later news.