The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-08-25
mot A COPECK."

ference journey has been reached anC
| there two hand posts point to diverg-
ing roads. Japan owns one, and upor
this is inscribed Indemnity" while
upon the Russians is Not a Copeck.
Which road shall be travelled?
To follow that of either means
peace in the East, but as the japanese
view it, not lasting peace, for each
article of the proposed peace treaty
upon which they stand has been made
looking to the integrity of Japan, to
the protection of it's interests, and to
the placing of Russia in such a posi-
ton in the East from which it will
alton to recover. The Jap is not a
sentimentalist, however dreamy his
eyes, but he is all business.
The Russian refusal to pay indem-
nifty, by whatever name it may be
known, is not hard to understand.
That is matter which its people can
clearly understand, for a cash outlay
is always fact. Limitations here and
there, things allowed in Manchuria,
cesSion of railroads in which are pri-
vate corporate interests, are all capa-
BILE of being juggled with when expla-
nations are given, but a cash outlay,
requiring heavy tax to meet, can not
be hid under glittering generalities no
matter how automatically these
phrases be turned. The rich men of
Russia who must pay part of such a
tax to meet the Japanese bill are al
ready in arms against it's payment, and
the poor--the peasants of the soil-are
restless and stirred by agitators. These
latter do not matter much however,
for the Imperial master at Peterhoh
is accustomed to reckon with such.
and open demonstrations would soon
be crushed by his brutal CoSSackS and
the powers of his military bludgeon,
but the upper class" is not so easy
20 deal with in its plots about the
very person of the Gar.
Japan looks at the question from All
entirely different point of view. and
the inscription of Indemnity" upon
as to say that Russia shall buy half
of Sakhalin when ceded to Japan, is a
seemingly determined part of these
terms of peace proposed by Japan.
They feel that they have been the
conquerors-they are the conquerors
and as such that they have a right
to dictate terms. IF you want peace,
and desire to end this war you must
pay the price" is the issue presented
to the Russians. This is not based
upon the idea of humiliating Russia,
but it is that Japan may recoup itself
for its expenses in the war, and pay
back to it's creditors the vast sums
borrowed for its conduct. With this
of course goes the idea that Russia,
being burdened with a heavy debt,
will not attempt for years to come
to move out upon a war in the East,
and that with it's great foe PROSTATE
and inactive Japan will be free to go
forward on it's commercial and indus
trial career, that it's sinews may be
strengthened, and that should it have
IL
ditioned that it can defend itself
against it's adversary and retain the
splendid position which has come to
it because of the valor and prowess
of it's devoted sons.
With Russia unyieldihg and the
adhering to their demands
peace is not probable, and from the
Japanese position is not desirable. Its
armies are ready for another contest
in the field, and so confident are its
leaders of their ability to win that they
are ready to put to the touch another
contest of arms. They feel that:
He either fears his fate too much.
Or his deserts are small,
That dares not put it to the touch,
And win or lose it ALL
Not a Copeck" may prove the
greatest calamity to Russia, for with
their refusal to pay indemnity to
Japan in some way or other the war
must go on. Ships disarmed and ly-
ing in neutral harbors, navies at the
DOIIOIn Oh ITe Sed OF their ullltS HOW
af1oat under the Japanese flag, their
boosted "impregnable position" at
Port Arthur shattered and now
Japanese garrison, their armies de-
feated wherever a stand has been
made would seem lesson, but none
are so foolish as those who will not
learn, and Russia is apparently dense
in its ignorance of its real condi-
ton.
The next peace conference will be
in Toxic is the expression of the
Japanese press and people when the
failure of the conference now on at
the Portsmouth Navy Yard is consid-
cred, and if that should be the thing
the future has in store for the Rus
slams it would be far better for them
to pay the present demands than to
wait for these to have a great per cent
of accrued interest added. ION with
the war" may sound glorious but it
is not the path that reason should