The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-02-01

Er.s.'tt..ts ~ t.ss.ffl ARAN'S nerce ana I'M
swerving determine
. 80 ton to bring about the
s -. s,gss overthrow of Port Ar
thur at any cost was
..ii.sz never a mystery to
<l ~ lidill mankind in general.
1t was only military
scientists and diplomats who insisted
upon being puzzled. Diplomacy takes
no cognizance of sentiment, and ia
pans motive was clearly the feeling
that had its Judgment deep in the ma
tional heart, that healthy species of
amor patriae of which the occidental
world has hitherto appropriated the
monopoly
Now that she has accomplished her
object at a sacrifice of life and treas
ure that has appalled, the world, now
that the national sense of justice is ap-
peased, speculation concerning her dis
position of the hard won prize is agi-
tating Japan's friends and foes with al
most equal insistence- Now that the
dismantled Gibraltar Of the east is hers,
what will she do with it? Her belief
that it was not impregnable has been
verified. and her faith in her own power
to humiliate 1t has been shown to be
rational Great as her triumph un-
doubtedIy is, will she regard it as suffi-
Cient? VIII she endeavor to derive
from it some recompense more mate
rial than the joy Of victory with which
20 dull the memory of the CHASTITY price
that has been demanded and paid?
If Japan adheres to her original in
Gention, expressed openly and oft re-
pested during the course of the invest
ment, she has no desire to become a
proprietor Of any portion of the Asian
mainland. She has more than once de-
clared unreservedly that she did not be-
gin the war from the motive of terri
torial requirement Although her #per-
sistence in this attitude seems incom-
prehensible to the western mind in the
Hight of subsequent events, it would be
in line with her unbroken course of
amazing sincerity if she should abide
by her early promises. It must be re-
membered also that her voluntary re-
iinquishment of all schemes of terrific
rial expansion was accompanied by a
plainly expressed warning to all other
nations that they would be expected to
exhibit like moderation
One thing, however, is inevitable. The
Japanese Will remain in Port Arthur
until the car abandons his policy of
Muscovite extension in Asia or sue
ceeds in finding a way to dislodge them.
Since neither OF these possibilities is
imminent. the doughty island warriors
win be Port Arthur's tenants for so
long time that the national policy OF
nonextension Of territory may be mod
f6ed.
Although the restoration OF the fallen
idol viii be task which must demand
incredible patience and the expendi-
ture OF a vast amount of treasure, ii
will doubtless be an undertaking pecul-
iarly congenial to the Japanese temper
ament- It win mean a regeneration de
novo. When the victors entered the
fallen town they found literally nothing
intact Upon taking stock of their pain
fully acquired assets it is little wonder
that one OF Japan's most DISTINGUISHED
engineers clapped his hands and ejac-
ulated fervently: "Oh. that we had this
spot as II was in the beginning. fresh
from the hand Of naturei Then we
could have done something with it
Now it will be like the exhuming Of an
other Pompeii."
The 5000 ablebodied Russian soldiers
remnant of the original garrison, were
no problem to the resourceful con-
uuerors; they viii be treated with the
bread humanftarianism which before
now hma called forth the admiration 81