New-York tribune., 1905-08-31
AFTER THE SHOUTING.

The making of peace is greeted with world
wide tumult of grateful acclamation; save, per-
haps, for a certain limited lamentation among
some Japanese. 1t is fitting that it should be
so. If ever the world had occasion for rejoic-
ing it has now. Yet we must remember, as we
shall quickly realize, that the tumult and the
shouting dies" This joyous enthusiasm will
subside. and in some quarters be followed prob
ably by a reaction, while in all quarters it will
give place TO calm consideration of the net re-
suits Of the war and of the peacemaking. With
out assuming extraordinary gifts of prescience,
1t is not difficult even now to forecast In some
degree that judgment of the future. There need
be no hesitation in expecting the universal credit
which the President has won to remain un-
diminished and unimpaired No chief of state
has more nobly done nobler work than he and
the unparalleled outburst of tributes to him,
from rulers and peoples, is a vocal prelude to
the measured and enduring judgment of his
tory. Whatever may result from the peace
making the peacemaker will be held in honor.
Russian exultation is natural. Yet we think
it will be abated in favor of the opinion already
expressed by one of the foremost and most
thoughtful publicists of Russia and one of the
chief champions of Russa's forward policy,
Prince Oukhtomsky, that it is "a great diplO-
matte victory for Mr.. Witte but great moral
victory for Japan" For diplomatic we might
perhaps read pecuniary. Mr.. Whites own tri-
umphant exclamation, Pas un sou!" expressed
the case exactly. Russia has avoided a great
financial loss, and has also regained a portion
Of her lost territory. That is all. Her victory
has TO do exclusively with material things and
with matters resulting from the war. So far
as the issues are concerned which preceded the
war and upon which the war was fought the
moral and legal issues, her defeat is entire and
absolute The true ground for her satisfaction
is that she has escaped with so slight penalty
for her own confessed wrongdoing, and is left
in so advantageous position for pursuing
hereafter a better way. The matured thought
Of Russia will be not that she has gained much
but that she has escaped much; for enabling
her 10 do which she has, as Prince Oukhtomsky
says, cause 10 bless the name of Theodore
Roosevelt We may also assume that Mr.
Whites position and influence in Russia will be
enormously strengthened, and that he will he a
leading and directing figure in the great consti
tutional changes which are impending Con.
corning that it is sufficient TO saw that notbinp
could be more auspiclous omen for the welfare
of Russia.
The japanese are characteristicaIly quiet We
do not hear as much from them as from other
lands. 1t is reasonable TO suppose however
that the disappointment and dissatisfaction
which some are said to have expressed will
quickly give place 10 other sentiments and oil
japanese will perceive, what the rest Of the
world sees plainly enough, that they have baen
the chief winners in peacemaking as they were
| In the war. The honor and esteem thev have
won through their unparalleled maenan,mI,r
humanity and sef-denial are precious nosses'
sion. But apart from that, they have pained
everything for which they fought the war and
more. They have won securely everything for
which they formerly contended and oraot
! deal more IN both moral and material tbing.