The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-06-03
THE LESSONS OF THE WAR.

How are the mighty fallen!-II Samuel,
For my thoughts are not your thoughts.
/ neither are your ways my ways, saith the
Lord.-Isaiah 55:8.
Two years ago the whole world and
everybody else was prophesying that
Russia would almost annihilate Japan
as nation JaDan's most sanguine
friends said that while the little men
of the Orient might be successful at
the end through mere brute strength.
japanese sympathizers regretted that
Japan began the war It was feared
that Russia would not only strengthen
its hold in Manchuria. but that it
would encroach still further on China
and close the Asiatic door to foreign
trade. No one could see anv other
outcome of the struggle than that
Russia must eventually subdue the
Japanese and greatly strengthen its
prestige.
How are the mighty falleni jap
anese arms have been triumphant I'M
til it seems almost impossible for Rus
STA to continue the struggle. Only
eighteen months ago Russia was fear
ed as one of the most powerful Of
earth's nations. Now she is reduced
to a second-rate power, and even the
throne of the Romanof scems to be
tottering.
The nation that has accomplished
all this was a puny people a few years
ago. living in ages long past. They
were pagans with no idea of modern
advancement. Today they are among
the most enlightened of earth's ma
tons.
What is the meaning of it all?
Only the historian of the future can
tell definitely. It is a great surprise
to the whole world. For your ways
are not my ways, saith the Lord
The God of Nations is directing af-
fairs today just as He has in the past,
and it may be that the destruction OF
the most bideous monarchy of mod
ern times is to be brought about in
this manner. It may be that the Jap
anese will play a tremendous part in
the future history of the world-that
they have been lying dormant for
ages in preparation for this work.
That is something which only future
events viii reveal.
Certain it is that the japanese have
made tremendous advancement in the
last decade or two. A half century
ago it was almost impossible for a
foreigner to get into the Flowery
Kingdom. Men are still active there
who were at the front when Japan
was a barbarous nation. But in re-
cent years the Japanese have opened
their arms to enlightenment and civil
ization. They are rapidly embracing
Christianity. The Y NJ. G. A has
organizations throughout the japanese
army, and Admiral Togo is said to be
a devout Presbyterian.
OF the two contending nations,
Japan is probably far more Christian
than Russia, for Christianity means
the spirit of Christ Russia is bound
down by tyranny. Vice and dissipa-
ton is said to be rampant in its
armies. The japanese are the oppo-
site-and therein lies a great lesson.
Vice saps the power and undermines
the strength of any nation.
The world theoretically decries war.
It is truly a terrible thing. Yet ad-
vancement is made only through
strife, and usually the harder the con-
hict the greater the advance. When
| one considers the lives of nations and
the advancement of the world during
ages and cons. the lives and suffer
! ings of a few thousand men are not
of such great moment after all. They
are simply playing their part in the
worlds history.