The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1905-01-06
FRIDAY
THE WAR SITUATION.

THE WAR SITUATION.
In its issue of January 8, 1904 the Al
vertiser editorially said: If war should
ensue it is by no means plain that'
With the internal conditions prevail
.nv I'm Russia. which would labor under
the disadvantage of operating at a long
distance from her base the
Muscovite advance in Asia may no'
be summarily checked without the III
terposition of other powers, and On
February 20, 1904, in another edltorlai'
added: There is a fair prospect that
Japan alone may tear the paws OF the
Russian bear from its hold on CHINA.
Again. on May 10, 1904, 1t said; This
In an age of enlightenment ana ad-
vancement. in which medievalism has
become subordinate and, except In the
case of Russia, almost extinct Inc
record of events in the Oriental war
thus far corresponds to the essential
differences and contrasts between the
combatants.'
There is no claim to special origin
ality in these views. In the face or
manufactured attempts to create sym
pathy for Russia, which Is the only
mower that has sought to monopolize
Asia and to close its doors to trade
and commerce, they simply epitomize
the best thought of the most compe-
tent exponents of modern civilization,
and, SO far, they have been amply con-
firmed The combination and steady
pressure and success by the navy ana
army Of Japan rank at least equal
to any phase of modern history. In
eleven months the intervening seas be-
tween Manchuria and Japan have been
cleared and the communication of that
empire between its base and the seat
OF war kept open; Vladivostok mas
been isolated; the Liaotong peninsula
swept clean; the enemy driven BACK
and firmly held at Mukden, and Port
Arthur, one of the most strongly forti-
fed places in the world, invested and
captured In all these great move
ments the most thorough preparation,
the most accurate knowledge of locali-
ties. the most complete strategical and
tactical skill. moderate and wise
craftsmanship and extreme patience
discipline and courage have been uni
formly displayed. The amenities OF
war have been Systematically OBJ
served. unusual conservatism has
marked official statements, and natur'
al exultation has been qualified by
chivalric recognition of the stolid brav'
cry of the Russian army and navy, ant
the ability and persistence of sucf
generals as Kuropatkin and Stoessel
Japan has practically occupied Korea
and is in a fair way to the fulfllmen'
of its pledge to restore Manchuria &c
China and to open the Asiatc door
Its success has been due to intelli'
Eence, education and system. 1t has
also administered the most effective
rebuke to Russia for its part in neu'
tralizing the natural results of th'
short war with China,
The attempt to connect the Japan
csc empire, which has now fairly en-
tered into the family of nations, will
n policy of Asiatic concentration ant
the exclusion of the great powers iron
the inviting field for commercial ex
pansion in the vast Eastern cont
nent. is plainly ridiculous. Japan
whole course in its intercourse wit
eoreign Governments its reiterated AM
unbroken declarations, the specifi
treaties into which II has entered, an
the advanced quality and character o
its progress during the last half cen
fury, are fatty contradictory of sue
a proposition, which is not only pur
invention, but could not be carried Out
The relations between Japan and tn
United States and Great Britain alon
refute this forced and illogical as
sumption. II the declaration attribute
to the japanese ambassador at Lon
don to the effect that Port Arthu
would be held, should prove to be true
then Japan will only occupy the pos
ton that Great Britain, France an
Germany have long held in Asia, an
instead of being menace, the occups
ton of Port Arthur would be PR
lection to their interests. Japane
civilization, impressed, it is true wit
the religious and moral features tn
have descended from the past, in
intellectual and material elements,
distinctly assimilated to American a
European civilization, and no one OF
predominant characteristics in int
nal growth or in political or diploma
action, is Asiatic.
Japan has assumed the task of dr.
Ing medievalism, with all it's concor
tant obstacles 10 the spread of me
-rn ideas otrcof Asia, and thus
It has succeeded. 1t occupies the at
tude OF the advanced guard of Asia
development. 1t will require somethi
tense to convince mankind that !
derneath its open policy and its c.
sistent efforts 1t has a design to
'-srse or even to modify the antici
lions that the controlling powers h
been led to entertain.