Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1905-09-01
The Terms of Peace.

Japan and Russia have agreed to
terms Of peace and although the world
Is naturally a little Jared at such a
sudden coming of the unexpected, there
is cause for general congratulation.
The newspapers. which have been
fighting this war in their editorial COL
umns almost as aggressively as have
the opposing forces on land and water,
seem to be thoroughly dissatisfied with
the result.
Most of the newspapers that come
to US have been so strongly japanese In
their sympathies as to lead us to as
sumo almost that they believed Russia
was to be entirely wiped from the map,
and that they would be satisfied with
nothing less. But somehow or other,
we have never been able to escape a
suspicion that many Of our editorial
friends have been allowing their senti-
mental enthusiasm to run away with
their better judgment and knowledge
Of stubborn facts.
1t Is quite true that Russia has got
ten much better terms than she ex-
pected, and 1t is probable that the
world at large Is even a little more sur
prised than Is Russia; but at the same
time It Is safe to say that Russia Is no
more jubilant over this matter than Is
Japan Russia's surprise arises not at
having secured terms so much more
favorable than she had expected Japan
20 grant: but at the fact that Japan
had the wisdom and moderation to
grant these terms.
At the beginning Of the late war
the Confederates met with success
after success. Man for man they
were twice too many for the Fed
erals. That was because Of various
considerations. In the first place we
were more earnest in our cause and
in the second place we were more mil
itary in our characteristics. But when
the Federals began to appreciate the
situation and get down to earnest busi-
ness they made the final result fore
gone conclusion. They knew they had
the means in men and money with
which to overpower us and that they
finally did.
We do not care to detract one iota
from the magnanimity of the Japanese.
They were magnanimous enough
maybe and their magnanimity may
have had something to do with the
outcome Of the peace conference. The
splendid manner in which they pushed
their campaigns, however, shows, that
they are not lacking in good hard sense,
and in our Judgment they used as good
sense at Portsmouth as they did at
Lao Yang, Port Arthur and Mukden.
OF course, 1t is easy enough to spec
therefore such speculation is never es-
pecially impressive, but we are not able
TO account for the action Of Japan on
the theory of her desire either to please
the nations or to give the world a most
remarkable exhibition of magnanimity.
We believe she thoroughly understood
the seriousness Of the proposition with
which she was confronted, and we be-
lieve also that she has reason to con-
gratulate herself on having gotten out
Of her predicament with such splendid
success.
Many Of our editorial friends are
claiming a diplomatic victory for Rus
sia. They may be right; but we do
not see IL that way. We are inclined
to the opinion that Russia never had
the slightest idea of making peace at
Portsmouth. and we believe further
that she would have never put her
self in a position that would have made
peace possible had she entertained the
slightest idea that Japan would have
probably come to her terms. AS we see
II, II was Japan that won the diploma
tic victory, and we have an idea that
even now she is more pleased over the
situation than Is Russia.