The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-09-02
IT rs WE'LL


 whether either side gained or lost by the peace terms. There may likewise be differences Of opinion as to the part the President had in the settlement. but there can be no room for doubting the impertance of peace to the business and financial world and to our common humanity.
 A casual observer might think that . war between two nations so far re- moved from us need not concern the people of this country. but that would be a mistaken view. Trade and com merce are exceedingly sensitive Tn this age of worldwide communication between all nations and countries the interruption of friendly relations be- tween any two of them is felt by all the world All eountries trade with all other countries and all are interested in keeping up trade relations with all others.
 The people of the United States have an especial and vital interest in the ending of the war. Japan Is an ex- banding, advancing and swiftly rising N0W%f. {fcE EkSS EdS INV p~NA wonderful than has her quickness ana aptitude in war and peace. No nation fin all history has shown keener pow CTS of observation or a greater ana quicker faculty for learning from oth- CTS and for taking immediate advant- age of whatever is best in the inven- tlons and discoveries of others. Her -l.. .Ama Q ExA lf-G fciency have fallen from her like wornout garment and she stands ready, like the thirsty earth, to absorb ana retain whatever is best for her and her people. Intellectually Japan may De called The Hungry Nation. and her nun ger abides and is not satisfied. To America Japan has long looked with eager eyes of friendiiness' nope and expectation. When Commodore Perry, halt century ago, applied the key to the door of Japanese exclusive ness he opened it for all time, and Ja- pan Is grateful and appreeiative' Lke an ant scholar she has been learning from us and nothing that is best TOT her people in war or peace is long Kept from her. She reaches across oceans and grasps the fruits of American in- vantion and applies those fruits to her own use.
 For American goods and American ideas Japan has especial TX ing. We have not at hand the figures to show the extent and variety of our trade with that coun- try, but it is great and growing, and almost universal. The interruption or suppression of that trade is blow 10 many of our industries, and the renewal of unrestricted communications means an immense increase in American ex- ports To some extent that is also true of Russia, but it is Japan and Japanese territory that will add so much to our trade. Peace means an open door to commerce.
 But to all lovers of their kind, to all friends of our common humanity, the end of war brings something far above and beyond return of trade or other mere financial considerations. We may not go to the extent that Franklin did and declare that there never was good war or . bad peace," but we may all deplore the manifold horrors and miseries that attend all conflicts be- tween nations. All wars are horrible, but this one has been extremely so and when the tally of dead and disabled is finally made up it will be found that the victims are almost without par- allel in recent years. Whether Russ or Jap they were members of the great common humanity of mankind and they have gone to their graves because two nations could not agree It matters not which was in the wrong, or whether both were wrong. death claimed her hundreds of thousands of human beings 1 who had no enmity towards each other ana who knew no cause for killing each other except that they were so or- dered by their rulers. ~: ..
 And so, from all points of view, we may rejoice at the coming of peace Some may hold that Japan won and others may congratulate Russia. Some may give Roosevelt more or less credit than he deserves, but all of us may breathe a sigh of relief that blood has ceased to How and thousands of men on each side may discard their arms and military accoutrements and return home to their families and to the cul- tivation of the arts of peace. There Is l