Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1905-08-30
WEDNESDAY EVENING, AUG. 80. 1905.

WEDNESDAY EVENING. AUG. 30, 1905.
When Baron Komura, the Japanese
Foreign Minister and peace envoy, yes
terday accepted the peace terms offered
BY the Emperor of Russia he astouuded
the world. NJ. White, the Russian en-
voy, expressed unbOunded artonishment;
he did not believe there was the remot-
est chance that the Cars offer would be
accepted. The British Foreign Minis
ter. when he heard of it, likewise declar-
ed himself astonished; so was France
and so were the people of Japan. All Of
which goes to show that the inscrutable
Komura probably acted with surprising
wisdom. In speaking ofthe peace treaty
the Philadelphia Record wisely says
In the fever ofthe fray the sympathetic
world has become intoxicated with It's
pro-Japanese enthusiasm. 1t looked for
the splendid yellow fighters to press on
in their victorious progress until the
mower of Russia should become a mem
orv. Ii demanded that Russia should
CRY out for mercy and pay for peace.
But the other side of the matter Is the
one that will be historical. 1t must be
remembered that the price of victory in
a great campaign is approximately as
great as the penalty of defeat. Japan
has won. has always won, but for her
triumphs she has paid a staggering price.
Her loss in blood and treasure has been
nearly as great as Russia's and she can
not nearly so well as Russia afford It,.
To keep up but for little while longer
her stupendous undertaking would mean
more than the mere loss of money and
depreciation OF credit; it would mean
hunger for the patient millions who labor
in the rice fields for the glory of their
EMPEROR That is price that Is too
dear to pay. Furthermore, Japan has
won all and more than she proposed at
the outset to win; her greatest dream has
been more than realized. She demand
ed that Russia give up her hold on
Korea and Manchuria. That she has
forced Russia to do so, and has given
halt of the island of Sakhalin to boot.
There is her material advantage, and II
is greater one, politically and com
mercially than was secured by Bismarck
in the Franco Prussian war, despite the
immense indemnity that he wrested from
France. Two things more prove the Wis
dom of Komura. Japan has an unbroken
record of victories. Making peace, this
record is inyiolate; letting the war go on,
another battle might destroy it; indeed,
there is probably an even chance that
the tide would turn and all that has
been won would be swept away. There
is nothing to prove that Oyama is not now
exactly where Lee was before Gettysburg.
Again. the very establishment Of Ens-
land, France and Germany at the con-
clusion of peace shows that it was well
for Japan to make peace. When a
neutral is surprised by peace it means
that neutral is disappointed. The des
olation of The far East held promise for
these great cOrmOrants of Europe. The
continuation of the war, whoever the
victor, would mean the financial ruin Of
Japan and Russia. And out of this
ruin Europe would take the spoils.
Disappointing as it must be to the
pro-Japanese enthusiasts that Ko-
mura has forgone the indemnity, the
world must applaud his wisdom and bis
magnanimity. If there were any furtbel
need for the proof Of the high civillza'
ton of that nation which less than hall
century ago was reckoned as barbariC
tits in this very merciful concession.
SINCE SANARELLTS aunOgncemeDt ~