The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1908-03-12

lroad-which runs across Siberia
down through Manchuria to point
called Port Arthur, lying about where
the mouth of the Mississippi river
Iwould be. Instead of being on the
Gulf of Mexico II Is on the Gulf of
lPechii, opening into the yellow Sea
and then TO the Pacific ocean.
Or, better still, IL Russia could
have gotten foothold in Corca she
could have pushed her road clear
down to the very point of that coun-
ltry-Lsay to the end OF Florida-and
would have been much nearer the
ocean, as it were.
But Japan also had pretensions to
greatness She saw that il Russia
controlled Manchuria and Corea, that
Japan would be forever shut up in
her island. aud would be at the mer-
lcy of strong power controlling the
Territory that lay almost within sight
of her. SO Japan began scheming to
gain control of Corea and Manchuria.
Russia made treaty with China to
the effect that Russia was to be al
lowed to build a railroad through
MnnJuria to Wort Arthur. The
treaty gave Russia the right to place
soldiers along the railroad for the
purpose of guarding the road. with
1.-THE further privilege of fortifyinS
1.-THE terminus of the road-Port Arth-
ur. Under the gu'se of guarding the
railroad Russia threw hundreds of
thousands of soldiers into Manchuria,
and when Japan asked her when she
WAS going to take the soldiers away
Russia claimed that ,she could not
Iremove them cat present" but would
do so as soon as she felt the railroad
was no longer in need of protection
That is what lead up to the war be-
tween Russia and Japan when peace
Twas declared was that Japan should
exercise uzarinity--which means she
should act as a sort of guardian--Over
,Corea. Corea still has a form of
elf-government, but It is dominated
iby Japan, and an express stipulation
lis that Corea is to make no treaty
with any foreign country without the
advice and consent OF Japan. Corea
is to all intents and purposes Japan
ese territory at this time.
| Another article in the peace treaty
Irelated to Manchuria. Japan was TO
have control of the railroad which
, Russia had built through the south
ern part of Manchuria, and Russia
was to have control of the northern
part Of It. Each country was to have
the right to patrol and guard its prop
Ierty. China, being more or less
asleep for the past fsw hundred years
did not have much to do with the
treaty between Japan and Russia, but
In awakening, China finds herself
caught between the Russians on the
north and the Japanese in Manchuna
So thoroughly haye the Japanese
guarded the railroad through Man
'churia,- that she has already colonized
lthe country and crowded the natives
Iout. Nearly all Of the business +:
done by the Japs. They have their
banks and stores ard use the Japan
ese money, and have weeded out the
natives in thousand ways, even
getting possession of the most of the
valuable farming lands That is
China's chief grievance against Japan
at this time, but there are OF course
many complications.
One of them Is in regard to rebel
lion in other parts Or China. China
claims that Japan is, always stirring
up trouble among the people, and
furnishing them with guns and am.
munition and encouraging them Ia
make war ON the government. japan
denies all of this.
The rest of the world Is not going
to permit Japan to control Man.
lchuria to the disadvantage Of the
rest of the world. Russia is the
most interested, Of course, but all
other powers are likewise interested
Manchuria is very rich country
that Is, rlah in possibilities-and the
powers all want TO have what is called
'the open door" that is to say, they
want the privilege OF entering China
Through Manchuria and trading with
the teeming millions of inhabitants
lof the country. The powers are q
llittle afraid that If Japan gets toe
lfrm a hold on Manchuia, ant
Through ManChuria, China, that II
will not be much use for any Other
country TO do business in the Fal
East Springfield (OD Ncws.