Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1909-02-12
THE OUTLOOK
In THE EAST.
Some Facts That May Interest
Scholars.

In 1879 Russia warred against Turkey
and laid her paw on the Dardanelles, the
key to the Mediterranean. The Euro
pean powers then, fearing the domina-
tion of so great power at such point,
laid hands on the Bear and robbed it of
the fruits of victory. Since then the
same action practically was taken
with regard to Japan towards China.
Austria, on the other side. would have
been large gamer by this conquest
of the Dardanelles for the small states
lying between Russia and the Turkish
Empire could easily have been alb
sorbed. Some day Russia will possess
Constantinople. This is necessary if
that Empire is ever to become a world
wide power. 1t is possible that some
day this will be made religious war,
for Constantinople was once the seat
of the Greek church, and this is the
State religion of Russia, and it is not
impossible thatout of this old feeling of
veneration for the original seat of the
hierarchy might readily come war for
POoSCoSiOl VI lHdl AlCkCnI OCdl Vi
ious domination. That Russia has never
taken her eyes off that conquest is GER.
tain, and for religious as well as for
commercial reasons she has never re-
iinquished her hope of ultimately pos
sessing the Dardanelles. Then, too,
Russia must, if that country develops
at all, have an outlet to the sea. At
present she has none save the harbor of
st. Petersburg, an ice-closcd port for
much of the year. The nece ssity for
such an outlet was the real cause of the
establishment of port at Port Arthur,
from which was she driven by Japan.
To gain an outlet to the Mediterranean
would be worth so much to her that she
would make great sacrifices to possess
access to that sea, and the time will
surely come-it may be soon, or late
when, driven by sheer necessity she
will again struggle for an outlet for her
commerce. Civilization in Russia de-
velops slowly, but it is developing, and
her people are not slow, when they have
opportunity, to take on Western habits
of thought tits stated that the Russian
Jews of New York city are aggressive,
keen and shrewd, and are really push
ing the German Jews out of their posi-
ton in that city. The Russian is patient,
steady Ding and adaptable to circum-
stances. Of late he is looking for an out
let through Persia 10 the Persian Gulf.
But that is roundabout way, and with
new and aggressive government-and
we see how rapidly the Eastern mind
can develop, as illustrated in Japan
the world may, at period not greatly
distant, witness struggle for the key
to the Atlantic at Constantinople, a
struggle that may be backed by Austria
The unrest in the one European Power
that has steadily stood in Russia's road
to the South Atlantic -India-may at al
most any moment tie the hands of Eng
land, and with that nation handicapped
by war with her Eastern dominions,
Russia may yet realize what she has
for centuries coveted, the key to the
"Great Sea-" She has fought for il
more than once, and may be ready
sooner than appearances indicate. AL
nations that aim at progress must seek
the sea, and Russia will yet gain free
access to that highway of commerce
and indeed is compelled of necessity t.
find a road if she is to develop CONNER
cially.