Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-03-14
Chains for the Sleeping Giant.

Recent announcement of an al
lance between Japan and Russia por-
tends an effort to enchain China, the
giant with 400,OOO,O0O units OF
strength, which is slumbering in the
inactivity of the middle ages. Al
ready allied with Japan, Great Brit
ain undoubtedly is in sympathy with
the alliance, if not party to it.
! If one would know about war,
| seeking the source of authoritative
knowledge, neither the warrior nor
/ the diplomat is the man to approach,
| but rather the banker, for without
| funds, whatever the disposition of
/ the diplomat or the skill Of the war
rior, there cannot be conflict.
Seeking, then. for understanding of
what the alliance between Japan and
Russia and Great Britain portends,
one turns to the bankers and is re-
warded by this statement from ia
cob H. Schiff of New York:
81 hope l may be false prophet,
but 1 am sorry to say that 1 believe
a mighty war is coming. l say this
as a friend of Japan.
II was greatly mortified few
weeks ago to learn that Japan had
joined hands with Russia. Russia
and Japan have only one purpose in
this union. They want to keep China
in a state of vassalage. And perf1di
Gus Albion. which processes to be the
enlightened friend of all mankind, is
a party to the compact.
This understanding between Rus
STA, Japan and England will consti-
tute during the next few decades the
worlds greatest menace"
Subsequently, evidently alarmed at
the import OF his words, due to the
fact that he financed Japan in its war
with Russia, Schiff explained that he
meant not war but a conflict to oc-
cur in the effort to maintain the open
door in China-a conflict of righteous
ness.
Mr.. Schiff's words have been seized
upon by the advocates of a greater
navy to support their demand for more
battleships. And they are entirely
logical in asking for fresh millions If
Washington is to continue to cross the
Pacific into another continent in search
OF place to shed American blood and
waste American dollars In interference
with the affairs of another nation. It
ought to matter nothing to US as
Americans whether China is dismem-
beTed or retains its entity. That south
ern cotton thereafter would not have
Chinese market, and that others of
our products would not find an outlet
there, is not reason why we should
burden ourselves with taxes and put
the lives of our young men as sacri-
fees on the altar Of commerce. We
have a great duty TO perform in
minding our own business, and if
Washington assisted in the settlement
of domestic troubles in better fashion,
there would be more guaranty that
when it should cross the waters it
would take common sense and bust
ness acumen along with 1t.
Secretary Knox is using the navy as
q debt-collecting agency for ]. Pierpont
Morgan, who bought lot of foreign
accounts at 10 cents on the dollar and
is ambitious to get 100 cents and COM
pound interest in settlement of them
Mr.. Knox recently insisted upon a part
of the Chinese loan for the construc-
ton of railways for Mr.. Morgan. and
there is the assurance that his course
in China Is influenced by a desire to
the celestials and dispose
them kindly toward US so that Mr. /
Morgan may exploit their resources, !
and take tribute from them.
Rather that China should be exploit |
ed by Russians, Japanese and English |
men than by Americans, because of /
the toll OF expense involved, and be- |
cause one of these days when the AGO. |
100000 sleepers awake to sense of /
their power, It will be better to have |
their friendship than their Ill Will, for
the Cinnamon viii know, as do all who /
the undercurrents of Amer
Ican diplomacy, that our kindly pro-
LESSONS of interest in China merely |
mask an avaricious desire to pluck her
fine feathers.