The commoner. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-1923, February 19, 1904, Page 6, Image 6

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and signed the treaty of Skimonoseki in a sullen
and discontented mood. Russia at once demanded
a quid pro quo for the material aid it had given
China. Tho dowager empress and her advisers
woro speedily compliant, and a lease of a strip
of territory across Manchuria, which included
Port Arthur and Talienwan, was made to the St.
Petersburg government. This lease has still about
eighteen years to run, and is renewable, and of
course has always been resented by Japan. This
has been followed by continued Russian aggres
sion and by intrigue at the Korean capital. There
was another uprising at Seoul five years ago, when
tho Icing fled for protection to the Russian em
bassy. He declared that he feared violence at
tho hands of tho Japanese, but this charge the
mikado's government declared to bo unfounded.
However, the king remained1 under Russian pro
tection more than a year."
IT tf
AFTER EXTENSIVE NEGOTIATIONS A
treaty was signed January 30, 1902. The
Record-Herald writer says that this treaty caused
astonishment throughout tho civilized world;
that its opening sentence gives the import of tho
notable- compact, and discloses thai, it was espe
cially aimed at Russia, and reads as follows: "The
governments of Great Britain and Japan, actuated
solely by a desire to maintain tho status quo and
general peaco in tho extreme east, being more
over specially interested in maintaining the inde
pendence and territorial integrity of the empire of
China and tho empire of Korea, and in securing
equal opportunities in these countries for the
commerce and Industry of all nations, hereby agree
as follows:" Then, declaring their rights as to
China and Korea, and asserting It to be admissible
for either of them "to take such measures as may
be indispensable in order to safeguard those in
terests, if threatened either by the aggressive ac
tion of any other power or by disturbances aris
Mng in China or Korea," tho compact continues:
"If either Great Britain or Japan, in defense of
their respective interests as above described,
should become involved in war with another pow
er, the other high contracting party will maintain
a strict neutrality and use its efforts to prevent
other powers from joining in hostilities against its
ally," This is followed by tho significant declar
ation: "If in tho above event any other power
or powers should join in hostilities against that
ally, tho other high contracting party will come
to its assistance and will conduct tho war in
common, and make peace in mutual agreement
with it. Tho high contracting partios agreo that
noither of them will, without consulting the other,
ontor into separate arrangements with another
power to the prejudlco of tho interest above described."
The Commoner
TT IS FURTHER POINTED OUT BY THIS
1 same authority that Russia considered at
this time that some show of respect for the rights
of China would raise her in the esteem of the na
tions, and she made a pretense of being ready to
evacuate Manchuria. A convention was signed
at Peking April 8, 1902, by which it was agreed
that Manchuria was an integral part of China and
subject to the administrative powers of Peking.
The period of evacuation was reduced from three
years to eighteen months. Russia agreed to with
draw from the Great Wall to the Lias river with
in tho first six months of the signing of the treaty;
from the oast of the Lias river, including the re
mainder of Mukden and Kirin, within the second
six months, and from the Heh-lung-Kiang pro
vince within the third six months. Russia fur
ther agreed to evacuate New Chwang as soon as
the Tien-Tsin provisional government should be
abolished, or in any case within the second six
months. Parts of these agreements were carried
out, but the Chinese officials complained that in
departing Russian troops had carried everything
portable from the railway lines, and further that
soldiers had only moved to the concessions along
the roads. In fact, Russia seemed to be immov
ably installed in Manchuria and continued its ag
gressions in Korea. The mikado determined upon
strong measures, and August 12 last sent a formal
protest to St. Petersburg, with a demand that
Russia sign a treaty stipulating the independence
of Korea. The answer from St. Petersburg was
long delayed, but finally it came and was couched
in conciliatory terms.
THE ANSWER REFERRED TO CONTAINED
a significant counter proposal. This was to
the effect that the czar would agree to the inde
pendence of Korea if Japan should grant a free
rein to Russia in Manchuria This was further
taken to mean that Russia asked a free hand with
regard to all China. Japan at once declined the
proposal. She knew she was bound by the treaty
with England to preserve the independence of
China, and even had she not been enmeshed by
treaty ties she could not agree to the Russian pro
posals. She insisted upon a settlement of the
Korean question without any reference to condi
tions in China or Manchuria, but Russia insisted
to tho last that she should at the least enjoy as
much influence in the hermit kingdom as did the
Japanese. Japan declared that Korea was vitally
necessary to her, as a demand for the evacuation
of Manchuria was asserted a measure of protec
tion of her Korean rights. The czar could not
see the force of this argument, and the tension
increased until Russian troops were landed at
Chemulpo January 6 and sent to Seoul. The 'an
swer of Japan was to draw the sword that so
':'
VOLUME 4, NUMBER 5.
long had been clinking eagerly in itd scabbard
and the war was on. ; , '
WASHINGTON DISPATCHES ANNOUNCE
that reports received from Santo Domin-o
show that "tho condition of affairs there is semi
barbaric." It is also announced that drastic meas
ures will be taken by this government to end the
anarchy; that continued violation of international
law, destruction of American property and dis
regard for foreign interests has convinced Ameri
can officials that affairs in San Domingo can bo
best improved by force. Authority has been
given to the navy to deal with, the situation, and
Rear Admiral Wise has been given "wide latitude
in the course he is to follow." Washington dis
patches say: "Rear Admiral Wise has been told,
in a word, to protect by force American interests
and to deal with 'each case on its own merits."
vr tr
AMONG THE .MANY INTERESTING 1NCI
dents relating to the Baltimore fire is the
story that comes from the Baltimore correspon
dent for the Chicago Tribune. According to this
story, Chief Justice Harlan of the superior court
bench distinguished himself as one of the heroes
of the fire. With James P. Bannon and James P.
Kines, and others, Judge Harlan for many hours
fought to save the collection of books and paint
ings, valued at more than $100,000, which was
housed in the library on the upper floor of the
northwest corner of the court house. Facing the
fire, which threatened them for hours, Judge Har
lan and the others operated a line of nose liko
firemen. Tonight they are being congratulated
upon having saved something Of which Baltimore
has been justly proud.
A PROPOSITION WAS .RECENTLY MADE
by United States Consul General Gowdy to
the American chamber of commerce in Paris, that
a suitable building be erected in that city lor a
permanent commercial museum, where all kinds
of American goods and products could be kept on
exhibition. It is proposed that such a museum
should be managed and controlled by the chamber,
and that it would do more to extend tne trade
of the United States with France and other Eu
ropean countries than millions expended in other
ways of advertising would do. According to the
Paris correspondent for the Washington Post,
Consul General Gowdy reports that the year 1002
was the greatest in the history of exports to tho
United States from Paris. Last year, he said,
shows a decrease of $1,046,600, but when com
pared with 1895, the corresponding year before
the presidential campaign, and under the former
cwu. mw, it buows a net increase of $8,372,512.
TOLSTOY, THE APOSTLE OF LOVE y
(Continued from Pn.cn a.l , v M-
(Continued from Pago 3.)
tho religious spirit he defines as 'such a belief
in God and such a feeling of responsibility to God
as will manifost itsolf both in tho worship of tho
Creator and in fellowship with tho created."
During the course of his conversation ho
touched on some of tho problems with which the
various nations havo to deal. Of course he is
opposed to war under all circumstances, and re
gards tho professional soldier as laboring under a
delusion. He says that soldiers, instead of fol
lowing their consciences, accept the doctrine that
a soldier must do what ho is commanded to do
placing upon his superior officer the responsibility
for tho command. Ho denies that any individual
can thus shift the responsibility for ins conduct
In speaking of soldiers, he expressed an opinion
that indicates his "hostility to tho whole military
system. He said that soldiers insisted upon being
t5id,by.Si1,t?ry men and mI1"ary courts, and
added: "That is amusing. I remember that
when that ploa was iuado in a case recently I re
torted that if that was so, why was not a mur
doror justified in demanding a trial at tho hands
of murderers, or a burglar in demanding trial bv a
jury of burglars. That would be on all fours with
the LOthor proposition."
P1? n.0t,a bollovr in protection, and regaids
a tariff levied upon all of tho people for the ben
efit of some of tho people as an abuse of gov
ernment and immoral in .principle. I found that
ho was an admirer of Henry Georgo and a be
liever in his theory in regard to the land tax
Ho is opposed to trusts. Ho says that the
trust is a now kind of despotism and that it is a
menace to modern society. He regards tho power
that it gives men to oppress their fellows as even
profits.. P r t0 reap S1eat
He referred to some of our very rich men
Zi aTaif at the Psession of geat wealtS
was objectionable, both bscause of its influence
ovei its possessor and because of the power it
gave him over his fellows. I asked him what use
Si!??11.? .malce of a sreat fortune and he re
Plied: "Let him give it away to the first person ho
Zfl T?at. rould bG be"er than keeping it "
And then he told how a lady of fortune once asked
his advice as to what she could do with w
money (she derived her Income fr0m a lar'e
manufacturing establishment) and he replied tnS
miSte,Tted t0 d0 soofl with her money she
might heln her wnrir-noni -. A ""y tne
trv. and nSuiRf , ?-.. tw 4"n 10 me coun-
furms wn T , uuying ana stocking their
woric for me,
. , " any ijuuiJit) to
ana my income wnniri rn0,.
xnentalaosmvLVsrupoSnTeSnS ? eUVirn
ably been colored iSneStft n Prb"
with the Greek chuJch He has in lT0
stances, used arguments aeainqf T n S,0me ln"
which are broad enoi eh to nnni fGre?k church
organizations. haf not alfay's dtaSmta1
between, the proper use of an oXan JS ?
tho abuse olthe power whlnhn i zatIon' and
possesses. While aXnTp, a lai? orSanization
organization can lend i,an m w,hIch a church
the work lnThich aJtatevPP"lyd,PecWln
find his strongest alliei !SiB enBaS. he will
to whom the SlSStX
os'onhvhfn W" iS n0t mereIy sond Phil
osophy, by a divine command. These will work
s?ands wXCntand. hT??h tbe urch, whillhe
anTcalHni 'TSl?S llIs voice to the'same God
angling men to the same kind of life.
of i5 !L?PerIonce with the arbitrary methods
tta"h2van,Jernmeft has led him t0 say things
all government Tt a3 a codemnatIon of
and taiMOiS has seen so much of violence
m?nt ihnMf i . In the name of the govern
ment, that it iB not strange that the evils of cov-
SffmX? fm lmpress him noS tSS lta pol
a i,,1',?01 And yet lhos who belfove
with him VS-? i3 a blessinS' work
mewure?iiih?Qi0ff?rtit0Jecure suct remedial
aTHSrtVtonSf' ln WS lettGr "To lhe Czar
swaoftnn61' shows how potic Js the
world ol whik IK?,!' after . rules the,
been admired t?mnnliterary achievements have
erted Is as nothini flUence WhIch they have ex
exerted hv S? J?, comPared with tho influence
ing his charSSnrPhB llTy' PePle eniv ead
delcriptions o? LEl 7!?' hia "alogues and his
hold upon men hh? ? 1!,fe' PUt theso do not tako
doctrine oMnL his simple presentation of the
a expSeayL11 in his 1Ife' " clear
terances we denied7, hi, PGh" Many of his ut
when printed nhSS i publIcat0n in Russia, and
border an i Lf i a? cannot he carried across the
STon uPoyn lt e 1 fU.Ch a po'ful lm'
from molestation ?hat he is himself safe
against his LnSnf Can, say with impunity
church, what Z5Tn " a,?d agaInst thQ Greelc
and his verv i? ?orllous for othe o say,
Russia taught SsniLi8 iPr?f positivc at in
has declared it d by love ls, as Carlyle
artillery pa?ks be evoryhere, stronger than
y pn 8, W. J. BRYAN.
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