The Daily News. THURSDAY, JUNE 8, 1905. GETTING UNDER WAY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 7843, 8 June 1905, Page 2

The Daily News. THURSDAY, JUNE 8, 1905. GETTING UNDER WAY.

The same indomitable spirit of patriotis'm Ahich has enabled the Japaneso to successfully reduce the army and navy of the arrogant Northern Colossus to absolute and irretrievable ruin, must be expected to be in evidence in their policy now that they have got under way. The period of Japan's youth as a new Power of the lii'st rank has been comparatively short, but it has been characterised by such amazing yigour and deadly earnestness that, almost before the world realised that Japan was not to be trifled with, she had emerged from the silence and obscurity of tho East as a new and mighty I'ower, equipped with all tho latest methods and munitions of war, and dominated by the lofty determination of driving the Russians out of Manchuria and Korea, doubtless with the ultimate object of consolidating the Orientals ofl -the < Far East by a. union which, under her transforming influence, would result in the fonndation of a vast empire on tho Far Eastern shores of the, Asiatic Continent. The all-absorb-ing faith of the new l*ower in lier ability to accomplish the formidable task undertaken soenied to most of the Western nations as merely the outcome of a vain ambition, which would recoive a well-merited check. They did not then realise the Intent possibilities of the Jap, but they know better now. The renaissance of Jagan has astonished the world, and those who, but a short wliile since, scoffed at the Japanese, have reluctantly been compelled to respect them as a Power to be reckoned, with in the future history of the world. It would be absurd to deny that the position of Japan to-day, After her brilliant naval and military triumphs, is the same as it was some few months back, and this will be evident when Russia brings herself to negotiate lor peace. Earlier in the 'war Japan might, and probably would have accepted far different terms than would be listened to now. In fact Japan has now got under way. She knows her strength and her opponent's weakness. She is now absolute mistress of the Japan; and China Seas ; she is supreme in Maiichuria, and possesses an army and navy that any other Power may well envy. Moreover she has shown throughout the war that <|iiiet but elective spirit of pressing forward t<> the end in .view that ituis unlikely she wiir pay any heed to protests from Russia or any other Power as to terms of pea«e. Events have justified Japan's policy, and the warning given to Xtussia, and indirectly to other Powers, that the longer the war lasted the mors exacting would be the terms of peace, was no idle pronouncement, but given with all that deliberate earnestness which is so characteristic of the Japanese nation. In all probability Port Arthur, Korea, Saghalien and Vladivostok will have to l» ceded to Japan, and lh'erts will assuredly be a demand for the payment of a substantial war indemnity. Itussia'a pledged word is at b. discount, so it is unlikely that Japan will rely on any such slender material, but will pile up her victorious armies nlong the right>of•Wiiy until ltiissia is compelled to submit, to the terms Imposed, lor she now stands just as ltiKqh alone as Germany, and equally impotent. Although it was only a& & taunt that

the Kaiser alluded to the Japanese as "the Scourge of God," he was not far short of the truth, for their mission is evidently to sweep away the ignoble and degenerate renmants of an autocracy which appears to be rapidly hastening to rts doom. AcCording to the "XHiougin," a Conservative journal which circulates uanong the educated, and aristocratic classes !of the Japanese, the. new era whi:h' ihas opened for Japan will put an • end to tlio capnices and acts of vioIlenco of Europeans and Americans in the Far East. "Henceforth," adds the writer, "we shall no longer tolerate the insults and threats of violence of the foreigners. That is what we want the world to understand." Having won her way to the right of a' seat in the Council of Nations, Japan evidently intends to be treated with the respect due to one of the great Towers, and although there may be some who would like to resent the new order of things, such a course is futile, The inexorable march of events has brought the Japanese to the front, and the future alone will disclose 1 whether the new I'owvr will be a factor for good or otherwise in the world's history.