The Otautau Standard AND WALLACE COUNTY CHRONICLE. Tuesday, September 5th, 1905. PEACE.

Otautau Standard and Wallace County Chronicle, Volume I, Issue 19, 5 September 1905, Page 2

The Otautau Standard AND WALLACE COUNTY CHRONICLE. Tuesday, September sth, 1905. PEACE.

The sanguinary struggle between, Russia and Japan has closed, and' press readers will have to look for other information than was contained m the daily recount of the daring heroism of the troops engaged m the bloodiest fight m history. Of books on the war there will be no end, as the whole world has been thrilled m wit nessing what appeared such an unequal contest. The ant giving fight to the elephant would not be a preposterous comparison to little ?. Japan waging ■battle with the giant of Europe and Asia. It is not, however, with the courage, determination and skill of the Lilliputian nation that we are alone concerned. Our preconceived notions of a people little removed from barbarism have been entirely blotted out, and we are suddenly brought face to face with all the finest traits of civilisation acutely developed. The natural and instinctive tendency m white races to look with pity, if not arrogance, upon a coloured people, haß, by the action of the Japanese, been greatly checked. Their humane actions throughout have stamped them as possessors of the most loveable traits m human character. Fighting for a principle they have always held, and what we know to be a fact — their national existence as a distinct people — they have, from the outset, asserted that they were not seeking to exploit territory not naturally belonging to them, nor wore they fighting for financial aggrandisement. Showing herself possessed of the highest qualifications as a fighter, and recording a history of successes unparalleled by other than the foremost nations of the world, she has continuously sought juatioe only. Having completely wiped off the face of the waters the fleets of her gigantic enemy, captured and garrisoned the reputedly strongest fortified port m the world, beaten almost to humiliation the great armies of her opponent, strategically out-worked, outwitted and outclassed the flower of Russian officers, and having left intaot a magnificent fleet and dauntless army, backed up by a patriotic national sentiment, aud capable of duplicating, with crushing effect, her already splendid victories and driving far from the seat of her home the Russian bear, she has shown her transcendent greatness m the last aot of the great drama by submitting to the call of huma iity, and agreeing to a termination cf hostilities at a time when aho was ia the ascendant, and capable ot humiliating her. foe by continuing the struggle. The extraordinary spectacle is witnessed of the two most autocratic nations, of modern times agreeing to submit their dispute to arbitration at the Call of the President of the greatest democratic republic of history. The Mikado of Japan, the representative of a dynasty stretching back for ever a thousand years, and elevated m his own Country almost to a deity, and the Czar of Russia, the autocrat of modern government, holding sovereignty over millions of humanity, who are little better treated than serfs or slaves, aooept the invitation of the ruler of a country, theoretically at least recognising the equality of all men. Possibilities after such an experience are infinite. The oivilised world joins m acclaiming honor to the man who has succeeded m bringing about peace between two such opposing factions, < and also is unanimous m its congratulations to the two great powers exercising the I wisdom that has enabled them to settle such a stupendous dispute with credit j and honor. Without the necessary information, details of the effect of tho peace treaty cannot be with any certainty prophesied, but with an alliance between Great Britain and Japan, supported by even more than the moral support of the United States, it may be confidently asserted that the Far East will not again witness a Titanic struggle between the same two contestants as has just closed. May peace, prosperity and goodwill attach to " The Land of the Rising Sun."