The Great Renunciation.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXII, Issue 6700, 18 October 1905, Page 4

The Great Renunciation.

'• President Roosevelt's Peace" is still, and will be for many days to come, the talk and wonder of the world. It came' at last so suddenly, af tor being so long waited for, after being almost despaired of, and it came in so unlooked-for a form, that other emotions were for a time lost in surprise. But along with surprise there was relief; and the prevailing sentiment; is now one of profound thankfulness that a war which, Sipaifc from tho bavoc and the bloodshed it has directly caused, has weighed like an incubus upon commerce, has now been brought practically to an end. There is another feeling which mny bo described as universal—appreciation of the extraordinary moderation, self-restraint, and magnanimity shown by the victor in the struggle iv the Far East, J^pan has " stnggered humanity " by the magnitude and character of her succpss—by tie wisdom, patience, and forethought she has .shown in preparing for and in fo'lowisg up hor victor icf,. as well as by the skill, tho fortitude, and the endurnuce her solOms and ?s.ilor3 have displayed ia winning th^m. 6he has made magnificent demonstration of her patriotism, her n artial spirit, and her capaoity for assituilafing and applying to the game of war all the lesions of modern science. Bub teuipevanc9 13 a rarer virtuo than courage ; greater is he that ruleth his spirit than he who taketh a city ; and to the Mikado and his counsellors belongs the' praise of being wiee enough and bold enough to make surrender, for the sake of peace and security ar.d future good neighbourhood, of Fpoils of war that seemed fairly their'own by right of conr.jnest.—" Weekly Scot?man."