Russia and Japan as Colonisers.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XL, Issue 7791, 16 March 1904, Page 6

Russia and Japan as Colonisers.

At the Congregational Church on Sunday evening the ,'Rey. Sidney Baker, preaching on the above in. their relation to the Kingdom oi God, spoke from Joshua 3rd chapter, 10th. and 11th verses. After noting that the Israelites were about to plant a colony and found a state in a land. already in-part possession by a great colonising race, he went on to (institute a comparison bdtween the work achievei by the Phcnician and Jewish peoples. The Phenician excelled as a trafficker and merehamtcarrier, bearing the /commerce of the world to remote parts and founding colonies, which almost rivalled in opujaqjce- and power mighty Rome itself. ■ But he made no contribution to the moral and i>eligious fullness o.f life, and finally dropped out of existence as Jbaid other nations that had no higher purpose than material acquisitions. While the Jew, never great in trade, commerce, or invention, gave to humanity f something grander and more lasting, leaving to mankind the imperishable legacy of a faith which taught God was the groat ami only reari'ty and that His Kingdom of Truth and R ghteousness 'alone had endurance and permanence. This contrast led the preacher to dwell on the worth of j Russian a nd Japanese efforts at colonisation, judged from the hi"-h standard of tlhe Israelites. If ai nation's effort at expansion were to 'be judged by the contribution which, it made to the moral and religious welfare o.f mankind, then how X a r did Russia and Japan abide by the test. There was one fact, however, to be considered in a nation's colonising efforts, which was a powerful factor in expansion, viz., the rapid increase fin. population and the pressure conse- ■ quently exerted upon the means of subsistence. Europeans have trebled in numbers during the last one hundred years, and it is computed j will treble again during the present oentury. That growth, inI eluding the United States of America, was from 170,000,000 at the begiinpiing of (Jontufry to 510,000,000 at the end. The population of Russia increased from j4O to over 140,000.000, so that an one hundred years the mighty Slav race has increased three and a-half times. Conquest only -in a small degree accounts for this, it tjolng almost 'duo to natural reproduction despite* the appalling death-rate. •Now, -it is that fact in the social and economic problems o£ a groat nation which, in fact, accounts for its vast and rapid expansion eastwards. That expansion 'has resulted in the subjection and absorption of the once wild and warlike races of Central Asia, and is a factor impelling the more pcaceiul coilq /U est of Siberia by means of the plough and tbp Heapdr. AM. m all fairness and justice we must admit that Russia is endeavouring to realise the splendid possibilities o i l ler enorm _ ous heritage, and that her rule among once lawless tribes and peoples has proved its immense superiority over that formerly existing. Considering that the Russian nation is far behind, say, our own, in- moral and intellectual attainments, and that her rural population is to-day much wuere the English peasantry ,v as yoo Or ioo years ago, we must frankly acknowledge that the material and moral advance she has made among wild and lawless races has been most remarkable And if, not only to tame the wilderness and subdue the earth, but to tame the lawless habits of rude and warlike races, a/.yd lead them to adopt a saner and more industrious mode of life, be one of the highest attainments in a nation's efforts at colonisation, then we must say that Russia has contributed, to the moral •and religious uplift of me/i. Her rule may be, from our standpoint, corrupt, cruel, barbarous. Yet, remembering the kind of material she has had to work upon and trans- | form, that rule has been for the moral elevation and advancement of once barbarous peoples. Along the line of the Siberian railway you have groat and prosperous cities springing into existence, with all the external indications of a civilised community. A prison system, wlich though severe, is neither harsh nor inhuman. You have Christian schools, colleges, churches, and the strict observance of the weekly day Of rest. He would be a very prejudiced observer and hater of all ways Russian who could not see in these early and initial stages of colonising effort cause for thankfulness, and acknowledge that the leaven of the kingdom was at wonk in the march of Russia's civilising progress and the extension of the kingdom of G-od on earth being carried out by moans of her rule. In considering Japan, you nave a country > that geographically amd economically, is in a totally different position from Russia. With the most mountainous country in the world, not more than 12 per cent, of the land is capable of cultivation. So that with a population of 45,000,000, inhabiting' islands, which in area about equal, our own, little more than a tenth part -jf the soil can be made to produce the necessaries of life. ■It has been said that nearly all wars have been wars for trade and new markets. But there is a fJact deeper still tl'an that accounting for» Japan's eagerness to -extenM her borders —tine necessity for standing room and the right to live. Some fourteen years ago the late Herbert Spencer was visited by a Japanese noble upon matters of vital interest to the Japanese people. And the substance of that conversation was later committed to writing by Spencer, which has just been given to the world. That advice in brie! was : ••' Keep strictly to your island home. If you wish to preserve J your nationality and independence have as little to do with foreigners as possible. Neither inter-marry or i enter into political relations with the outside world." And twice the? ajdvice is given with emphasis : l The JaHanese policy should, I ™unk, be that of keeping Americans and Europeans, as much as possible at arms lengh." Happily for the Japanese they have chosen to shape their destiny in a very different manner. Suoh a policy of exciusiqn and i so i atlon w » ouM not

only arrest her development and quench her hopes, but compel her people into starvation apd throw her back into -Hie,barbarism from which she has emerged. A.grpat experiment in nation-building and colonial expansion is' in process of being carried out by this singularly gifted people.- with a colony in Formosa,. and with her eyes'fixed, upon Korea, Japan aims at finding free scope and room for her densely packed population. And who that perceives the social and economic probiems pressing for solution upon her statesmen, but will wish l.cr success. The question for us is : Would Japan's occupation o f Korea be for the advancement of righteousness and truth and the C'hristianisation of. the people of " Tho Muming Cairn"? Buddhist, as o?pan ostensibly is, it saould be remembered that her statesmen aiid ri krs are being silently iamnn;ed, direct" ly afcvd indirectly, by Christian Meals, and that in many . .vays &he is giving evidence of having assimilated tho teachings and spirit of Jesus Christ that we might confidently believe her wider rule would bo for the extension- and advancement of the Kingdom of God. If in her search for a satisfying roligious faith, she saould accept to be guided by the spirit and mind of our Master, then with her march of conquest and commercial expansion we may also look for a missionary invasion of Korea that will hail the dawn of " The li-gTrt of the world " upon that people. For thus, from Korea and to China, would spread the light •(*: tee Gospel by means of a people with whom fahey are so kindred in written language, intellectual atmosphere, and habits of thought 'and action, and the day be •brought appreciably nearer when Jesus Ohrist shall have universal dominion over the lives of men.