The Times cannot divest itself of the wish that we
should fight Russia for Manchuria. It is reported that the Govern- ment of St. Petersburg intends to recommence the negotiations with China about that province, and the Times declares that this is a breach of treaty provisions, that it is a virtual parti- tion of the Chinese Empire, and that it may be defeated if we will yield "external support" to the Chinese Viceroys. It threatens Lord Salisbury with the "vigilance of the country" if he is weal, and, in short, would very much like an ultimatum to be presented to Russia. It fails, however, to tell us what we want with Manchuria, or why the Russian occupation of that province will injure our interests, or how, if we are ever so inclined, we are to prevent it. Suppose we encourage Japan to land an army there. Will the Japanese be better friends to us or better customers than the Russians, who admit us to trade in Archangel, Riga, or Odessa without demur? Let our readers think, if only for a moment, what "backing the Viceroys" against Russia really means, and how the German Emperor on hearing of that policy would rub his hands.
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