The news of this great disaster has been followed by
an explosion of feeling in Europe in favour of peace, in the name not only of humanity, but of the future of Russia. This is reflected in the journals of Russia herself, where, in the South especially, the defeat is bailed by the revolutionaries and Liberals as likely to force on a more liberal system of government. The group, however, of which the Czar is the centre remain undaunted and unconvinced. They argue that they cannot make peace with five hundred thousand men in the field, that the reported Japanese terms are impossible, that bankruptcy can be staved off, and that "God will never desert Holy Russia." They have therefore decided to con- tinue the war, and so long as the Army obeys there are no apparent means of resisting them. Hints are published that the " Zemski Sober," or Representative Body elected by County Councils, will be summoned at once; and it may be, but nobody believes that it will be, invested with power to control the Executive, which will remain as despotic as before. The Czar, in particular, is credited with the resolution not to yield. All the States of Europe are advising him to give way ; but all that is extorted is a promise to negotiate if Japan will "negotiate on equal terms,"—that is, will ask neither territory nor indemnity. That is, of course, a refusal to negotiate at all, Japan having just secured the power of sending reinforcements into Manchuria at her own discretion.
