The Koreans will have to learn by hard experience just as the Japanese themselves did between 1868 and 1880. The stories that are told of old worn-out steam-ships sold to the Japanese at high figures in those days would fill a small volume. The Korean must also learn by his failures. We believe that in this school he will develop a fair degree of ability to take care of himself. It will take time and there will be many unpleasant experiences in the process, but it is certain that he is now “up against” a genuine business proposition and unless he can bring to bear upon the situation a keenness and an energy proportionate to that of the Japanese he will go to the wall. All we ask is that the Korean be given a fair chance. If he is given an opportunity to obtain redress in case he is treated in an illegal manner the rest may safely be left to his native genius. But what he surely should receive from the Japanese is a “square deal.” If this is denied him of course he will have nothing left but to succumb or rebel. In spite of many cases of injustice which have been reported we still believe that as soon as the war is over Japan will put forth strenuous and successful efforts to govern the unruly element among her nationals in Korea. She may proclaim a protectorate over the country and temporarily impair its independence. This will be contrary to her express promises but there will be no one to make a successful protest and it may be that in time events will so shape themselves that Korea may again be given an autonomous position. Meanwhile there are important lessons of industry and thrift for the Korean to learn and upon his success in learning them will depend in large part the recovery of his political autonomy. Editorial Comment. The great event of the month has been the crowning victory of the Japanese over the Russian fleet. The details of the fight are now at hand and enough is known to demonstrate that the Russian fleet was a mere man of straw, to be blown over by the first wind. When we think of the tons of printers ink that have been expended upon a minute description of every movement of this doomed armada from the time it left the Baltic Sea until it was swept away like a mere cob-web by the Japanese navy there seems to be a grim humor about the whole thing. It was a tragic comedy! The thought of the doomed men who went down in this forlorn hope is inexpressibly sad. They were trying to do their duty as they saw it; but when we look at this event as a war measure and see how totally the Russians misconceived of the prowess and the skill of the Japanese we can only say that Russia is lacking in the first essential of war—a knowledge of the forces that she must contend against.