Omaha daily bee., 1889-05-11

the annual e1pfnditure aggregates seven
hundred milli3hS or two and half times
those of the Uhfed States Much of this is
due to the terrible burden of standing
army, to the dire necessity under which the
nation labors Of constantly augmenting her
defensive streagth and multiplying the
means and increasing the agencies of de-
struction. But this is by no means the only
cause of this vast expenditure The repub-
lie, almost in the beginning of its career
began an extensive and expensive system OF
internal improvements. With characteristic
French spirit, the republican leaders aimed
to raise a permanent monument TO the repub-
lie by great public works, railroads, canals,
highways, aud the like. Perhaps in this way
they hoped to better please the French peo-
pie and it is not unlikely that by this plan
the hold of the republic upon popular favor
has been strengthened. But, if so, the pop
ular approval has been dearly purchased.
The chief of the bureau of statistics Of the
Argentine Republic has recently prepared a
statement of the immigration to that republic.
The facts show a remarkable rate of immi-
grafton as compared with the population of
the country, and as compared with the total
immigration to the South American con-
tinent i'll the last thirty-two years. While
the present population of Argentine is
smaller than that of Canada, being an aggre-
gate of little over 1000, ,000 the immigration
has amounted to 1874, ,497 as against a total
immigration to South America of 1, ,703, 0O0
In other words so per cent of the entire inn
migration to the southern continent went to
the Argentine Republic. The immigration
still continues, and it is expected that 370,-
900, or an addition of about 8 per cent will
be received this wear, in spite of the fact that
| nearly all the'public land open to settlement
| is exhausted 1t will probably beco ONE neces-
| sary for the government, If it wishes to
accommodate this number, to purchase land
| which Is now held by syndicates at prices
| too high to allow of its purchase by immi-
| grants. This is an announcement which was
| entirely unexpected, and shows, more clearly
| than any figures, now rapidly this country
has been settled
| ~.
The royal boycott on the Paris fair evi-
IDENTIFY is not to be universal, since it is an
nounced that the kings of Belgium, Saxony,
Greece and Servia will visit it. These are
not monarchs as potent as some others in
Europe, but they would serve to break any
rule of giving the cold shoulder to this re.
| publican show. If it be also true, as has
|
presence, there will be a very liberal supply
| of sovereigns for this exhibition after all. 1t
seems rather questionable, however, whether
| the Russian potentatc will really venture to
| Paris. He has shown a decided objection to
| making much of show of himself even on
his contcmplatetttrip to Berlin to return the
visit paid him b4A year by Emperor William.
| President Carnoas declaration during his
| centennial addfess that "t'rance has finally
| broken with the personal power of one man,
| whatever title he may take" states the issue
of popular government sauarely although
| there is nothing in the address of which the
| friends of constitutional monarchy can fairly
| complain.
~.
Although the Chinese are probably the
slowest people in the world to adopt new
ideas, they are, not slow to develop them
when they have-once realized that they offer
a demonstrable advantage. A few years
ago, when seven miles of railway were laid
down at Shanghai by foreign SPECTATORS,
the celcstals were so terrified that the gov
ernment had to tear up the metals to appease
them. Last autumn eighty-seven miles of
railroad, built for Chinese corporation and
connecting the great coal fields of the Gulf of
Petshi-li with Tien-tsin, were formally
| opened with much ceremony, and has now
| as much work as it can possibly do. In the
| meantime, the idea is still growing, and the
| imperial government has now authorized two
| additional railroads, involving an cXpendl
| ture of nearly twenty millions; and with a
| full right of way through any graveyard II
tho empire. An imperial railway for
strategic purposes is also spoken of and will
no doubt be speedily commenced.
The yoke of miitarism bears heavily upon
| Italy. Financial and industrial distress is
widespread, and popular discomfort is grow
ing stronger day by day. In proportion tc
| revenue, the public debt of Italy is now the
largest in Europe, nearly three times as
large as Germany's and nearly twice as large
| as England's. Were it not for the enormous
military and naval expenditures, the coun
try would quickly right itself and become
prosperous. AS it is, hundreds of thousands
of the people are emgrating, and those who
remain are relaxing their loyalty to the gov
ernment, which seems to exist only to tax
them Nor is there any hope Of immediate
relief. Having once fallen in line with the
military empires, Italy must keep the pace
with them, though the end may be ruin.
~
The latest Official returns give the publ,
debt of Canada as S23j,515, 900, of which
SlSS,7l3,O0O is payable in England, 1t is
probable that more than that is held there
Great as the debt is, considering the limited
resources aud population Of that country, i
Is steadily increasing. The last session o.
the federal parliament added about $50 900,
900 to it. Appropriations were made which
involve an expenditure of about s57,0OO,000
while the revenue will not exceed S36, ,00o 0)0
, | 1t is claimed that some of these expenditure:
are for works which will speedily repay
, |, their cost, but that has not been the expert
ence of Canada, nor of this country. Tht
debt will increase, and expenses will not dl
minish, for while it is hard for private in
, dividual to retrench, it is almost impossible
: for nation, especially when it has pride an,
, wants TO keep on living in the ostentatiou
way to which it has for years been accus
toned. At present the interest on tha pub
lie debt is about $4,000 00J or third of th
' annual revenue. The former will increas
= | proportionately faster than the latter, and
the time will come when its paym ent will b.
| an intolerable burden.
-.
Rarely has an invalid, at least roya