Fairhaven herald. [volume] (Fairhaven, Wash.) 1890-????, 1891-08-20
CROWDING THE COUNTRIES

Too many people in the countries,
and not enough 10 feed them has pro-
duced the inevitable famines i'm Rus
sia, Poland, Germany, Austria, the
Balkan provinces and Turkey, and
caused the political jars and financial
stringency which such a condition
precipitates, and which extend even to
the more favored nations like France
and England.
Might not Nautilus have been right
when he declared that war is as ncces-
sary to the perpetuation of the race
as air, and as provocative Of civiliza-
tion as colleges? IL is a long time
since Europe has enjoyed, or suffered,
what the pessimist styled "a canker-
Ing peace" Of so long duration as the
present There has been nothing
worthy the dignity OF the title Of
war since the Germans turned their
backs on beaten, PROSTATE France, and
took their milliard Of spells 10 Berlin.
And that vas twenty years ago.
The periodic rows in Herzegovina,
Montenegro, Seryia and such like lit
tie national side shows do not count,
for they have no visible influence on
the worlds trade and finance, and no
other effect among the nations of the
earth than TO form the basis for dip
lOmatic complications and correspond
ence.
Within these twenty years the pop
ulation OF Russia has increased enOr-
mously without an adequate provision
being made, or even being possible for
its sustenance. Or, as Nautilus, enun-
ciates IT.: Population, when I'M
checked, increases in a geometrical
ratio; while food can be made to in
crease, at furthest, only in an arith-
metical ratio" So the relief from
the pressure is war or pcstilence; and
il the former does not relieve the
strain, the latter is unavoidable. Rus
STA has never been a grain importing
country; on the contrary, she has sent
vast quantities OF wheat to France
and England; barley to Germany, and
rye to the Balkans; TO say nothing Of
her exports Of fish, dried and pre-
served meats, and other food products
TO various parts OF the world.
Now, however, an embargo has been
put on the expectation Of grain, and
Russia appears as solicitor Of con-
tributions and buyer OF bread. OF
course this is directly attributable
10 the unpropitious season
and utterly ruined harvest Of
this year; but there is yet the re-
moter cause Of too many people; and,
therein the secret is found OF no sur
plus. Year by year the moujk has
had less and less food. Year by year
what remained over was sold, and the
sales were annually less, per capita of
the growing Population; and the very
fact that, in the bountiful harvests Of
1886, there was a less total of grain
exported than in the less favorable
season OF 1879, shows the tendency Of
the tide, which has now reached a dis
astrously low ebb. As the population
increased the people have had less 10
eat; for the increased ratio OF food
raised not keeping pace with the in
crease OF mouths to be filed, hungry
people we're deprived OF whatever food
was exported. And It may be that
that consideration has been one Of the
prime motives for the expulsion Of the
Jews, who are not an agricultural race,
and who have been rich enough to buy
and eat all they wanted, while the
working native In the city, and the
peasant on the steppes, could not get
sufficient 10 keep starvation from the
door.
The census OF Russia proper Is
taken, officially, every ninth year. In
1867, the population was charted at
less than 81 10000. In 1875, Strel-
bitzka's calculations, approved by the