New-York tribune., 1896-12-30
POLITICS AND COMMERCE..
MISS GEORGINA ROBERTS LECTURE
IN THE HOME OF MRS. DREXE-.

THE POLITICAL AND COMMERCIAL CONDITIONS OF
THE EAST WAS THE SUBJECT CONSIDERED.
few years ago It would have been though,
anomalous TO imagine goodly number OF women.
representing wealth and fashion seated Oh camp
chairs IN a fashionable house listening 20 learned
and critical lecture on q subject which has CON
fronted and rerplexcd the greatest statesmen or
Europe for several generations.
Yet such scene presented itself yesterday in the
beautiful drawing room Of Mrs. John Drexel. when
the entertaining lecturer Miss Georgina Roberts.
with large map Of Asia beside her. explained the
political and Commercial Conditions Of the East.
and what war; stratagem and diplomacy had ac-
compished.
The speaker alluded to the perennial charm the
East possesses for all, not only as being the
birthplace OF the but OF ali the great religions
o; the world which have exercised such tre-
unendous influence in that domain.
From here the great wave of emigration swept
into Europe where different civilizations were
formed and now. In our day. these aggressive
civilizations returning to the cradle Of the race
with divers aims and purposes France has a'-
ouired her Asiaic possessions through religion and
love Of military glory. and that has been about me
extent OF her reward.
England sought trade and power. and She has
been ernincn'ly successful while Russia. since Tho
davs of Peter the Great has been schcmrc Cor an
outlet II the sea. So the struggle gone on to-d1f
Is not much against the Asaric races aa between
the Europeans themselves. Ensiard a"d Russia
con'endns for the mastery
This is the political situation. but there Is another
more far-rcachng in results-thc commercial sfrus-
gle which will involve the economics of industrial
trade
The yellow races awakened from thoir sleep Of
ages are showing wonderful activity in accepting
the new ideas forced upon them and avaiiins them
selves Of all the modern appliances OF IN" West
Their readiness to absorb our methods ANA adap'
themselves 10 our forms of education is marvel
lous but when consider the Chinese can hN"
on l2 cents day and that they are entering into
Industrial competition with our own people. the TACT
may well feeling Of dismay and fear
COTTON MILLS IN CHINA.
The largest cotton mills in the world are being
built in China and the progress Of Japan in the
manufacturing arts Is beyond all precedent so IN
the workers in the great cotton Industries OF Eng
land and America may well believe the good times
Of the past will not come back TO them
The absolute indifference Of the Chinese 10 cn-
matte changes was noted. Whether on the frozen
hills Of rhibet or on the broline plains Of the
Malay Peninsula ne is equally healthy ana equally
successful in trade.
Miss Roberts gave brief sketch OF the manner
In which Russia has steadily absorbed SIBERIA
from the twelfth century. and how England con-
Quered India. with its %O0o0O people owns ne
most productive portions Of Hurmah ana p'a'"-
cally controls the Malay peninsula o.,roo,,o,
India has always been power OF attIactloh
from the days Of the Pharaohs bur ArAaUrT ~ Kan, rnr
Great was the first TO make Sci'nlic 'N'u'.",
noe. and n" passed over what Is '',4eu N toS'
route which Is travcrsed by the ralI~al- J.,
In the eighth century the Mahometans iayaaed
India and later Sultan Babcr established IN"
Mogul Empire 1t was through ne Erltisn c,,a rnSs
pndsr ;ca 5bf fngsn & Hir6 ggd & EnSa and
she Is alert 10 keep Op'n communication De-
tween her two capital centres. LONDON ana '"'-
cutta. ~
While England may not be dcsrous OF anneXinG
fresh territory except as defensive measure. Shr
must strengthen the northwestern frontier o,
India. and military routes are now being d'Felop'u
for that purpose for Russia is already tapping ~
the door OF India ha Wing established post oniy
1,) miles away from Hcrat which has always bcth
considered the key TO lIindostan.
The lecturer spoke Of the strategic importanc"
OF tho two railways the TTaussiD.rian and Trans
purpose OF Russia l. 10 ealn seaporis on IN" IA
cHc her ulterior aim and ambition Is the posses
sion OF India. - ..,
for supremacy In the East" said Miss Roberts.
.there can be no question that 1t would be better
FOR civilization 10 have England remain IN coniIoi;
she has always conferred superior educati tional
and material benefits her conquered peoples.
The ladies who compose tins class are "h.9ns
FTedSrc e vIpeSlrb peGpfb H' MIS- Chae
Mrs Charles T. Alexander. Mrs: t. j. TrowbIldfc'
Mr. Dana Winslow. Mrs a. X flower Mrs> -.
l.. Jones Mrs George Dimmick. Mrs Gordon not
RE Mrs. Robert Hoe. Mrs. Hcnjamin knower Ms. MIS-
Corham, Mrs. Pearson; Mrs w shiif5t9. 70, Mis :.
Miss Gibson Mrs. John wilmeTdIng Mn water
Oakman Mrs james G. Bergen. Mrs. ollleit Mrs'
bus Iselin Mrs. r. H. Walker. Mrs " MorteI'
Miss F. Bergh-Brown: Mrs. Herman i.vings'2n'
Mss Jackson. Mrs; Frank MCCOY. Mrs. r. ~ =,
Benedict. Miss Beekman, Miss Furness MIS-, ,Is +,
g. Adam MISS Zela Gibbes Mrs. kneyels. MIS-
Lockwood. Miss Lockwood. Mrs Louis Fitzgerald
Mrs Seynal Mrs. bohn ecHscner frsvod MIs
Miss Dckey. Mrs. Colt, Mrs August belmont, Mrs
George 4. Morrison. Mrs William Kingsland and