Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-09-01
SSIA AND PEACE.

/
| Russian crisis" which doesn't appear e
be much Of crisis after all, Sir Charles
| Dixie made I'm the British House Of Com
mons the other day a statement whicf
| ornbodies n pretty good reason for not ap-
! pretending a fight over China just as
/ present. The gist Of that statement was
that Russia wasn't ready TO fight IL
] would take her. he affirmed, at least four
years 10 get ready to wage war against
Great Britain IN the Orient with any pros
pect Of success. As we understand II, SIT
Charles based his conviction upon
knowledge gained from persons well post
ed that there was vast deal Of misap-
prehenslon about Russla's being able Ito
pour troops into Manchuria over the
Trans-Siberian railway. As a matter OF
fact. there are great gaps in that i'm
provcment, and even after these gaps
shall have been closed it will necessarily
he some time before the line will be
equipped for transporting large bodies OF
troops.
Russia's not being ready TO fight would
certainly seem to justify the prediction
that she will back down gracefully" es-
pecially in view Of the suspicion that in
case Of hostliues Great Britain could
command the support Of japanese army.
But there is suggested another potent
reason why she would prefer to keep the
peace. It is that time and her geographic
tg.tfr ftrfls civ inc
her a grip upon Northern China than
would fifty battles.
But the most potent of all the argu-
ments advanced against the supposition
that Russia will precipitate war with a
formidable foe is found in her economic
condition. In discussing the Cars propo-
sition for a conference looking 10 the re-
duction Of ornaments, the New York
journal Of Commerce presents some in
teresting and instructive statistics. COM
paratiye and other to show that Russia
could not stand the burden of a big wa.
Investigation, says the Journal. into the
wealth of Russia and it's distribution, re-
Gently published by the government, indi-
cate that only about Sl7,26S families out
Of an aggregate population, in European
and Asiatic Russia. of 100000 have an
income Of over 500 year; that over 80
per cent. Of the population are constantly |
in a state Of AFFECT poverty and pauper-
ism in their various degrees. The average |
income of a peasant family IS $50 to $50 a |
year. out Of which tie government col |
ects by direct taxation from $2j to $50.
in a series of statistical comparisons |
N which the United States, France, Ger
many. the United Kingdom, and Russia |
ire the countries embraced, the Journal
also presents these facts and figures: In
he production Of grain Russia IS second
lfter long interval to the United |
states. The bushels Of grain produced
,er head of population in the countries
ompared are: United States, ~; Russia,
o: France, 49, Germany, IS; United King
om. g. Cotton consumed per head Of
population: United Kingdom, A. United
tates, II; Germany, 9; France, rs; Rus
ia. g Value of manufactured products
er head Of population: United King
ON. e2l: United States. eH, Js.; France.
~, IS; Germany, G12, Is; Russia, &i
S. Values Of mineral produced per head:
rnited Kingdom. eel; United States, $50;
,ermany. e12; France, GO; Russia, 60
quare miles Of territory to every mile
f railroad: United Kingdom, 6; Ger
many. So. France, 10; United States, %;
,ussia. 400 Horsepower of steam en-
ines in each of the countries: United
Kingdom, %: United states, "a; Germany
;; France, Il; Russia, 8. Per capita
,ealth (computed) United Kingdom, pa;
rance. 224 United States, 2lO; Germany,
10: Russia, 80.
From the standpoint OF other nations
he Car may be "a dreamer" but in
lew of this exhibit it would seem that
rom the standpoint Of Russia there is
tactical method in his dream.