The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-11-27
ONE CAUSE OF THE DECAY OF
NATIONS.


| 1t did not need the declaration of the
| prime minister of Great Britain to call at.
| tention to the fact that the world has de-
caying nations. Our experience with Spain
has emphasized the fact of the existence
of nations which are in state of decay. 1t
is because Spain is a decaying nation that
we have been at war with her. If she had
kept in line with the progress of the years
Spain would have been a powerful nation
at the present time. That Spain was once
a menace to England because of her power
shows to what extent the decay which
paralyzes nations has fallen upon the Span
ish people.
The causes which conspire to make de-
caying nations are many. Race may have
something to do with it. The northern
races, which include the Anglo-Saxon and
the Teuton, are the energetic and progress
sive peoples to-day. An alliance between
the United States, Great Britain and Ger
many would dominate the world. Wherever
men belonging to these races establish
themselves they demonstrate capacity for
putting in operation the government and
the customs of civilization. AS races they
are credited with the instinct Of self-gov-
eminent. They are peoples that take an in
terest in government and contend for the
best, usually through peaceful and constitu-
tional methods. AS peoples they have good
governments, comparatively free from cor
ruption and administered for the general
welfare. 1t is different with the decaying
and decayed nations. China represents the
latter. Government has never existed in
China for the protection of the people. The
subordinate officer in China is regarded as
person who EFFORTS all that he can from the
people and turns over to his superior lit
tie as possible The millions of that coun-
try regard government as an oppressor and
a robber that must be placated. AS the re-
suit of centuries of such a system there is
no sort of citizenship in China and
no interest in public affairs if such affairs
existed. Furthermore, the example of the
government as a robber has made the Chi
nese people dishonest; at least such is the
testimony of those who have spent years in
China. Spain is a decaying nation. For
more than a century it has been falling to
the rear. Once one of the most powerful of
elapsed since Spain has been consulted as
one of the powers. Once a leader in enter
prise, it is not now follower of other ma
tions. This may be attributed to race but
many who look for causes will find them
in government which has never sought to
elevate the masses, but which has worn it
self out by conflicts between rival rulers,
none of whom has ever thought of the
masses except as they could be used as SOL
diers or to pay taxes. Official corruption
has been tolerated for years. Plundering
the revenues has not been an offense. From
the Ministry to the subaltern in the army
venality prevailed. An army Of 100000 men
did not suppress a handful of insurgents in
Cuba because officers Of the army found it
more profitable to foster the instruction
than to crush it. Cervera, in one of his dis
patches recently published, laid bare the in
efficiency and dishonesty which had infect
ed every branch of the public service in
Spain. He tells that only 600 of 5000 shells
can be used, that several of his guns are
worthless, that the greater part of his
quick matches were useless because they
had no caps. And when he got to sea his
men lacked skill in serving the guns of his
ships. This condition existed because the
dry rot resulting from corrupt government
had eaten out the vitality of the soldier and
the sailor who were to fight the battles
Some races may fall into loose and corrupt
practices in government more easily than
others, but the worlds history shows that
the nations which have died and those
which are dying of decay are those in which
profligacy and corruption by rulers high and
low have eaten into and poisoned the ma
tional life