The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1899-03-28
Russia's Relative Position.

| Journal of Commerce is at some phip'
TO show that Russia is not equal TO the
large part she is undertaking TO play IN
the worlds drama, but is, in fact, in
ferior in productive capacity, wealth.
and intelligence to the nations with
which she has TO compete. Her suo'
cesses are in diplomacy-wherein blur
fng is the winning method-not IN
actual achievement. in war or peace
AS a civilizer her work is bound to be
inferior, it is suggested, because her
own civilization is woefully inferior
Her position as arbiter Of European
politics is due TO her form Of govern
ment, which makes possible a contin-
uity of policy and pliancy in diplo-
macy which are impracticable for
countries having popular constitutions
The railway development Of Russia,
the Journal shows, Is small in compari-
son with her population She has bat
a. miles of road 20 each TO- 600 Of her
population. while Germany has 90.
England and France 6 4. AS re.
poets area she has but l. miles Of road
to each 100 square miles OF territory,
while Germany has 1871. England H. 2
and France I2. /. The United States
on the other hand, has 26.6 miles OF
road to each 10, 900 inhabitants and 6
miles Of road to every 100 square miles
The facilities Of the Russian people for
transportation-fo the utilization OF
natural resources in domestic trade
are evidently very inadequate. AS
respects foreign trade her position is
even worse. She has but f3 4G Of for
eign trade per head Of population, while
Germany has sS7S2 England $50 30.
France sS7 20 and the United States,
t23. 3.O5. Russia's foreign trade is but
one-fourteenth of the average Of the
leading European countries and the
United States
The manufacturing industries OF
Russia are progressing, but they are
comparatively undeveloped. Her manu-
factures are but sl5 50 per head Of
population, against s68 50 per head in
Germany, sl12 80 in England and
s17. II in France. Tested by her steam
power the industrial activity OF Rus
sia seems uncomfortable. She has but
one horse power to each 4S. Z Of popula'
tion, while Germany has one horse
power 10 each u inhabitants Eng
land one horse power to each 3 inhabi-
tants and France one horse-p power to
each rs inhabitants The United
States boasts one horse power TO each
A. inhabitants. Russias shipping
tonnage is but per cent. Of that OF
England and half that Of France. so
that she seems to lack the conditions
for the creation Of the first class navy.
The material we'll being Of the popula-
tiou Of country is a rough measure OF
Its capacity to play large part In inter
national affairs. Public wealth, and
we'll being is indicated by the average
annual earnings Of the population. For
Russia's 1870, 900. 900 people the average
earnings per head in 1894 were s4l.s3
as against $124 80 in Germany, slS2. 6C
In England, 1885, 50 in France and
$224 81 in the United States. Statistics
Of national wealth are often fanciful
but taking the best figures available
we find that In 1894 the Russians aver
aged bat $26s per head, against s79i
for the Germans, 81, ,5l4 for the Eng
lish, 81 .276 for the French and 81, IN
for the United States The average
wealth of the subjects Of the Gar Il
TINS less than one.fourth Of that Of tn
average In the other countries named
The figures show that Russia is poo
in material wealth and unable TO spar
much for protracted wars.
Her capital, such as it is. is not OF
nature to be applied readily to Rivei
enterprise. AS for the Russians them
selves. while amiable, patient and loyal
they are not individually efficient Ac
cording to the Journal, they are 'stolid
ignorant. passive and devoid OF tn
vitalizing forces Of popular liberty an
personal initiative. They are not
Therefore, we'll fitted to oivilize tn
races they conqaer. They may be 80
perior TO the races Of Central Asia an
Siberia, but they are little more tina
the equals of the Chinese. They kno'
the law Of force, but have scarcely a
inkling Of the sentiment OF altruisl
that fits q nation TO take up I'll
white mans burden. Russia wi
doubtless acquire large share Of Eas
ern Asia, but this will mean only th'
more people are subjected to an inferit
and paralyzing regime. After all HI
gains Russia will still be behind h
rivals. "She will be as much as ever,
the Journal thinks, unequal to 81
accomplishment of her long-cherisht
territorial ambitions, still wasting b
resources in preparing for impossib
conquests and still keeping the wor
in suspenseful waiting for the gre
Armageddon that is expected to deci
whether the world shall be dominat
by the slav or fostered by the Angl
Saxon and the Teuton. "