New-York tribune., 1901-01-18
RUSSIA IN ASIA.

The reminders of Russia's progress in Asia
which we have from time 10 time given in these
columns are confirmed and amplifcd in the Off
cial report from st. Petersburg, OF which our
Washington correspondent gave interesting
n synopsis In Mondays Tribune More testi-
mOny TO the same effect was offered few days
ago in a news item about the enormous amount
of cotton which was being produced in Russias
Central Asian provinces These things show
that Russia Is developing In Asia n vast empire,
comparable In extent. resources and climate
with the Central and Northern United States
and Canada and Is doing at rate almost
comparable with the growth of this Nation.
They show. also. with what tremendous force
Russia is pushing on TO the occupation and
annexation of such portions of China as she
desires. may he necessary 10 give her
suitable frontage on the Pacific Ocean.
II IS perfectly evident that, as we have hther-
to remarked such development of Russian Asia
will in time materially affect the trade of the
world. 1t Is already having an effect upon
the cotton and wheat markets. and other de-
partmentS of commerce and industry Will In
time feel the same Influence. This is inevitable.
and the significance of il is not to be under
rated But neither is it 10 be Overrated and it
seems judicious TO say that not for many years
TO come will Russia TevOlutOniZe or dominate
the commerce OF the world. Two Circum-
stances are to be taken into account. One Is
that the increase of production in Siberia will
merely close the Russian markets to the rest
OF the world little more tightly than at pres
ent 1t will not flood foreign markets with
Russian goods, for the reason that Russia needs
and will for many years to come need all she
can produce for home consumption. The in
crease of wheat production, for example, has
M M ap6omnouin1 Inv COrPpSnOnUinp inprpg
in wheat exports On the contrary, the latter
have actually declined. But the people of Rus
sia are eating more wheat, and famine is be-
coming happily less widely prevalent. SO in
the case of cotton. The bales from Central
Asia will go TO Russian mills to supply the do
mestic demand. They will thus shut ont Amer
lean and British cotton. but will not invade the
other markets of the latter
The other consideration Is that the Russian
people have yet TO show an ability TO grow
into q great industrial and commercial nation.
At the present time they show scarcely sign
of it, Ignorance and squalOr are the state of
the moujik, and in that state he seems destined
long TO remain since, unhappily, the Russian
policy does not tend toward his enlightenment.
Now, a people immersed in ignorance and
squalor cannot be a greatly productive people
In agriculture manufactures. And just as
soon as such a people begins to emerge from
that wretched state II not only becomes more
productive but 1t also increases its demand for
home consumption. 1t is earnestly 10 be hoped
that the tens of millions of moujiks will ere
long become educated. thrifty and prosperous.
1t is also to be hoped that they will be able to
eat wheat bread more plentifully and will cease
periodically TO die of famine like flies In frost
Ii is not the greatness of our domain. nor the
richness of the soil, nor the geniaty of our
climate that makes the United States the great
est producing nation in the world No, but it
Is the high standard OF enlightenment that pre-
walls among the people. Until Russia gets her
people up TO that standard her rivalry in com
! merce needs not to be feared.