Durango semi-weekly herald., 1901-10-21
LIGHT ON czAR's LAND.
William E. Curtis Writes of the lnves-
tigation by Senator eeveridse.

L IL
liam f. Curtis in Chicago Record-Her
ald).-Senator Beveridge of Indiana
spent several weeks in Russia this
summer educating himself concerning
the affairs and conditions of this
great empire. He investigated the
financial and industrial situation, both
by inquiry and observation; informed
himself about the sentiments of the
people and the disposition of the gov
ernment. He saw the poor and the
rich talked with the ministers of
state. the mechanics in the factories
and the peasants in the fields, and with
the energy and penetration of an In
diana lawyer learned more during the
brief time he was in Russia than he
could have acquired in years from all
the books published. Then he start
ed on the grand tour through the en-
pre and across Siberia to Pekin. He
passed through region which sooner
or later will have a peculiar interest
for the United States because its eli
mate, soil AMI production are similar
to those of our own prairies, and 1t is
being developed by the construction
of railways and the location of colon
les in u rapid and thorough manner.
Before many years Siberian wheat
and corn and other agricultural pro-
ducts will meet those of the United
States in the markets of England Ger
many and other parts of the world
which now depend upon us for food.
There is no Immediate danger in com
natitinn ha II
tiVation at present is comparatively
small, and the entire products is con
sumed within the limits of the Rus
sian empire. but every additional acre
that is plowed brings Siberia closer
to the United States and the problem
nearer to our people. Hence Senator
Beyeridge was wise and prudent in
making this investigation. and it
would he well If all his colleagues,
the members Of both houses of con
gress. would initiate his example and
follow his footsteps.
have always advocated an appro-
priation by congress to pay the ex-
penses of its members in travelling
over the world No man is fit to gov
ern his own country until he knows
how other countries are governed,
and education by observation. expert.
ence and contact is much more valua-
BILE than education by precept.
What we see we know; what we hear
we often doubt, and what we read we
soon forget No man in New Eng
land no matter how highly educated
and well read is fit to govern Min
nesota, or to legislate concering the
affairs of Indian Territory. until he
has visited both places. The vast
blunders that have been made in our
Indian policy in times past were due
to misinformation and ignorance on
the part of eastern members of con
gress. and the terrible mistakes com
mitted by congress in the period of
reconstruction in the south. from
which 1t will take the country cen
tury to recover, We're due to the same
cause. No man in congress is quail
fled to determine or even discuss the
delicate questions affecting our for
eign policy without a knowledge of
the nations and the subjects with
which he has to deal. and it would
save great deal of trouble and mis-
understanding if the men who con
troll things in our politics and nation
al legislature would come abroad, as
Senator Lodge, Speaker Henderson
and several other members of both
houses have done this summer and
follow Senator Beveridge through the
Russian Empire.
1t is to be regretted that more
members of congress did not accept
the offer OF Secretary Root to send
them to the Philippines. No one
could fall to profit by going, and it is
even more important that they should
visit our own possessions and inform
themselves by personal observation
than visit foreign countries.
The Norwegian parliament ap-
propriates a sum of money every year
to pay the expense of sending one
of the editors of the government or
gans abroad to investigate and write
up subjects of public interest for the
information of government and the
people and that is where Norway is
wise.
| hear that Senator Breveridge in
tends to write a series OF newspaper
articles concerning what he has seen
and heard, and put them into a book
afterward. which will be of great
value and the next best thing for his
colleagues to going themselves. Mar.
Beveridge is good reporter. He
has the faculty of observation and
picking out the essentials and reject
ing what is of no consequence. 1t
would be good thing for the govern
ment to print his book and circulate
it free among the people.
1t was Burton Holmes of Chicago
who took the kaleidoscope pictures
while Beveridge was talking with
Tolstoi. the great Russian novelist,
and he will show them in his lectures
on Russia next winter. Mr.. Holmes
accompanied Senator Beveridge In
his Siberian journey and took his
picture factory along. A good deal
of fun has been made in the American
,hn,,. Daua,iJoa'c intarvipw