The sun., 1901-08-25

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4 shisld AsDUn RHAnAx from the conse-
quences Of Ms folly. IL msy BE- safely
predicted, however, that a contest be-
tween England and Russia for the pos-
session Of India could have but one
result. for the reason that England has
. incomparsbly the longer purse.
= This is perfectly clear to NJ. DE wITTE.
the Russian Minister Of Finance. IL is
not only, however. his perception Of
the fundamental conditions OF modern
warfare. but also his recognition Of
Russia's domestic necessities that has
inspired his resolve TO secure for his
country twenty-five years Of peace.
Russia viii require for many years TO
come all the money that she can raise by
taxation OF by borrowing. to improve
her means Of internal communication.
The Trans-Siberian Railway. II II is
TO prove Of commercial, or even OF mill
tary. utility. must be relaid from one
end 70 the other. The Manchurian
branch Ia far from being finished. The
Siberian and Transcaspian lines still
need 70 be Joined by a link thousand
miles Ia length. The extension Of the
lines from the Caucasus into north Persia
and thence TO the Persian Gulf is still
In embryo. Then there are the pro-
posed canal schemes respectively con-
Meeting the Black Sea and the Caspian.
the Black Sea and thu Baltic and tho
Baltic with the White Sea: all OF these
projects promise great commercial ad-
vantages. and all OF them are feasible.
yet each Of them will involve q vast
outlay Of money.
Enormous. too, will he the cost OF
stimulating Russian manufactures. which
arc now in their infancy. but In the devel-
opment ri which NJ. DE WTTTE sees the
only remedy for the ominous agricult-
urd situation. How much time he
will need 10 make the remedy effective
will be evident when We point out that
In Russia. which has n population Of
iSo. 900 0oO. there are at present less than
10000 persons engaged In mining and
manufacturing industries, whereas in
Germany. with less than half a. many
inhabitants. there are 2e.Oo0.0Oo persons
90 engaged. Even II Russias manu-
factures should advance In geometrical
progression. she should have some years
10 wait before she would find herself
abreast Of her Continental rivals.
Meanwhile the tremendous problem
OF the adjustment OF Russia's agri-
cultural population 10 the means Of
subsistence must In some way be solved.
For long time famine has been chronic
In one part or another OF Russia. Not
n year passes in which some millions of.
people ara not officially reported 10 Re
suffering from a total or partial want
Of food. The problem grows more
urgent every year. for In Russia, not
withstanding an exceptionally high
death rate, the population is increasing
faster than in any other European coun-
try. Nevertheless. 1t is computed that
the Russian Empire contains enough
fertile soil to support three times the
present population. All that Is needed
u redistribution, but the accomplish
ment Of tho task would require incal-
culable sums OF money.
Not one Of the regenerative processes
here indicated could be carried out f
Russia's resources. which. under the
most favorable circumstance. need to
be carefully husbanded. were 20 be
wusted In war. That IL why NJ. DE
wITTB and his friends desire TO keep
the peace as long ~ possible. II Ia not
only, however. the war party at home that
they have to contend with. 1t is also
question whether Russias foreign
enemies will permit her to enjoy tho
prolonged tranquility which for her
is a vital necessity.