Omaha daily bee., 1902-12-27
OTHER LANDS THAN OURS.

Tit national spirit Of the Films has not
been crushed by the various measures
adopted to effect their R-ussianization. Re-
ports have just leaked out of a meeting
that was held at Helsingfors in the middle
of November. Between 200 and 300 persons
were present, including a number of farm
ers and representatives Of the working
classes. Among other resolutions adopted
was the following: THAT this assembly
considers 1t imperative, for the mainte-
nance OF our political and national exist
ence, to continue everywhere, unswerv-
ingly, and until legal conditions are re-
stored to the country. the passive resist
ance against all measures conflicting with,
or calculated to abolish, our fundamental
laws" What is meant by passive resist
ance the Russian authorities we'll know. It
Implies q dogged refusal to comply with
any regulation which is held to conflict
with the immemorial rights of the nation.
On result OF this attitude Of the people
was the failure of the attempt to carry
into effect the new army edict at the army
levy last spring, when about so per cent
OF the young men refused to present them
selves. 1t was predicted in the Russian
press that the recent ordinances would
quell resistance, but It is plain that they
have had no such effect. The meeting also
passed a vote Of want Of confidence against
the Senate for their lack OF frmness in
w~ithstanding classification and their mis-
placed zeal in furthering illegal measures.
zee
While the news frou South Africa does
not go to the extent of a declaration Of
anarchy, all the indications point to a
condition of affairs not far removed from
1t. Thousands of mechanics and others
emigrated from Australia and Great Brit
ain Immediately after the conclusion OF
peace, and as many more who we're in the
army remained in Cape Town instead of
returning to England. The result is that
the labor market is highly overstocked and
must continue to be for some time. There
Is much building to be done, but there is
no material to do 1t with. Merchants rec
ognize an opportunity to go into manufac-
turing, but there is no machinery. Mines
are idle, because it is not known what
stand the government is to take with re-
gard to taxation. Farming is poor be-
cause the British army and the Boer raid
ers depleted or stampeded the stock and
worked general destruction. In short, the
country is in a state Of chaos, and the
guiding hand Of Mr.. Chamberlain is sadly
needed to straighten out matters. Rents
are soaring, provisions are high and board
VI lOhBAhbb Cdn Ouiy DC pTOCuTeu Dy the
man with the long purse. With a large
class of men in South Africa 1t Is not a
question Of beg or starve, even IL begging
would do any good. 1t is, since they can
not find work to do, either to steal or
starve and they prefer the former to the
alternative. With stealing naturally 20
assaults, and occasionally an assault re-
suits In murder; hence at the present tim
South Africa is a good place to stay away
from.
The British admiralty is really waking
up, II such energetic reformers as Az
miral Henderson and Admiral Lord Cha les
Beresford may be believed. The former
said the other day at Plymouth that he
thought that the lesson of the South Az
rican war had been taken to heart by the
authorities. There had been a change for
the better already in the material, and the
change In the personnel would come soon.
Every of1cer and man who had to form the
navy of the future must have a common
entry, must have a common training, and
must be prepared to take upon his shoul-
deTs every one of the multifarious duties
which were connected with the control of
the warship Of the present day. Lord
Charles Beresford also declares his con-
yietion that the scheme which the ADMIR-
atty has in hand will prove OF the greatest
possible benefit to the service, and he inti-
mates that II will prove to be one Of the
most drastic that could have been con-
eeiVed. Already, he says. the Mediterranean
Meet has been strengthened, the coal supply
has been increased and plans have been
formulated to regulate the action Of the
fleet In case OF war. Special committees
have been formulated to regulate the action
| Of manning the Faaarvaa afc Tora Nk..I..
vigorously denounced the habit OF patching
damaged boilers. Faulty boilers, he said,
ought to be put on the scrap heap and
replaced by new ones.
go
Some Of the London newspapers are
printing details OF the consequences of the
prolonged drouth in Australia. chiefly In
the provinces Of New South Wales and
Queensland. II is estimated that the total
wheat shortage in Australia is / 1900, 900
bushels. OF which New South Wales has
lost 100000. Families in parts Of Queens
land are living on bran and ~treacle, bought
originally as a makeshift food for sheep.
1t IL oficiaily calculated that there are
not 2O.OOO,OOO sheep left in New South
Wales, as compared with 1900, 900 hve
years ago. Squatters have dismissed the
bulk Of their employees. retaining only a
few hands necessary to burn the carcasses
OF sheep and cattle where they have
dropped dead in the paddocks. One man
who originally had $4,000 sheep preserved
by artificial feeding saw the majority die,
and lately. in consequence OF the price OF
fodder, cut the threats OF the survivors.
Another claims that he spent RlOO, 900 on
fodder. Thirty thousand sheep have died
within fifteen miles radius OF Marsden, New
South Wales, since the latest shearing
One station in the nelghborhood lost II. 900
sheep within a week. another sheared $500,
but mastering them soon a~fterward found
only 1000. These were turned adrift on
the road in the hope Of their reaching
grass, but the latest accounts say that
hundreds are dying on the Journey.
Agitation prevails In England for the
establishment Of some kind Of a royal com
mission TO investigate the question OF
A -. - -