Omaha daily bee., 1903-08-29
OTHER LANDS THAN ours.

OTHER LANDS THAN OURS.
It was reserved for Nicholas II. the pro-
fessed philanthropist, the lover Of peace,
who sought to bring about the disarma
ment OF Europe, to trsmple under foot the
historic rights of the Finnish people and
to convert the far northern duchy into an
other Poland. In this he had less excuse
than his predecessors could urge for the
wrong which they accomplished, They
could say that the Poles were persistent
in their refusal TO accept tho Russian jur-
isdiction, that they were rebellious and
aggressive, that their undying animosity
was a constant source of danger TO the en-
pire, and that there was no alternative
between setting them free and reducing
them TO a state OF hopeless subsection by
the ruthless application OF superior force
But It was different with the Firms. They
were loyal, they were peaceful, they were
prosperous, they were satifed with the
conditions under which they lived and were
content to render to the czar, as their grand
duke, the homage which was his due. All
that went for nothing The Gar Nicholas
conceived or allowed himself to be inspired
by the idea that It was his mission TO
amalgamate Finland in the Russian en-
pire as Poland had been amalgamated be-
fore, and during the last Ave years with
the sanction. IL not at his instance. one
blow after another has been leveled at the
liberty and the individuality Of the Finnish
people.
The issue Of the royal proclamation. bear
ing the name Of King Edward VII. repeal
ing that issued by his mother in August,
1900, prohibiting the expectation OF arms
n Al
none too soon. For the statute under which
the Victorian proclamation was issued was
enacted by Parliament at the very moment
when the foreign legations at Picking were
being besieged, and has from the very out
set been honored in the breach, rather than
in the observance; in fact, within a very
few months after the creation Of the law II
was realized that II would be impossible to
put 1t into execution. since, even II all the
foreign powers were to combine honestly
to prevent the importation Of war materi-
ais into China the trade would neverthe-
less go on, the Chinese being moro adept in
smuggling than any other race in the world
From the moment that law cannot be
enforced and is openly disobeyed, the best
thing to do is to repeal 1t, so as to avoid
the remainder of the laws being brought
into similar contempt and that is why this
proclamation Of King Edward has Just ap-
peared. repeating the statute Of August Z,
1900, prohibiting the expectation OF war ma
terial into China.
NJ. de Lanessan, who was French min
lister of marine in the Waldeck- Rousseau
cabinet. publishes noteworthy article
upon the position OF France with regard to
Morocco. He points out that the sultan
nf MnrnNnn 90 10
among the tribes on the Algerian frontier
and that the French are obliged to do po-
lice work on his behalf to prevent the
whole district from lapsing into anarchy
but that 1t would be very bad policy for
France to attempt to do in Morocco what
she has done in Tunis Neither Spain nor
England, he argues. could agree willingly
In the occupation of Morocco by a great
naval power. Neither could tolerate a
great naval station opposite Gibraltar, II
is certain, moreover, that in this matter
they would have the support of Germany
and Italy France, therefore, would be
wrong to seek to extend her authority over
the whole of Morocco as she exercises IL
over Tunis. As for a protectorate, accom-
panied by the naturalization of the coast,
that would be inconsistent with the dignity
of France. Spain, England. italy and
Germany have in Morocco commercial in
terests which they would not sacrifice
readily. They wish their relations with
that country to remain entirely free. This
| freedom could not be refused, and with 1t
| n protectorate would be futile. Let France
construct railways in Morocco; let her, In
accord with the sultan organize the ad-
ministration and the army, and create solid
commercial and Industrial establishments.
| In word, let her introduce Practically, and
| in accord with the local authorities her
civilizlng and economic influence. No power
could take umbrage at that But It would
be an unwise and dangerous policy to try
TO convert Morocco into another Tunis.
From western standpoint the absence
Of wealth and of the luxury attaching TO
wealth are perhaps among the most strik-
| ing social features OF Japan. The pleasures
| of life and the recreauons are, with the
vast majority, OF a kind both simple and
| inexpensive
| In a land where an ordinary engineers
wages are some 30 cents per day, and
where young men are recommended not to
become students of higher grade unless
| they have n clear income Of some SO a
month, to pay for fees, clothing, board
and lodging wealth-or at best the out
| ward display OF wealth-is as unlocked for
as it is rare.
A year or more ago one of the Japanese
vernacular papers took the trouble to as
certain and to give list OF the names OF
some rich men worth $4,000 dwelling in
the six most populous cities, and the num-
ber in this list did not exceed 262.
Once again the end OF the war in Achir
is reported to be in sight. According t.
the information of the Brussels CORE
spondent of the London Times the two
Achinese chiefs who still hold out ar,
about to make their formal submission e
the Dutch. The war in Achin, a powerful
and fiourishing native sultanate on th'
island of Sumatra, began in 1873. and hal
ragged intermittently ever since. The caus,
thereof was the refusal of the sultan 4
recognize the suzerainty Of the Neither
lands. In its hitherto fruitless efforts e
|