The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-01-01

E,EAuCU uIlu llulS lClOsGI boiiNS ~
and arbitration, though tho partnership
with Germany In Vcnezucla's blockade
met With popular rebukel A great stride
toward American fellowship was taken
when Lord Aiverstonn (Oct. 20) cast the
deciding vote favorubly to the American
Boundary claim III Alaska and swept
away With the stroke OF his pen that
Notwithstanding cas,1s belli. England Is
believed to lave disappointed Japan by
a neutral attitude toward Russian hg-
grcsslon IN China. while the year innu-
g,ratcd with the splcndors OF the Dur
bar ends In new military movement
against tho hermit realm Of Thlbct also
coveted by Russia. 81 e tg5
# RUSSIA In all her vnstncss and power
has pressed remorselessly toward the
goal IN the far East while checking Will,
al: iron hand tho internal revolutionary
bropngandn Of socialism and organized
ipbor DlsrcgardIng all promises by the
failure &C. cvacuate Manchurla, the gov
lcrnmcnt OF Gear Nicholas stood dishon-
lorcd In the plory OF world opinion.
Great hopes were raised by the Cars
manifesto OF religious freedom and lber-
~ for peasants March IL, but the mas.
sacre Of Jews at 1kishincff In May and
their persecution in other places with Of
fetal connivance went far TO discred1t
that great proclamation. The continued
and increasing restriction OF liberty In
Finland did not improve this impression.
THE ORIENT. take It all In all, has
rad the front and centre Of the intcrna-
tiuna stage most Of the year. From the
newspaper mans standpoint It would
make q rather funny. zig-zag record sug-
gcstive Of the famous general who march
ed his army up the hill and marched 1t
down Notwithstanding in this case sub.
islltuted for the hill But the Russians
pnS, unf frInv rtzhpf frO0ns
ttithcr and on various flimsy pretexts,
frightened their grip by rcoccupying
Mukdcn and Naicheng. soaring japan In
10 fcverish war preparat lions by land ana
sea. Korea was the bone OF contention.
Chnaman and Jap draw closer. War
vas expected almost daily for Months
The one bright spot in tire Oriental year
vas the success Of American and Brit
stsh diplomats In getting treaties with
China actually signed for che opening Of
certain Manchurian ports TO world trade.
These would have to be recognized by
Russia, in event Of her conquest OF Man
ohuria. Boxer uprising was suppressed.
ia panese language was adopted In the
chinese universities. Nevertheless. the
Chinese government reacted al ainst the
reform element whose editors were pun
lshed. Tho Philippines enjoyed an era
of comparative peace and commercial
growth with only sporadic lighting BY
sLadrones and Moros.. Thirty years war
In Sumatra ended with Dutch conquest.
THE FAR EAST has been the plague
srot OF the year. chamber OF horrors
that hangs heavy on the conscience OF
Europe and of all Christendom What
ever the technical merits Of the Mace
CONAN controversy, the revolt OF the
Christian inhabitants was checked with
such a horde Of murderous Turkish flends
az caused even the sluggish currents Of
Russian and Austrian diplomacy to hasten
to stay the Sultan's hand unwillingly
at last he accepted virtual RUSSO AUS
TRAN sovereignty Of his reballious villa
vets The@disorder at Beirut and the re-
ported killing Of tho American consul,
Into Turkish waters with salutary re-
suits. For the later assault on Consul
Davis at $Alexandretta prompt apology
was mado. Bulgaria checked her anti
Turkish sentiments for the time, having
appealed to the powers In vain. Servta
went clear to the foot OF the class by
her popular acceptance OF the army's
deliberate murder, June l0tof King Alex
ander and Queen DraGa and substitu-
ton OF King Peter on the blood.stained
throne a month later. The Austro- Hun
garian union continued to hang by
thread.
GERMANY,S monarchiaI institutions
suffered a check In the electoral success
of the social Democrats, who polled
vote OF 5000 900 and gained many seats
In the Rechstag. The operation on the
Eaiser's throat was believed to be for
Incipient cancer and to endanger his life
and reign. The fatherland has suffered
an acute industrial depression.
FRANCE pursued tundeviatlngly her.
republican programme against the gov
eminent authorization OF the religious
orders and schools. causing q sharp align.
nicnt on the question OF the separa ton Of
Church and state. Disciplined Morocco.
Tried and convicted the Humbert swlnd-'
lers. Reopenedl Rreyfus case.
ITALY AND GREECE experienced no
decisive political changes other than the
growth of socialism among laborlng
classes. Al fr5.sy' sah5,-tt
SPAIN AND PORTUGALten encountered
serious revolutionary outbreaks and la
Dor disturbances. Nillaverde succeeded
silyela as Spanish premier.
School, Church
and Laboratory.
y In and under aud over and through the
vast fabric OF the worlds struggle for
bread and the regulation OF human ac-
ttIon. whether at work Or at play, the
fine golden threads Of mans religious
instincts and his pursuits. OF knowledge
have been spun from llfes ntinlte loom. =
Tho mills OF God, which grind slow but
exceedingly fine, have brought into use
.lonses Of vision powerful enough to con-
ceive tho ultimate goal OF universal re-
.ligous units for tho huma race. This
lofty aspiration was realized In some
measure when tho death OF Pope Leo
duly 2o) caused universal wave of
recognition and appreciation OF his per-
sonnl character to seek expression re-
gardless OF the barriers between Protest.
ant and Catholic Again the note OF a
wider Christian unity was struck In the
appeal OF the Episcopal Bishops Congress
a Washington for greater charity toward
their brothers OF the Roman faith, and
definitely initiated a great movement for
the federation of all Protestant churches.
.I'arallel with this effort was the progress
made toward confederation OF Congre-
gationalists. Methodist Professionals and
United Brethren, while the several va
rletles OF Presbyterlans have cleared the
ground for ono communion, In all this
the forces Of liberalism have been nee
cessarily dominant with, apSinsistencet on
practical mission work at homo and
abroad and a greater participation IN
the social and political problems OF the
I, a nnly pdv ifOr tt7c u,in ming