Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-12-15
Other Lands than Ours.

Other Lands than Ours.
The movement of EEgland's wheat sup
ply in the last few years is Interesting.
Its local supply shows large diminution.
not caused by disaster to crops, but by IL
ma. ked shrinkase in the area planted Its
wheat areas in 1894 We're 10000 acres less,
than the average of the last decade and
49, %,2 acres less than in 1898. The decline
from the =. 1U2,2UG planted acres OF that
year has been persistent. and the 1.3l1.Ni
acres Of 1904 represent the smallest plant
ing of wheat since returns Were first col
leCIed ana published in 1865 Compared
with our own 5Ur1.Itv acres of wheat
field this is not very much of farm.
ErgIand's imports OF wheat as cereal and
as Hour, are increasing. For the first ten
months OF this year they were 900
bushels. For the corresponding period
last year they were l35,iW,WJ bushels ANA
for the Same period in $50. they Were
i27,0O,000.
Even in Spain popular education makes
steady prosress. It appears from the
than 70 per cent. of the population Of the
Spanish kingdom could read and write.
In 1871 the proportion had increased to
OF TIE entire population, including chill
dren too young to read. had some meas
ure OF education. In 1900 The proportion Vi
the whole number OF mhaDltantS VINO
334J per cent. Manifestly al of these
figures would look better if children I'M
der ~ years OF age Were not included IN
the population by which percentages are
gagged. 1t will he seen that the rate Of
progress in popular education, while AZ n"
time notably rapid. has been steady and by
no means discoura Sing. Sucn reforms Il
ways gain momentum as they advance,
and the Indications are that before many
years iliiteracy among adults viii be tn
exception rather than .the rule for all
classes of the Spanish people. This phase
OF progress is coincident,s naturally
mn rt'i Ia mont n.l
gained ground most rapidly since Spain
gave up its Improbable and demoralZnS
ditiUnS in the ancient realm which was
long the foremost state of Europe agree
that the outlook is better tnan it has
been for many generations.
Concerning Russa's financial ability to
carry the war the London StatiSt
seems to think it is practically unlimited.
Its opinion is that that country can get
France Germany ana Holland, and if
necessary Il good zeal moe. 1t has a
vast amount of gold at home and the
power to i$Su" all the inconverlible paper
needed To be sure, this will be a sor"
burden first and last. but its severtr
pressure Will not be felt at once. but Will
London Times says that it IS practically
impossible to come to any intelligent
conclusions concerning Russian finances.
az he real state OF the case is shrouded
in mystery. THE ministry of finance. fire.
uuently publishes statements and Stats
| ties which paint the situation in the rosi-
est hueS the accommoda ting and mysteri-
Gus free balance always stepping for
ward as n sort of deus eN machina TO
cover all deficits. But these figures hear
little relation to the real state of affairs.
There is a secret budget besides the Off
cial and published one which. If ii gould
tie known would put IL. far different face
those on the inside Of Russian official al
fairs. The power of the country. how
ever. to finance its war for some time Yet
is not doubted though it will mortgdg
the resources of Russia for long time
tn come and lay g1ievouS burdens on its
generations not yet born"
The following are the planks of the new
TranSvaai Progressive association. which
has been organized in expectation of u
change from the crown colony form OF
the British flag; the establishment OF rep
resentative government on liberal and
| way for the grant at as early a date as
/ POSSIBLE OF the freeSt and fullest form of
responsible government, recognition of
the principle that all voters shall have thu
same privileges and their votes the same
value: firm and just native and Asiatic
policy in accordance with South African
ideas support i9b every measure 1hIe
mans home. and finally opposition to all
interference in the affairs of the TranSNaal
by party politicians elsewhere The mani
Hitherto the moderate party i'll the Trans
vaai has refrained from political agitation
for fear of embarrassing the government
The leaders Of it now look forward, how
ever. to Il popular demand for full
measure of representative government
for which they do not think the country
is yet prepared. They believe that it IS
wiser to go slow, at all events until such
Troublesome questions as that of Chinese
labor. etc, have been settle! definitely
The agitators for representative govern
ment are also the strongest opponents of
the introduction of Chinese coolies.
England faces in Afghanistan- an old
problem Of diplomacy in new form.
Russia has built two railroads right down
to the border line of that country. The
further way to India lies across Afghan
stan. Though a country long since faller
into decadcnce. conditions demand that
the national integrity OF AtGhaniStan u"
preserved To attempt ato gain the land
| of the ameer would precipitHte a struggl"
that may be won by diplomacy. So Eng
land is considering a railroad M from
India on the south. 1t is England's idea
to cement an alliance with the amer
now while the prestige of Russia suffers
in the estimation of all the world. English
men in India take the view that the ameer
must open his country to British friend I
ship, commerce and railways. They hold
| that he must do 50 for his peoples inter
ests. for the development OF his country
| and for better protection from enemies
from without Afghanistan is weak in
| the heterogencitY of nationality. in tn
crude standardization of its people and in
| lack of consolidation of the amcer'S power
| over the clans, who are the righ,ful sub
| jects. Russia crowds down onto his
| northern border, and not with friendly in
opportunity to conquer arrives. Russia
| offers the rule of the SlaN, England
offers to strengthen the ameers own pow
or over his people, to develop his country
| to give him and his people the best civil
ization the world has tn offer.
|