Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1904-10-27

theme we shall first inquire. Is II
strictly true that this which Is known
by name. a brotherhood Of men OF d.
vine or eyen Of human origin. II SO,
what economical council so declared
It? Does 1t mean that, one and all
Of the human family compose it? Is
IL evident that the fourteen hundred
millions OF this worlds inhabitants
are dejure and defacto members OF II?
Perhaps TO clear the way, let it be
asked. What does this brotherhood
mean and include, according to It's ac-
cepted meaning?
II means that you and | are related
10 and inter related with one another
a.; brethren, or brother members Of
the brotherhood, that we owe sympa.
thy to and interest in them. And no
matter what any member OF 1t may be
he yet Is our brother, and we cannot
discover our relation from his rela.
ton Therefore, as honest, just men.
we rightly cannot release ourselves
from our obligation to do him good.
According to the writer's informa-
ton, the key to the Russian position
today, Is the decline OF agriculture,
and 1t seems that this decline has
been brought about, directly. since the
emancipation OF the serfs, through
their lack OF scientific methods; and
yet, holding on an average only about
five acres per head; and, neverthe-
less, taxation has increased at a de-
structive ratio. These conditions
have ~pauperized the farmers, and
when they fall altogether and the land
owner ia, Obliged to do labor for 9TH
ers. the day.laborers wages average
but ten cents per day.
The number Of cattle and horses
has decreased SO greatly that fertil.
izers and animal power are lacking
for cultivation. And because the land
has become exhausted by repetition
or the same crop for long series Of
years, without manure. that famines
are OF almost annual occurrence. We,
then, have left, ) says II authority,
one worthy Of credit, a vast popula-
tion OF from thirty to forty millions OF
starving farmers, and the condition OF
affairs growing wor every year.
What is called THE Black Earth
Belt Is the very heart of Russia. and
has been the great harvest field OF the
empire. This belt consists OF about
six hundred and twenty-five thousand
miles, holding about ~forty-five mil
lions Of inhabitants--that is. two
fifths OF the whole population of Rus
STA.
The best authorities tell us that
there is no escaping the fact that this
famous black earth belt is played out,
that 1t can no longer be relied upon
al the harvest field OF Russia and a
source of revenue. Only n crop can
be seen for over hundreds OF miles.
and that is wheat. AS a fact, this
agricultural heart or core OF Russia
has been exhausted. No word Is nee
essary to show why Russia is at so
terrible a financial disadvantage. The
present war. too. Is bringing these
conditions into full view. which ex-
pose her TO the examination of her
affairs and their inevitable considera-
ton to the ~livening OF her place
among the first class nations of Eu-
rope.
Where Ia she to get a revenue TO
meet the absolutely necessary ex-
penses of her government brought
| down 10 the lowest economical stand.
ard Whereas, according to another
eminent authority, we read of vast
| districts where there Is no communi
\ cation with markets: fat soil which
! does not return what is put into IT,;
! half starved animals on arid mea-
! dows; pious farmers with n hun
dred and fifty holidays In a year; an
| all p~ersuading sentiment in nameless
| terror and that is agricultural Russian
The writer approves of the war now
| raging in the far east. He approves
| OF 1t because the Notwithstanding of
| the Japanese is to be preferred to the
false-C Christianity of the czar and his
government. But why so speak
Louis XIV said: II am France" and
no less true, perhaps is 1t that the
absoluted car believes that he is Rus
sla.
W. Americans ought to be sorry.
indeed, for the shocking slaughterings
going on in the war. Thousands of
men are killed like sheep driven out
for the slaughter.
We ought. as Christians-real and
unreal, %sympathize with the Mikado
for he entered on the war In the.