Omaha daily bee., 1905-11-12
EAST AND WEST COMPARED
Social and Political Institutions Of Tv
Worlds Contrastsd.
ENGLAND IN THE DECLINE or GREATNESS
SIav f. the Coming world Power and
Russia May shine when Amer
lean Greatness Has Faded
Away.

taken its way This is certainly a palpa-
BILE and most apparent fact to the careful
observer.
II civilization began in Asia, its zenith
Of development is today half way around
the world and still on its westward trend.
AS / had mentioned in a former article,
It has crossed the Mediterranean, and the
Atlantic, and is about to cross the Pa
cihc, each time adding to its splendor
and greatness. What a mighty people
were the Greeks, the Romans, and who
knows Of the prehistoric times of the
Asiatics? Their past is yet to be un-
earthed. What a mighty people were the
English and what a great people are to-
day the Americans.
Greek art and Roman politics have GER
tainly permeated thu western world, and
we are yet learning by their example.
However, their teaching is but a founda-
ton for modern times for we are to fight
out our own destiny. The Europeans have
been following closely their footsteps; but
America is yet to venture out into the
realm Of art and science. We are yet
TO outstrip the splendors Of the Greek and
Roman world.
Americas Splendid Opportunity.
Americas natural isolation has given
her opportunity for internal development,
as have had all great nations without
external interference, and she is now
able TO embark into commercial empire.
Europe was once the western empire;
America is the western empire today, and
it Is only "a question of time when empire
will migrate across the Pacific. In travel
ing over the two civilized sections of
these continents, there is nothing that
impresses one more than the similarity
of the peoples with dssimilar languages,
laws and customs. 1t is certainly true
that God made all the peoples Of one
blood, that they might share common
brotherhood. Europe is a congested terri
tory about equal to the United States,
where one-third of the worlds population
is struggling for existence. 1t is not
surprising that the governments put up
a high tariff on our imports, to save their
power at the hunger and suffering of
their peoples. They cannot compete with
the western fertility. and the walls of
tarin which they put up must some day
crumble for those countries are no
longer self-supporting. Wheat is the
stan of life, and they have not even
enough of it. Expansion by colonization
is the sole solution Of this grave question
which the powers are attempting.
Europe Faces starvation,
fuTupe , cry Is lSanug ana lutIe Is DuL
one country that has it. viz: Russia.
When a great famine comes. the conditions
in Europe will be appalling. Adversely is
very pronounced, and stringent times are
very trying. In America adversely Is not
yet known. Where is there hunger in
America today? Although our poor houses
are becoming filled there is still plenty to
eat. In Europe the aims houses are so
congested that 1t takes influence of an in
fluential friend to get the poor into the
poor houses The streets are crowded
with beggars, and the most pitiful sight
that a man can see today is somebody's
old mother-yes, someone's old god-mother
with wrinkled face and trembling hand
begging for aims If there is anything
that will touch the hardest heart that ever
beat, II is the sight of those old people,
who have struggled through the long bat
tie Of life, and still are fighting the battle
of existence as they are nearing home.
Why is it that this world is so unjust, and
why is It that the West is more Just than
the East2 Nature has ever been bountiful,
and where 1t was untouched It is produ-
cling today, and there is plenty; where its
forces have been wasted there is want.
Lesson to Americans.
Should not America heed the experience
of all the poverty-stricken countries and
be more judicious in her demands on ma
ture? Why have we killed off the buffalo,
and thus starved out the Indian? We must
amend OF we will repent. Poverty will
come to us with wealth. for highly unpro-
portionate distribution of wealth is an
incident to prosperity. We have no pow
erty question. as compared with that of
Europe today, but increased and continued
prosperity threaten to make It the most
serious question Of future time.
Our iaborers today live much better and
enjoy more comforts than those of Europe,
and are better workers, but the American
laborer is poorer than the European, as
compared with his employer, for this reason
that the unequal distribution OF wealth in
Europe today is not so marked as in Amer
lea. Today we certainly have a labor ques-
ton In more systematic form than Eur
ope. Our labor question in the beginning Of
the defense OF the poor against the rich, for
labor and capital is composed of these ele-
ments. In Europe they have no such cap
ital and labor wars because the Iaborer
recognizes his status Cby reason OF tradl-
tion) as servant, and not an independent
factor. Equality is the cornerstone to
democratic institutions, and the American
has been taught TO fight to the last ditch
for these rights. All questions in the flu
ture viii be swept into oblivion by reason
OF the development OF these two facts. the
rich and poor, in a government where equal
ity Is an inheritance.
One can certainly say that the West ia
the land OF thrift, and the East the land Of
laggardness. The most marked example OF
this Is In England where laziness is at its
hoodtide. To board a train In England. Is
like going back century 70 take a ride on
the first rail-coach. II is true that thew
have the best OF steel and equipment and
that there is less danger OF accident. than
In America, but their caution makes them
the slowest people in the world This Is
repugnant to an American but the Euro
pean knows that he lives and who he Is
while the American does not
EnEIARd's Hour Has struck.
England is declining and on the last
crutch OF her commercial empire: she has
played her part in commerce well. but her
days are numbered while the hand of fate
points her out She has built up the mos,
wonderful empire in modern times she has
always been godmother TO her colonies.
has treated them judiciousiy and brought
civilization and happiness TO many lands
only TO find out their inideiity as thev
grew strong and independent. She may
depend for support upon her children. but