Omaha daily bee., 1905-12-31

worlds history and viii for an indefinite
time exert an influence upon the rela-
tons and the affairs of the nations.
For the United States 1905 has been a
year Of peace, progress and unprece-
denied prosperity. Great crops have re-
warded the labor of the agricultural pro-
ducers, their aggregate value exceeding
that Of any previous year. The output
of the manufacturing industries has
been greater than ever before in
twelvemonth. There has been vast
increase in internal and foreign com
merce. Our exports and imports for
the year run S130,OOO,OO0 for ex-
ports and $1GOOOO,OOO for imports over
last year. Railroad gross earnings are
some $120,O0O,OO0 over 1904 and net
earnings some S4O.OO0,0O0. Bank clear
ings are about S34 OOO,OOO more than
in 1904, or a growth in overturn of a
third. Expenditures of steam railroads
for new rolling stock during the year
far surpass all previous records, amount
ing to above $500, 100000. Such are some
Of the evidences of national prosperity,
To which must be added the large accu
mutations of the people as shown in the
savings bank deposits, representing
chiefly the gains of labor. No approx
mately accurate estimate can now be
made of the addition for the year to the
10 10,
sands of millions of dollars. In another
respect, that of world influence, the
United States has advanced. The dem
onstrated devotion of this republic to
the cause of peace among the nations,
magnificently exemplified in the action
of its chief executive in bringing about
the peace negotiations between Russia
and Japan. has led the nations to regard
this country as pre-eminently the power
capable of promoting international
peace. More than ever before in its his
tory the United States enjoys the re-
spect and confidence of the nations.
When the year opened no one could
foresee the end of the mighty conflict in
the far east Vast armies confronted
eacn other in preparation for what was
expected to be the greatest battle of
modern times. 4 formidable Russian
fleet was moving toward Asiatic waters
to challenge Japan's control of the sea.
With profoundest interest the world
awaited a meeting of the hostile forces.
The great naval battle in the Sea of
Japan decided the conflict. Russian
power i'll the far east was hopelessly
broken. The time for intervention had
the admiration of the world President
Roosevelt brought the belligerent ma
tons together in peace negotiations. The
conclusion of the war placed Japan
among the world powers and gave TO
China assurance that her territorial in
tegrity would be preserved. BY the
treaty of Portsmouth Japan committed
herself to the ''open door" for trade and
Il treaty recently concluded with China,
under which sixteen ports and cities of
that empire are to be opened to the COM
merce of the world, shows the sincerity
of Japan's purpose to give all the COM
mercial nations fair opportunity in the
Asiatic markets. Assured of the preser-
walton of her territorial integrity and
administrative entity" China is mani
Testing a disposition TO assert herself as
an Independent nation. She is organic
and otherwise preparing to take a place
among the world powers. This gives as
surance of a radical change in the rela-
tons of the western nations with those
of the east, which may produce future
conditions that cannot be foreseen.
China for the Chinese" is present cry
thar seems ominous, but may not prove
as significant as some apprehend. though
it should not be regarded too lightly. As
to the rise of Japan to controlling posi-
ton in the affairs of the far east, there is
in it nothing to cause distrust or appre-
hension on the part of western nations.
The course of that power has dispeled
the fear of the yellow peril" and it is
not likely to reappear within a genera
ton, if ever.
Events in Europe during the year have
been of great interest and of large i'm
port. Foremost in the stage of affairs
is the revolutionary movement in Rus
STA, the final outcome of which cannot
be predicted with confidence. 1t is a
protest of the people against despotic
rule and bureaucratic oppression and
corruption which IL is safe to say can
not fail to result in radical political so
cial and industrial changes to the ma
terial benefit of the masses. The gov
eminent may not be Overthrown. for the
great body OF the Russian people are
not now prepared for self-government,
but autocracy will be shorn of much of
its power and the bureaucratic regime
will come to an end. The revolutionary
may be checked, for the mill
tary power of the government is still
strong, but the spirit which inspired the
movement cannot be destroyed. 1t has
become so widespread and deep-seated
that to uproot it is impossible and there
can no no dOubt that snonpr mr. later II