Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1905-09-27


Ignorance Is universal OF the
Russians only about 80 per cent. of the
males and less than 10 per cent of the
females can read and write. 1t is
doubtful If the people outside OF the
large cities know anything Of the ex-
istence Of the war with japan, GER
tainly no details. The ARMY IS re-
cruited under the conscript system
and privates go to war or to fortress
guard duty as uniformed about tAeir
movements or destination as cattle to
the slaughter pen.
The number Of adherents to the
principal religious denominations is as
follows: Orthodox, S7.000000; old
faith and dissenters from orthodoxy,
2,000,000; Roman Catholics. 11,000,O00;
Jews, 100000; Professionals. 3,000,000;
Armenian Gregorians, 100000; Mo-
hammedans, 13,00O,000.
Russians Lacking in Religious Under.
standing.
The Russians are on the surface an
exceedingly religious people. They
continually interrupt their daily occu-
pations for Il prayer, a sign OF the
cross, or with bow or genuflexion
before every village or city church and
every roadside ikOfi. In the railway
stations there are little affairs before
which passengers bend In reverence
upon setting out ON a Journey. In
spite, however, Of apparent devotion;
the Russian Is lacking III religious
sentiment, Christianity has not yet
penetrated the sto1id peasant MASSES.
Whilst accepting the ceremonies of
Byzafitiufn, tile Russian people have
learned little Of the ethical teachings
of Christianity. External devotion
does not necessarily suppose real re-
liGlous sentiment, and Russian ati
th0rs do not hesitate to deny that
there is any Freht underlying character
or tone to tile people. THEY bow to
authority as d timid child does to d
stern parent. bfaiiy Of tile. Russian
Priests are ignorant men. but still
GENTLY trained to 20 through tile forms
of repeating the serviee and perform.
ing other church duties.
The Russian population IS made up
of the various classes, In abotft the
following proportions: Peasants, co.
100000; Burghers, 13.5O0.OU0; Heredi-
tary Noblemen, 1,200.000; Personal
Noblemen and Oficlals. 100000:
Ecclesiastics. 5SS,000; Hereditary and
Personal Honorary Citizens. $4,000;
Merchants, 1000. and Foreigners,
G05,50O. These figures are five or six
years old, as the Russian authorities
are 10th to give out Information.
Great Density Of Japaficse Pcpus
latior.
The population of Japan, according
to the census Of 1903, was nearly
4S,00O,OOO, and By adding that OF
Formosa, with nearly 3.0000Q0, the
Japanese Empire contains over 50,000,-
600 people. The density OF population
ranges from 900 to LOCO persons to the
square mile, the Kihai district, which
includes the cities of Kobe and Osaka,
with nearly LOO to the square mile,
being the most densely populated.
|. During the census period or ten
years ending with 1903, the average
annual increase of population in Japan
was nearly 100000. The need OF
Korea on the mainland for this over
flow Is apparent, The. present empire
consists of four large Islands and sew
eral thousand smaller ones. Tile
Japanese style their country Nippon
Thirty Wilton rarmcrss
OF the population Of Japan, over
8O,OOO,OUO are farmers. This Is moth
ing short of wonderful when 1t Is con-
sidered that the major portion OF the
Empire IL mountainous and unpro-
ductive and the immense population Is
supported from tiny farms covering a
cuitivatable area OF OILY $4,000 square
miles, tract of land less than one
half the area Of Ohio, supplemented by
levying contributions on the sea along
the extensive coast line. No other
nation In the world has reduced agri-
culture to such n fine practical
science; and In the opinion of Eastern
writer's the wonderful spirit OF devo-
ton to country which has been mani
tested by the Japanese soldiery Is due
to the spirit of patriotism bred on the
.'home acres" Of the population.
Rooted to the sol' would be the.
expression to describe the condition or
the major portion OF Japan's pspula'
ton.