Omaha daily bee., 1907-04-06

at The remarkable success OF japanese
arms IN wrestling Corea and Manchuria
from Russian influence and in blocking
Russla's advance to an open port on the
yellow sea, inspired a degree Of self-con-
hdence in Japan that makes the yellow
peril force to be reckoned with. A sue
cession OF recent events furnish significant
evidence Of Japans ability to ruin in COM
mercial and industrial lines victories as
far-reaching as those achieved on battle
fields. Gradually and surely the sunburst
empire is monopolizing the carrying trade
OF the Pacific. Japanese merchantmen are
taking business out Of the hands OF Amer
leans at Pacific coast ports. It's merchant
marine is constantly expanding and that OF
the United States diminishing on the Pa
cihc. Low wages for crews and ca gerness
to secure traflc at any price gives the
Japanese an advantage which Americans
cannot contend against probably. The
Japanese are the dominant race in the
Hawaiian islands. They control three
fourths OF the business; they represent
three-hfths Of the population, and render
white labor or business a hopeless struggle
To what extent the Japs are entering the
Philippines is not known. Evidently the
number has not been large enough to pro-
woke comment. But the Dutch island of
Celebes, west OF the Philippines and ad-
Joining Borneo. is attracting the Japs In
such numbers as to excite the fears OF the
Netherland government Celebes Is a
sprawling island of connected peninsulas,
with mines Of gold and copper, precious
stones. rich SOIL an equatorial climate,
varied by earthquakes and monsoons.
These events are symptomatic OF the flu
ture. The marvellous expansion OF the en-
pre- the sharp recovery from the effects
Of war and the activity and enterprise OF
the people at home and abroad demonstrate
a racial virilty and aggressiveness which
Is bound 20 direct the destinies OF the
oriental nations.
The United States does not enjoy a mo-
nopoly of campaign contributions from cor
porations friendly to the party cause. Sim
liar instances of "enlishtencd self-interest"
occasionally pass under the arc light OF
publicity abroad and with results as disap-
pointing a. here. During the recent mu-
niclpal elections in London an organization
known as the London Municipal society
was actively at work on behalf OF the
moderate" candidates, who were the oppo-
nents OF the progressive or municipal
ownership party. The directors of the Lon
don and Northwestern Railway company
the amount on their books under "sundry
expenses not classed." so that It was eff
fectivey hidden. Nevertheless the facts
leaked out together with the further fact
that a private bill in behalf of the road
was pending In Parliament. Thereupon
seven liberals moved in the House of Com
mons to the effect that mo bill can be
satisfactory TO this house which oonfers
increased powers on a railway company
created by act OF Parliament which has
subscribed out Of its corporate funds to a
party organization" The innocent direc-
tors were very much surprised that their
money had been used for party purposes,
and at once refunded the sum to the COM
pany out Of their own pockets The ex-
pected party favors vanished at the same
time.
Preliminary arrangements for the inter
national peace congress at The Hague adj
vance slowly owing to the difficulty OF
formulating a program satisfactory to all
participating powers. 1T is now certain"
says the New York Sum-" that the British
government some days ago oficially re-
quested Russia, to which the task OF
drafting the programme OF the next Hague
congress was delegated, to include the ques-
ton OF the Limitation OF expenditures on
ornaments. Notice of this application has
been sent to all the powers invited to par
ticipate In the congress, but as yet no reply
has been received. 1t is known that OBJ
Jections either to the form or to the sub
stance Of tho proposal have been made by
the German and Austrian ambassadors at
st. Petersburg, but precisely what the OBJ
jections are, and how they have been re-
ceived by the car, remains 10 be sscer-
tanned. There is OF course no ground for
the notion that Great Britain and the
United States will withdraw from the con-
gress II their wish to discuss the reduction
OF ornaments is unheeled, or that, in the
opposite event, Germany. Austria, and pos
sibly France. will pursue a similar course.
There are many other important matters
to be dealt with II the work OF the frEt
Hague conference is to have any develop
ment Conspicuous among these are an
exact determination OF the rights and
duties OF neutrals, the treatment Of the
private property of belligerents at sea, and
the permissbility OF the bombardment Of
unfortifed ports, towns and villages by
a naval force. There is no doubt that these |
phases OF warfare deeply AFFECT the inter- |
ests and well being Of mankind"
like the German regulation Of many other
things, Is drastic almost TO the point OF
tyranny, from an American point Of view;
still. SO many Americans are contemplate |
ing automobile trips through Europe the
coming season that they should know the
conditions to which they must conform
when they strike the German highways.
The. method OF identification is very COM
plete For this purpose Germany is d.
vfded into thirty-eight sections. the king
dom Of Prussia including thirteen Of thsss
Every automobile must bear the kingdom
number, the province number and the indi-
vidual number, and these must be so placed
as to be easily read and not defaced by
mud, dust or other causes. This Is impor-
tant because the owner is liable to very
heavy damages for injuries caused 10 per-
sons or property by his car There have
been cases where lives have been sacrificed
in which the courts have compelled owners
not only to pay large indemnities to
widows and children but IN extreme in
stances to pay annuities V minor children
until such time as they should reach