Omaha daily bee., 1908-12-19
OTHER LANDS THAN Guns.

The policy of ostracism TO which Captain
Boycott Of Mayo county. ireland, involun-
tarily lent his name twenty-eight years
ago, has advanced from an individual to
a national weapon Of defense. and has
belted the world. II is "boycotter" In
France, 'boycotten' in Holland, boycott
tirenS in Germany and 'boikottirovat" in
Russia. China invoked the boycott as a
means Of expressing public indignation
against the conduct of Japan for imposing
on China humillating terms for the seizure
of a contraband vessel. Unwilling or UNI
able to resent the imposition by other
means, the business men of China chose an
equally effective way Of plucking a tail
feather from the game cock Of the east.
Within six months Japanese trade fell off
one-half, and Japanese traders, reduced
to hard straits. prevailed on the authorities
to compromise and restore commercial
peace with China. In a small way the ma
tives Of some parts of india resent alien
rule by boycotting English goods. Turkey
Is the latest nation to adopt the boycott
as the best available means of protest
against the disruption of the Balka states.
The boycott is directed against Austro-
Hungary, the dual government being re-
garded as the chief promoter and bene-
ficiary of the disruption. The Balkan
CndlBtS stEluuSly dlAtIuCu lub pAtoNlbt VI
Turkey, but the liberals or young Turks
party, only a few months in power, did
not dare to risk an open rupture with
Austria, choosing instead the surer weapon
of commercial ostracism. Already the
boycott of Austrian goods has caused a
marked change in the temper of Austria.
The grasping ministers who flouted pro-
test at first, have been induced by the
pressure of lean business purses to listen
to reason as trade e%xpounds It. While the
Austrians are ~retreating, the business ele-
ments of Turkey loyalty support the pol
icies of the new government, and there is
reason to believe the course pursued will
be victorious in the end.
The Russian millionaire, Peteroff of Mos
COW, pulled off a remarkable c~onflagration
to brighten his path through the valley Of
the shadows, and convey a lesson of more
or less value to his heirs, Peteroff drew
all his money out Of the banks. piled the
bank notes before him and set them on
fire. With the affection which millionaires
show when obliged to let go. Peteroff
called in his loving heirs to witness the
disposal of his property. Many of the lit
tie details which give color and atmosphere
to such a rare spectacle are omitted from
the dispatches. but it is fair to assume
that the heirs sprinkIed the ashes with real
tears. 1t was their turn to weep. The
dying millionaire doubtless was impressed
by affections tribute to him and passed
away with a s~ubconscious Idea of his own
wisdom. Naturally the old s~kinflint Is
being criticised harshly by relatives with
airy anticipations, by the government,
which loses inheritance taxes. and by those
who would cheerfully assist in the dis
/ frfH,,Nso, ~ hNg Agfofa hut AGAINST fhnaa
criticisms may be placed the assured safety
Of Peteroff's money. If he has a past, that
past is secure. There is nothing for the
heirs to fight over and drag his old bones
into the limelight to prove that he was
incompetent to dispose of his property.
He took no chances on what might happen
when he was out of sight, for heirs are
sometimes capricious in their respect for
the memory of the deceased. Certainly old
Peteroff went up and out in a blaze of
satirio glory and left to posterity an
episode more enduring than his millions
would be.
italy occupies a unique and enviable
position among the nations of Europe at
the present moment. Financially, the ma
ton is on easy street, while all its neigh
bors are confronted with decreased reve-
HutS anu liSl 1ApOAAoSSs 1NNSNhNAJ NHS
Italian minister of finance reported to
Parliament that within a year the public
debt had been reduced by $21 100000. all
current obligations met and a surplus Of
81, 800, 900 remained in the treasury. The
contrast with neighboring nations is strik-
ing. Great Britain is facing a deficit esti-
mated at $780, OO, 900. caused by decreased
revenues and increased expenses. Germany
plans to raise by new taxes a total Of
$125, 100000 annually to meet theAcost of the
emperor's navy plans. Russia is placing
on the market a loan of $225, 000,0O with
which to meet pressing obligations, and
France, having about exhausted all sources
Of local revenue, proposes to make tourists
pay literally for the privilege OF seeing
Paris.
Blackmail is not officially recognized as
a profession in Europe. 1t is nevertheless
an institution rooted TO the soil and be-
yond reach of existing law. What was
formerly a business monopolized by sharp
ers is now vastly enlarged by recruits from
the servant class, who, having facilities
for obtaining inside information, become
invaluable as assistants and sharers in the
spoils. A society composed Of Brltons who
had been. at one time or another. in the
clutches Of the law, was formed some
years ago for the purpose of protecting
the members from extortioners. But the
society's efforts have been fruitless, owing
to the loopholes of the law, and twelve of
its members, within a year, have been
bounded to suicides graves. A volunteer
commission OF Englishmen is now engaged
in drafting a bill for a law which will
reach the blackmailers without entailing
public exposure on the victims. On the
continent the business is beyond the hope
Of suppression. being fostered by the sys-
tens Of the government spies, whereby
favored officials secure compromising cor
respondence and reports which place the
victims at the mercy of the official and
unofficial blackmailers
zee
Results from the English law, passed in
1907, designed to compel foreign owners OF
patents to manufacture the article in the
United Kingdom in return for the pro-
lection of the law, have not come up to
expectations. Statistics recently published