Omaha daily bee., 1909-06-19

size LtNhtn on NhaN ~ GNehA- /
piring Among the Near and
Far Nations Of the Earth
~Jingoism is steadily growing and sssum-
ing the proportions Of a plague on the pro-
ductive Industries OF Europe. War parties
are dominant everywhere, and peace advo-
Gates are overwhelmed by the tumult OF
drums. The great increase In taxation
contemplated in Britain by the pending
war budget Is an enlarged duplicate Of
similar measutes in Germany, France and
Russia. white Austria and Italy must i'm
pose greater burdens on the people II the
announced policy Of naval expansion Is
carried out. In England the army and
navy iingoes continue IN the saddle, riding
~roughshod over the safe and sane minor
ity. drowning with a greater volume Of
noise the indignation provoked by the bud
get. Germany's naval program, backed by
the organized Naval league, makes in
creased taxation inevitable. even II the
present deficit Of 500. 900. 900 in national re-
sources is converted into a bonded debt.
The per capita Of taxation In Germany, as
computed by the ministry OF finance, is
R12.O4, while the per capita in Great Britain,
according to the same authority, Is $685..
almost double that Of Germany. giving a
wide margin OF operation for German tax
gatherers. The evident policy Of the Ger
man ministry to increase national revenues
to something like the British per capita
foreshadows a fierce political contest be-
tween taxpayers on the one hand, and So
clalists and military boosters on the other.
Already an organization, comprising cham
bers Of stock exchanges. bank
ers and manufacturers has been formed
and public demonstration made against in
creasing public burdens. Opposition may
retRrd, but not defeat measures for more
revenue. Jingoism Is backed by a COM
pact, resourceful. militant body, ever on
the alert for it's own welfare, while the
opposition is not responsive to discipline
and soon wearies Of a fight. European
nations are conducting a gigantic war
dance and the people must pay for the
music.
Balloonery as an adjunct to military
establishments is carried on with feverish
zeal in Europe. Experiments are going
forward in Germany, France, Austria and
England, producing sufficient public en-
thusiasm to insure large balloon drafts on
the prospective war chests. Germany,
combining government provision and popu-
lar enthusiasm, has a fund Of $1,90S, 400 for
its army aerial service. The popular fund
in aid OF Zeppelin's experiments amounts
to 81. 1876. 600; The government has appro-
priated for the purchase of Zeppelin ships
$5s7. 400, and 1t maintains a regular aeros-
tatic corps as a branch Of the army at a
cost for this year Of $131 900. France has
no popular fund. and the public interest In
flying seems to attach itself chiefly to the
spectacular aeroplane performances. The
government, however, maintains a school
of aerostation for instruction and expert
ment, and 1t has a fund of $500 from
the budget Of 1908 for this purpose. Austria
spends more money on its military aviation
service than England. The allowance for
this year is $4,000 for the maintenance OF
the aerostatic corps and SIS, 400 for the
purchase of dirigible balloons. England
has an appropriation of 1900 for the build
ing Of dirigibles, 81. $50 for ~aeroplane ex-
perlments and about $15,0Oo for general
army aerostatic work. This public expendi-
ture is likely to be greatly increased in
the new appropriations for national de-
tense.
Two great reforms that Will test the
courage and craftsmanship of the progress
sive Turks are the Punishment Of the dogs
Of Constantinople and the suppression of
''baksheesh." There are more dogs In Con-
stantinople in proportion to population than
in any other city on earth. They have
become an institution, and enjoy more
liberty than their owners. "Baksheesh" is
the coin with which the itching palms OF
servitors are soothed. Otherwise, the tip.
Do the young Turks fully appreciate what
they are up against? Punishment Of the
dogs is simply a matter of zeal, persist
ence, good Workmanship or a commodious
drowning apparatus. An attack on "bak-
sheesh' is an assault on the native con-
science. Revolutions spring from lesser
causes.
Annually the British ministry lays be-
fore Parliament a detailed statement OF
the nations liabilities and assets. In that
submitted recently covering the fiscal year
ended March 81, is one item which bears
witness to the profitable foresight of Great
Britain in buying the khedive's Suez canal
shares. These were purchased In 1876 for
about $40, 900, 900, and are today appraised
at s1eO, OOO, 900, an eightfold increase in lit
tie more than three decades. The block
was composed of l76, 6o2 shares, making
Great Britain the largest holder of canal
stock. The money worth Of the shares
is not thef greatest value to their owner,
since with their possession has come virtual
control OF the great trade route to the
east. So we'll is this control established,
that while the majority of the stock is still
in other hands the voting power of Great
Britain Is decisive.
James Hamilton Lewis .ex-congressman
and incorporation council of Chicago,
writing to The Chicago Evening Post from
Seoul, says OF Corean women: - woman
is the least OF things In Corea and the
smallest consideration, living or dead. A
slave, then a free woman, yet always only
the mistress or servant or both, though
called wife and compelled to endure as
many others In her household as the hus-
band may bring, while the slightest infrac-
ton on her part is met with exile, divorce
or death. She does the work. He is a
dandy and gambler, though he is no
boisterer. makes no noise. no loud-volced
declarations, no clatter on the streets I'M
less It is a fight"
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