The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1909-08-26
TROUBLE SPOTS ON THE WORLD
MAP

Matters attracting international at
tention last week were an issue be-
tween China and Japan; the great
strike in Sweden; increased friction
between Turkey and Greece over
Crete; the disturbances in Spain;
the wasting of Osaka by fire; and the
visit of Gear Nicholas to King Ed
ward.
The Osaka confagration happened
August 10th. Then fire ragged twenty
five hours over an area four miles
square, destroying according to first
estimate $4,000 buildings, including
famous temples, government build
ings, factories, stores and residences.
In the history of Japan, fire, cyclone
and earthquake have been all too de-
structive visitors. Earthquake and
cyclone are difficult enemies, but re-
sistance to fire is not impossible, al
though this cannot be offered with
the building materials in which the
Japanese give such artistic express
sion to domestic and ecclesiastical
architecture. The Japanese nation is
now at School-day school, night
school vacation school. Everybody
is learning. Every country Is the
unconscious teacher of Japan. Old
isms ars dissipating. Thought,
processes, instruments undermining.
Tradition will have to be wrenched,
but the way of the fathers will not
forever lead the japanese to build
cities only to be destroyed. Watch
them when they learn that Thomas
Edison in few weeks will have
ready for the world form of house
all of concrete, and capable of being
raised from the earth by pouring a
fluid into moulds.
The visit of the Car to England
passed without any demonstrations
which might produce diplomatic COM
plications. The Gear looked upon a
display of force Enthusiastically
British, this being $50 warships at
anchor. There was feasting and fair
words, but also publication of a let
ter signed by peers, commoners, cler-
gymen, and others, formally protest
ans o6oAAob IA0 I'LL O4oACu ISpI OSSkOu
of liberty in Russia.
The menacing uprising in Southern
Spain, with Barcelona the storm CEN
ter, seems checked, but doubtless the
snake is scotched, not killed. Details
of the destruction and barbarities in
Barcelona are not yet numerous, but
the loss Of property has been great,
and the exhibition of feeling against
the Roman Catholic Church hideous
and shocking. The forces behind the
incipient revolution, if such it were,
make perplexing tangle in which
one sees sinister work by revolution
lists, anarchists, anti-clericals, sepa-
ratists, and republicans.
The Industrial discomfort in Swe-
den, leading to idleness and bitter
ness among tens of thousands of
workmen, has put Stockholm in a
bad way. The military is in evidence,
the citizens are arming, food is be-
coming scarce, and tourists are shun-
ming the agitated capital.
The island of Crete wishes to unite
with Greece. OF late it has been de-
veloping certain independence under
the tranquilizing protection of Eng
land, France, Italy, and Russia, but
these powers have withdrawn their
forces, and in anticipation Crete de-
manded union with Greece, and on
July 26th ran up the Greek flag.
while Turkey demanded restoration
Of Turkish suzerainty as obtaining
before the Graeco-Turkish war of
1897. The last move is formal de-
mand Of Turkey to Greece that the
latter declare non-interference in
Cretean affairs. Serious complica-
tons are possible.
During the war with Russia, ia