The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1910-06-09
SALTWATER, MINNESOTA THURSDAY, JUNE 9, 1910

and piracy? Clothes few and far be-
tween? Rats and mice the staple
article of diet? No! Rather / shall
speak of her as she istoday. Electric
lights, cars, railroads, telegraph, tele-
phones all here. Cities are
rightly governed and policed. Sani-
tation is excellent and thanks to
Great Britain, Denmark and Amer
lea, civilization is making rapid
strides. The king is "a member of the
automobile club of Bangkok, while an
American named Stroebel practically
rules the country until such time as
the young princes, now being ed
ucated in Europe, are able to take
control and direct the destinies of
their country along the same chan
nels as flow those of the countries in
which they are being educated.
Formosa is no longer land of
pirates, but, has no less than five
/ thousand residents wi b money in
the savings banks. In few short
years, from 1900 to 1910, her trade
has grown from practically nothing
to about twenty millions of dollars.
1t was as recently as 1900 that sever
al hundred of her inhabitants were
killed while raiding the savages of
the deep forests, yet today these
selfsame savages work side by side
in the industries of the country with
those who only few short years
ago pursued them to the very death.
And what of Japan? Her states
men have sat at the feet of Bismarck,
Gladstone and Hay, have turned their
lessons into the gold of peaceful con-
quest. Her Generals have studied in
the best schools that other nations
have afforded. Her admirals have
studied the craft of the waters under
the tutelage of the best naval engi-
neers that the world has ever known,
and sometimes one is disposed to be-
lieve that the pupil has outgrown the
teachers. III er admirals of peace
: have offered to buy out the American
fleets on the Pacific, n the way of
subsidies. Her commerce is increas-
ing by leaps and bounds. Her banks
are now scattered throughout the
world. What have the most civiliz-
ed powers that she has not! Nothing
and repeat it, nothing. The prog
ress of Japan has been as a pillar
of fire amid the darkness of the Orient
guiding the nations toward freedom.
China is following the light, as is
Formosa, Siam and even Persia. 1t
, is only few years back that the
| Shah granted his people constitu-
( ton, grudgingly it is true, but of ne
cessity. 1t was forced from him by
| the demands of civilization and ed
ucation. A few short years and the
e existing apathy of this country must
I also fall to the onrush of this almost
g irrisistable force.
t India. Some would say that Eng
J. hand has failed in India. for the spir-
! it of the mutiny is not even yet dead
The necessity of irrigation is still Of
: the greatest importance, but with the
s final conversion of her three hundred
: millions of people will come desire
: for more civilized condition of af.
y fairs. The terrible famines are per
: petual blot on the records of Eng
0 lands dealings with India, but if JUS
a tice is to be meted out it must surely
: be said that, without England the
g condition of India would indeed bt
q pitiful, "and though perhaps progress
q and education are slower than else
q where, yet they are nevertheless sure
q Undoubtedly the task undertaken by
e England is the hardest ever assumed
It by an alien nation, but what are {
II few years when one is fighting agains
e caste, with it's thousand years of his
: tory: against child marriage, suttees
e infanticide and the habits of nature
} practicea for fifty centuries? Th,
} marvel of it all is that there are to
y day twenty million who can read anl
It write and who are struggling, though
+ feebly, toward the light the nation
g lost thousands of y ears ago and !!
: only now again beginning to discern
t From the little / have stated
'r trust | have said enough to arous
$; your interest in the progress of tn
y world. 1t may be slow in places, bu
lg for the most part it is wonderful AM
swift. What has been the cause?
W The United States and Englan,
8 supply the answer Time was whel
G. colonizing was done with fixed bay
rs onet in one hand and a Bible in th
er other. Today the lesson has bee
as learned and we colonize with tn
ra 1Continaed ~ column. 5 tI.ls pogs. )