Omaha daily bee., 1910-11-26


awakening giant Of the far east Dr. c.
E. Morrison, war correspondent OF the Lon
don Times, one OF the foremost authorities
on things Chinese, in a recent address
sketched the developments Of the great
empire and the spirit animatiug the leaders
OF 4OO,OOOOOO people. Chronic standpausm and
customs rooted in the moss Of centuries nat
urally retard progress, nevertheless, DIT.
Morrison observes that China is moving for
ward rapidly and steadily The govern
ment Is opening up and colonizing waste
territory, bringing under cultivation vast
acres hitherto undeveloped In Mongolia
and Manchuria the colonlzing work is go
ing forward at a surprising rate. a net
work OF railroads Is spreading throughout
the country, canals are being dredged and
extended, and irrigation works developed
in arid territory. Intercourse is further
stimulated by the spread Of the postof-
flee system, by extended telegraph and
telephone, and by the development of the
native press. Popular interest in public
affairs is heightened by the new provin-
cial councils, and the DEGREES pledging a
native parliament. Schools and colleges
on modern lines are being established In
every province, and popular education ex-
tended as rapidly as teachers can be
trained DR.. Morrison confirms the re-
ports regarding the modernizatlon Of the
Chinese army. Though the army has not
, yet reached a high standard marked
1 advance in efficiency is noted, besides the
martial spirit Of a people hitherto averse
/ to the profession OF arms and armies has
| been stimulated to a marked degree These
are the forces now moving the mighty en-
piro to destiny that presently will cause
the world powers OF today TO sit up and
take notice.
The sphere of influenct of European
governments with long purses is not linn
tied to territory over which their respec-
/ tive flags float 1t embraces poverty
stricken empires and kingdoms mortgaged
to the money lenders. Turkey was obliged
| to grant direct supervision of its revenues
to France in retu D for the privilege Of
marketing its bonds in Paris Where sup
ervision is not conceded the money lend
ers are fairly certain, should default &C.
| cur, that some means will be found to
foreclose the lien. Persia furnishes a pres
ent day example. England and Russia hold
/ large bundles of Persian bonds. The gov
eminent OF the young shah is financially
strapped, and is unable to collect all the
revenue that is its due Insurgent states
men who exiled the father and placed
his 1S-year-old son on the famous pea
cock throne cannot maintain order through
out the kingdom, especially In the south
| ern section traversed by the caravan
routes of traffic. Brlgands infest the re-
gion and their robberies have diminished
traffic. The toll which the Persian author
! tiles should obtain from rich overland
trade fattens the collars of the brlgands,
and leaves the money lenders holding the
sack. Consequently Great Britain has in
timated to Persia that unless order is
| quickly restored in the disaffected re-
| gion, measures will be taken to protect
trade routes and a few cemeteries fattened
with brigands. Russian troops are camped
| in three towns in northern Persia, deter
mined to stay until certain financial deals
are settled, while the Persian treasury
| is innocent of the faint Of money. AS
events move along in that section of the
old world, the impression grows that the
Persian Peacock will presently lose a
bunch Of its tail feathers, If 1t isn't plucked
as clean as a Thanksgiving turkey.
| A German income tax statistican gives
interesting particulars Of the compare
lively recent growth OF large private
fortunes I'm the Fatherland. Heading the
list is Frau Bertha Krupp Won BohIen-
Halbach, who was before her marriage
Germany's wealthiest heiress. She has
to pay on S46,75OOOO. Five years ago she
was still richer and contributed to the
imperial exchequer on the basis of a for
tune OF S,5OOOOO. Next comes Prince Hem
| excl Won Donnersmarck the kaiser's friend
| and owner of various industrial undertake
ings, who has increased his fortune during
the last fifteen years from $12, 100000 to
Si4 $4,000 The third is the duke of Ujest,
| OF the Hohenlohe family, a bachelor, who
has improved himself in the last decade
from $1S,5OO,OOO to Ss7,75OoOO. The fourth in
order of riches is Baron Goldschmidt-
Rothschild OF Frankfort, who owns $685.
10000. The greatest capitalist Of Berlin is
Ernest Won Mednesssohn-B artholdy Of the
banking firm of that name, who possesses
SO,75O,OOO He, however, comes only seven
teenth on the general list. The sixteen
richest people in Germany do not reside In
the capital.
! glance at the population and area of
the four states comprising the new South
| African union indicates their diverse char
acter and importance The Transvaal has
an area OF 1l7O00 square miles and a popu-
lation OF 1347,OOO; the Orange River colony
has an area Of 5OSs2 miles and a popula-
| ton Of 10000; Natal, with an area OF only
1881 square miles, has population of
1,l64OOO, and Cape Colony, with a total
area, including dependencies, Of 276, 995
square miles. has a population Of about
100000. While the northern colonies, and
particularly the Transvaal, are rich, and
their budgets show a surplus, the colonies
Of the south are poor and have been strug-
Cling with deficits. This is one Of the
things that will make It difficult to har-
monize the interests Of the four states
The Paris correspondent Of a London
Journal writing OF the new members OF the
latest French cabinet, points out that they
are not all new men" in the sense that
they have had no political or parliamentary
experience. On the contrary, they have al.
most all been working bees In the parlia.
mentary hive, and have done the kind OF
| work which gives members OF parliament
| In France and elsewhere a better knowl
! edge OF important affairs than prominent
participation in debate or eloquent activity
on the platform. They have been busy
members, chairmen, or reporters" or bud