Omaha daily bee., 1911-07-08

Fortunate is this nation IN having the
right representative at the right time in
the right place in England. Especially
should Nebraska feel chssty in having It's
distinguished citizen, the Hon. Church
Howe. on the firing line in a crisis. Those
who remember his ability, perspicacity and
adroitness in speech and action as legis-
lator In bygone days win not be surprised
to learn that his talents shine on all need
full occasions az American consul at Man.
chester Many such occas1ons arise. In
variably General Howe lie there with the
goods. The latest happened on June g. A
party OF American business men, number
ing eighty. comprising city officials, news
paper men and plain tourists. stopped .
day at Manchester to view the sights and
inspect some public works. The customary
banquet closed the reception. Sir Bosdin
Leech did the honors as speaker for the
city. Having recounted the many achieve
ments of the city and the success OF mu-
nicipal operation OF public utilities, SIR
Leech threw a shower Of bouquets toward
the city officials who devoted their time
and talents to the public good" He did not
know the reason why, but the fact re-
manned that those who entered the city
council never made penny out OF II. III
any man was found using the corporation
as a vehicle for his own enrichment he
would be drummed out" Somehow he
gathered the impression that city council
men in the United States we're different,
and expressed the hope they would
soon be banished from the sight Of
honest men. Right here General Howe
broke into the conversation. After seven
years in England he could vouch for the
honesty OF the municipal governments of
the kingdom. THE officials worked for
love Of country, and for the good of their
fellowmen." There was very little diff
ference between the city officials Of the
two nationa While the Americans were
looking for the almighty dollar English
men were looking for four shillings and
two pence" The shot struck a vital spot,
and the subsequent conversation was less
boasttul in tone
Germany's determination to be within
striking distance Of Morocco should q divi-
sion Of northwest Africa be deemed In the
interest Of civilization has deeper sig
nificanoe than IL attached to the dispatch
OF war vessel to the port of Agadir. Ger
many Is without a naval base on the At
lantio or on the Mediterranean sea. AsadIr
is within hailing distance Of the Straits of
Gibraltar and midway between Germany's
chief naval station OF KEEL and Rio JaneIro,
where German interests are growing by
leaps and bounds. All other European
powers are provided with naval bases on
the Mediterranean, and Germany IL not
disposed to let chance go by when the
cutting OF territory begins. OF course there
Is no intention OF acting hastily In throw
ing the harpoon. Germany is looking ahead,
determined to act should France and Spain
persist in extending their spheres Of in
fluence permanently. Both powers are justi-
fled by treaty rights In exercising police
powers in Morocco. To France has fallen
the more difficult and dangerous task of
invading the Moroccan capital Of Fec and
driving off the besiegers. The perils of the
situation lie In the length of time required
to suppress the warning native bands and
the possibility OF maintaining order with
native forces. The disposition of France to
emulate the British policy in Egypt ex-
plains why the mailed fist" appears off
the coast a. warning for fair divide
China, in the eyes of the west has been
so chronically the land of--vast attempts
and painfully slow achievement that the
story OF the war against opium which IL
approaching its successful close, falls little
short of the marvellous. The progress Of
that campaign is graphically described by
Rosa Pendleton Chiles in the Forum. On
January l, 1908, China began q three years
probation; upon the showing she made dur
ing these three years depended the SYM
pathies and cooperation OF the outside
world. At the end Of the probationary
period It was estimated by the Chinese
government that the cultivation Of the
poppy had been decreased by 80 per cent;
the estimate by British consular officers II
from Is to 10 per cent; the estimate by our
own consula Is about 30 per cent. Even at
the lowest figure, the result is astonishing
and leaves absolutely no doubt Of the de-
sire and determination OF the Chinese to
rid themselves OF the opium plague. There
have been no less than 100000 closings Of
opium dens. The public burnings Of con-
fiscated opium and smoking apparatus are
almost daily events.
The mighty strides of education in
Europe are strikingly shown in recent con-
tinentai statistics. Twelve years ago there
was only one teacher for every sixty
pupils. To-day the proportion is one
tedcher 10 every lorty-tiVe pupils. This
advance toward correct conditions is q re-
markable one, and II is doubtful II It can
be paralleied even in the United States.
Germany. as is generally recognized. has
the least illitsraoy. returning only three |
tlliterates 20 each 10oo OF population. In |
England there are ten In every thousand;
In Russia, SIT.
Austrana's population increased from
S773,S0 in 1901 TO Lloe.lO5 in 1911. Australia |
has now passed Ireland and pulled up |