--- title: Improvement Era description: Monthly periodical of the Mormon church, 1897 onward. This library holds the issues of November 1897 to December 1930. authors: - J. M. Tanner collections: - periodicals tags: - magazine - improvement-era periodical: Improvement Era volume: 5 number: 9 published: 1902-07 publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations publisher_place: Salt Lake City language: en type: magazine reference: 'J. M. Tanner, "Some Leading Events in the Current Story of the World," *Improvement Era* 5, no. 9 (July 1902): 708–712.' source: url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera0509unse transcription: Transcribed from the Internet Archive scan of each issue (the item for each issue is named in the issue's own source); unnumbered advertising leaves are omitted, printed page numbers are kept as page markers. identifier: improvementera0509unse start_page: 708 end_page: 712 rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1902-07) source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera0509unse publication_year: 1902 note: The Internet Archive item metadata carries a blanket "© Copyright by Intellectual Reserve, Inc." notice. The library owner judged it inapplicable because this issue was published in 1902, before 1931; a scan-level notice does not restore copyright. --- # Some Leading Events in the Current Story of the World MISSION WORK IN GERMANY. 707 awaiting trial. But in every case they came out all right, and also made many friends among the officers, judges and court. My partner and I made over a hundred miles on foot and with- out means, but the Lord provided for us, and our progress was not hindered by police nor prison bars. But in the face of all opposi- tion and the ridicule and hatred of the world, still we are not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God unto salvation. Aside from my duties in Elberfeld, my time is partly spent in going to Solingen (ten miles distant) to help hold meetings there every week. That city is world-famed for its manufacture of cutlery, and its products find ready sale in all markets of the world (Salt Lake City not excepted). We have made a number of short trips in the surrounding country, for the purpose of spreading the gospel, including a trip of twenty miles to Dusseldorf where the World's Fair of this year is to be held. The German ways and customs, though much different from ours, are not difficult to acquire, therefore I have long since be- come quite thoroughly "Germanized" — so much so that can hardly I write a letter in English any more. The German people, in spite of all their faults, are a good and honest people. The universal failing of this nation is an appetite for beer, which is considered as one of the chief necessaries of life. But those of them who re- ceive the gospel forsake their beer and other evils and live strictly the lives of Latter-day Saints. The gospel is working wonders among this people, and also among the elders who are preaching it. The good seeds are being sown and the harvest is sure. Let us be united both at home and abroad in doing each what little good we can for the furtherance of that glorious cause which has made us what we are, and will make us all we hope to be in this life and the next. SOME LEADING EVENTS IN THE CURRENT STORY OF THE WORLD. BY DR. J. M. TANNER, SUPERINTENDENT OF CHURCH SCHOOLS. Peace in South Africa. For over two years and a half, the war between the British empire and the tiny republics of the Transvaal and the Orange Free State, has lasted, but peace has come at last to that distracted land. In some respects, the recent war in South Africa has been the most remarkable in the annals of history. That two little republics consisting of some seventy thousand men and boys could compel the British empire to send three hundred thousand men against them, could kill during that war some twenty-four thousand English, wound or otherwise disable some seventy-five thousand more, are facts wholly unexpected when the war broke out, and surprising at its close. Formerly England garrisoned her South African colonies with a small force of five thousand men. It is hardly likely that fewer than fifty thousand will be required in the future. The terms of peace show a considerable compromise from the position which the contending parties have heretofore assumed. The English ceased to insist upon unconditional surren- der, and the Boers have given up all thought of national indepen- dence. The terms of peace, however are such as commend them- selves to the fairminded everywhere. The English have again substantiated their claim to the reputation of a liberal-minded policy. According to the report of the treaty, the Boers surren- der their independence, and swear allegiance to the British gov- ernment. They surrender their arms, and retain only sufficient arms and amunition for the purpose of hunting and protecting themselves against the unruly elements, either of adventurers or natives. In turn, England is to pay fifteen million dollars to the CURRENT STORY OF THE WORLD. 709 Boers to aid them in rebuilding their homes and in restocking their farms. The English further concede to the Boers the use of the Dutch language, wherever it is desired by them in the schools. Eng- land promises to withdraw from military occupation, as soon as pos- sible, and substitute self-government. From this provision, it is believed that the two republics will have similar local government to that enjoyed in Cape Colony. This provision, if the two repub- lics are to be made separate English colonies, might be of some avail to the people of the Orange Free State, as the Dutch are stronger there than in the Transvaal, where there are two foreign- ers, or outlanders, to every Boer. Some time must necessarily elapse before self-government can be instituted, and it is, of course, quite likely that, if conditions should be found unfavorable to England, local self-government will be delayed. The English promise to bring back to South Africa the Dutch prisoners of war. now located on the isle of St. Helena, and on the island of Ceylon, What is of great importance to the Boers is a provision that their lands shall not be subjected to any tax for the payment of the war debts. While in these two republics the mining interest at present pre- dominates, agricultural interests are sufficiently large and promis- ing to justify a liberal policy on the part of the English in favor of agriculture which must be fostered if it is to succeed. During the war,many of the Dutch subjects of Great Britain.in Cape Colony, joined their brethren in the Orange Free State and Transvaal. Such recruits by the law of England are regarded as rebels, and might properly be tried for treason. National bonds and sympathy among the Boers, however, are so strong as to entitle them to some measure of mercy, and so England, in her generosity, has promised not to inflict the death penalty upon them, though they are to be tried and punished according to the rules of war, and the rank and file of them are to be disfranchised. England will doubtless mitigate even these conditions, should a spirit of harmony and political fraternity develop in South Africa. The return of peace to South Africa means increased commer- between the United States and that country. We cial relations are the foremost in the manufacture of mining and agricultural machinery, and are fast gaining a foothold there in all branches of 710 IMPROVEMENT ERA. commerce. There will be renewed energy in working the mines at Johannesburg, and the enormous waste of capital that has been entailed in the prosecution of the war will cease. It seems re- markable indeed that a war between the British empire and so small a foe as the Dutch republics should have cost England up- wards of a billion dollars. Besides this loss, the gold output of the world has been materially diminished by the cessation and diminution of mining in South Africa. When more than fourteen thousand Boer soldiers surrendered their arms, it was found that there were a great many boys among them, some not more than eleven years of age, and their generals declare that these boys were among the best fighters. The war in South Africa has done much to bring about a change in the modern warfare, and its unexpected results will do much to modify present military methods and equipments throughout Europe. Smokeless powder has been a wonderful element in this change. The press correspondents tell us of numerous charges which the British army made upon the Boers when they could not see a single foe, and could not distinguish even, clearly, where the foe was entrenched. In the science of war defensive tactics have gained a wonderful vantage ground. The lesson of this war will not be without its great value to the Dutch who are a sturdy, self-reliant and in some instances obsti- nate race. It will liberalize them in matters of government, and give them a more comprehensive view of the general rights of humanity. The war will have broken down many of their super- stitions, and have placed them in a somewhat different attitude toward other nationalities. There are great virtues in the Boer race, and it need not be surprising if, within the next few years, the gospel shall take the same hold upon them that it has recent- ly taken upon their brethren in Holland. There is excellent material in South Africa for religious influences, and is to be it hoped that the sentiment prevailing there will in the near future give encouragement to missionary work. Cuba. The youthful Republic of Cuba is now fairly launched, and gives promise of better days to the island that has long been full CURRENT STORY OF THE WORLD. 711 of woe and misfortune. On the twentieth of May, the stars and stripes of our own country were hauled down from the public buildings, and the Cuban flag was given to the breeze. The Cubans have manifested a national appreciation and admiration for us in the adoption of their flag, which in color resembles our own by the red white and blue. At the base, there is a red triangle with a silver star in the center, while the body of the flag consists of blue and white stripes. The people of Cuba have shown remark- able conservative power, and have maintained a prudent relation and sentiment towards the United States. Extremists have re- ceived little encouragement, and the people have yielded to radical innovations made by the military department of our government, under the supervision of General Wood. Three years of occupation in Cuba by the United States has been a boon to the island; a ntw system of schools has been inaug- urated, and the opportunities for universal education enlarged; a wonderful change has been wrought in the sanitary conditions of the island, and especially at Havana and its harbor; the danger of contagious diseases, which this country has had by reason of its prox- imity to Havana, has been minimized; the death rate has been phenomenally diminished, and the Cubans have learned a most valuable lesson in cleanliness. During our occupation of the island, we have given some valuable lessons in popular elections, and have schooled the people, though briefly, in those principles of govern- ment which obtain in this country. The harbors have been improved, and the commercial advantages of the island very greatly enhanced. Our occupation itself, too, will prove a lasting benefit to the people of Cuba, and it is to be wished that the Cubans will not follow the unfortunate example of their Spanish brethren in Central and South America. At present Cuba is making strong appeals to the United States, asking that the tariff be reduced on Cuban sugars. The question of our commercial relations with Cuba is now occupying the attention of Congress. A twenty per cent reduction on Cuban sugars has been proposed, and by many congressmen a twenty-five per cent reduction will be insisted upon. Western Senators who aim to stand well with the administration, and at the same time yield their first allegiance to local interests, which oppose a re-