--- title: Improvement Era description: Monthly periodical of the Mormon church, 1897 onward. This library holds the issues of November 1897 to December 1930. authors: - Tanner, J. M. collections: - periodicals tags: - magazine - improvement-era periodical: Improvement Era volume: 7 number: 3 published: 1904-01 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* 7, no. 3 (January 1904): 217–224.' source: url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera0703unse 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: improvementera0703unse start_page: 217 end_page: 224 rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1904-01) source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera0703unse publication_year: 1904 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 1904, before 1931; a scan-level notice does not restore copyright. --- # Some Leading Events in the Current Story of the World SOME LEADING EVENTS IN THE CURRENT STORY OF THE WORLD. BY DR. J. M. TANNER, SUPERINTENDENT OF CHURCH SCHOOLS. The Panama Canal. When Colombia awoke from her delusion and discovered that Panama had revolted and established an independent republic, that the United States had entered into negotiations with Panama, and in the new treaty with the new republic guaranteed the inde- pendence of the latter, she began to realize the serious loss she had sustained by her refusal to ratify the treaty with the United States for the construction of the canal across the isthmus of Panama. Colombia's disappointment has therefore become the irony of fate. The administration at Washington considered the law, which authorized the President to proceed with the negotiations for and construction of the canal across the isthmus, as of full force,- after the treaty with Colombia had been rejected and Panama had set up an independent government. The United States was certainly quick to recognize the Republic of Panama; and the question nat- urally arises, was the new administration over-hasty in this ac- knowledgement. The recognition of Panama was so quick as to give Colombia no opportunity to demonstrate her ability to subju- gate the revolted province. There is in the world's history a sort of unwritten law of international eminent domain. Upon that unwritten law, a great deal of the world's progress and march towards civilization has de- pended. The law of eminent domain has always been regarded as essential and eminently just in national life. Were a man per- mitted to say, "You shall not build a railroad across my land 218 IMPROVEMENl ERA. against my will, because by so doing you would interfere with my right of property and my right to do with my prop- erty as I see fit ;" such a contention, if it prevailed, would be an impassable barrier to civilization and to commerce. The state says there are well defined instances in which individ- ual rights shall yield to public good, Colombia said to the world, "You shall not promote commerce and civilization by the construction of a canal across a worthless strip of country ta which I hold title." The treaty which had been made with the United States was unanimously rejected by the Colombian Con- gress, after that republic had been most magnanimously treated by the United States. The United States was, therefore, under no obligation to quibble with Colombia about nice and technical questions of international jurisprudence. When Panama had established its de facto government, if •the United States had not availed itself of the opportunity to pro- tect Panama and conclude a treaty with that republic, it would have been the laughingstock of the world. There is an inherent,, instinctive sense of justice which the people of the United States, and the world generally, feel over the action of the President in forming a new treaty with Panama, and guaranteeing that repub- lic protection against Colombia. The President, in his message^ bases his action in the matter upon the treaty which this country entered into with New Granada, in 1846, and which it maintained with Colombia, after Colombia was substituted for New Granada. Such a defense is rather technical than substantial, and people generally would be just as well satisfied if no explanation whatever is given, because they recognize an inherent justice in our attitude, which may be classed among those things which we instinctively feel are right, but which it is sometimes difficult to explain. We shall be better off under the treaty with Panama than under that proposed to Colombia. The announcement that Colombia had landed at Darien eleven hundred soldiers, who, it was expected, would march across the country to Panama, for the purpose of subduing the revolting province, will hardly create a ripple of anxiety among the people of the United States. If Colombia hopes to gain any headway against the people of this country, it will be through guerrilla tactics, by means of which she would expect to CURRENT STORY OF THE WORLD. 219 inflict serious injury upon us, as a retaliation, but without hope of regaining her lost province. If Colombia is led into the adoption of such tactics, she may wake up to the realization that she has lost all instead of one province. The Panama Junta, at Panama,adopted the treaty the day after it reached them, and promptly forwarded it to the United States. General Reyes, who is at the head of the Colombian army, reached the United States at the earliest opportunity, for the purpose of securing a reconsideration of the treaty between this country and Colombia. He was too late; we had already given our word to Panama. According to his own personal statements, he would be quite willing that we should have now the right of way across the isthmus without any money consideration whatever. Of course, the only assurance that Gen. Reyes could give would be to make us understand that he was at the head of the army, and that we should deal with a military government, and not with politicians, at Bogota. However, it will be much more convenient for the United States to deal with Panama, whose capital will be at one end of the canal, than to deal with Colombia, whose capita., Bogota, is far removed from that great waterway. Our govern- ment would have been subjected to constant delays through polit- ical connivance at a capital so far removed, and over which we could not hope to have a very strong influence. There are only about two hundred and fifty thousand people in the whole Republic of Panama — some say three hundred thou- sand. In a republic, they will enjoy the electoral franchise; but a very large percentage of that population is too ignorant to know what the electoral franchise means, much less to use it. It will not be long before there will be more Americans in the Republic of Panama than there are citizens of Panama. We shall then have the South African question over again. Those Americans will probably demand the franchise, and getting it, they can rule the country in the direct interests of the people of the United States, or they can cast their vote for annexation, and become a territory like Hawaii. It may be, at this time, better politics than philosophy, to say nothing about that matter. However, one given to speculation can very easily foresee conditions that will, before many years, make Panama a territory of the United States.. 220 IMPROVEMENT ERA. We shall then enter upon an era of South American extension. The world problems that await solutions by the United States are certainly the greatest that history has ever known. Herbert Spencer. The death of Herbert Spencer, on the 8th of December, re- moved from the world of science, one of its most conspicuous leaders. Mr. Spencer died at the age of eighty-three, of senile decay. He was born in Derby, England, April 27, 1820. His father was a tutor in mathematics, and his son evidently inherited some of the mathematical ability that distinguished him in after life. Spencer was a precocious boy, and at the age of seventeen, was a practical engineer. It is said, that at the age of sixteen, he invented a new theorem in descriptive geometry. Herbert Spencer, in his early days, was also a close student of nature, and devoted much of his time to the study of lower animal life. In the full vigor of his manhood, he also be- came an inventor of some renown, having made marked improve- ments in the mechanism of watches and printing presses. Herbert Spencer, at the age of thirty- two, attracted the at- tention of the world as an original thinker. It was discovered that he possessed a philosophical bend of mind, and that he was crowding upon the world some new and startling views respecting the philosophy of life. In the beginning, he does not appear to have been successful in the circulation of his books, as it is said that it took fourteen years to dispose of a single edition of his Social Statics, or the Condition Essential to Human Happiness; and it took him another twelve years to get rid of his Principles of Sociology. About the time of his entry upon the stage of spec- ulative philosophy, John Stuart Mill was at the height of his pop- ularity. The great Mill proffered his assistance to the rising philosopher, who respectfully declined the aid, and preferred to make a place in the world for himself, solely through his own efforts. In 1860, Spencer issued a prospectus of his work on evolu- tion. It followed close on the heels CURRENT STORY OF THE WORLD. 221 The Americans were the first to give Mr. Spencer any very substantial recognition; and his books, though translated in many languages, found a more generous distribution in the United States than in any other country. Spencer was fortunate in his first American disciples, Edward Youman, editor of the Popular Science Monthly, and John Fiske, a popular writer on historical and scientific subjects. John Fiske really out-Spencered Spencer, in his writings upon the subject of evolution. It was the writings of Fiske that really gave popularity to the theory of evolution in the United States. Spencer himself was abstract in his writings, and often diflacult to comprehend. In 1882, Mr. Spencer visited the United States. He owed it to the people of this country to visit them, and his reception by the men of science in the United States was of a royal character. Spencer has always been pronounced and outspoken in his views upon every subject which he has treated. He was equally fear- less in pointing out to the people of the United States the grave dangers that confronted them in the maintenance of those free in- stitutions of government established through our federal constitu- tion. Our government, in form, he thought was quite ideal, but there was no people, in his judgment, in the world, capable of maintaining the free institutions which we had launched. Speak- ing of the people of England, he said: "We have not reached the necessary standard; neither have you" — referring to the people of the United States. He was asked if he did not think that educa- tion would do away with the dangers to which he alluded, where- upon he replied: "It is not a question of education, but a ques- tion of character." The dangers, he said, were not so much from the unlearned as from the political manipulators who were certainly well informed. Herbert Spencer's attitude on the questions of religion has been very much discussed, though he has evidently tried to make himself clear on the subject. He was honestly an agnos- tic, an agnostic meaning one who does not profess to know one way or the other; and he was an agnostic long before that word was coined by Dr. Huxley, who used it rather in the sense that one could not know, than in the sense that one would like to, though does not, know. One might imagine from the principles evolved 222 IMPROVEMENT ERA. in evolution, that Spencer was a materialist, but he distinctly dis- claimed his belief that there could be no transition from dead matter to life, or from life to dead matter. We really do not know much of Spencer's private life. He was averse to publicity, and severely savage towards those who would intrude upon the domain of his personal affairs. Of all nations, the English are the quickest to resent personal intrusion, and in this respect, Spencer was an Englishman of Englishmen. During the summer of 1887, on Mt. Carmel, in Palestine, I had the rare opportunity of meeting frequently and visiting with Laurence Oliphant, a distinguished English author, who had been for years a member of the Athanaeum Club, to which Spencer belonged. Mr, Oliphant was, therefore, intimately acquainted with Spencer, Huxley, Darwin and others, who belonged to their coterie of scientific men. Mr. Oliphant said to me, speaking of Herbert Spencer's disposition, that Spencer was sometimes peevish, and often extremely difficult to get along with. He said Spencer imagined that he was a renowned billiard player, and seemed to exult more over his ability to play a good game of billiards than over his ability to invent a system of philosophy. However, said Mr. Oliphant, he had no patience with men who had no more sense in a game than to beat him. An anecdote is related of Spencer, that on one occasion he played a game of billiards with a foppish young fellow, a member of the club. The young fop beat him badly, whereupon Spencer, with some show of disgust, walked to the rack, put away his billiard cue, and said to the young man: "Sir, to play a good game of billiards is a mark of well-rounded education; to play too good a game of billiards is a mark of an ill-spent youth," The Japanese Exclusion Bill. Mr. James M. Robinson, Representative to Congress from Indiana, has recently introduced a Japanese exclusion bill similar in its provisions to the law in which the Chinese are excluded from the United States. The introduction of this bill indicates a grow- ing sentiment against the employment of Japanese. The recent extraordinary demand for labor on the railroads, and the demand for labor in hazardous and trying places, has brought within the laat CURRENT STORY OF THE WORLD. 228 few years thousands of Japanese to the United States. There does not seem to be at present any great demand from the labor- ing classes for the exclusion of the Japs, as they are familiarly called. Some of the eastern railroads within the last few months have been compelled to lay off thousands of their men, and if there is a dearth of employment, it is not at all unlikely that an agitation against the Japanese will be started. The social scale and standard of living among the Japs are much higher than among the Chinese; but the Japanese do not seem to regard this country as their permanent home; nearly all of them are here without families, the vast majority of them, no doubt, expect to return to their native land to enjoy the wealth which they have saved up in the United States. Much of their earnings, too, is sent to their native land. This condition of their living, in times of extremity, will make them very objectionable to a large mass of the American people, and it is not unlikely that in time we shall have a Japanese as well as a Chinese question. The Macedonian Question. The approach of winter, and the information that Bulgaria has received from Austria and Russia, that under no circumstance will Bulgaria be permitted to annex Macedonia, have resulted in a cessation of hostile preparation between Turkey and Bulgaria. The Bulgarian revolutionists in Macedonia were wholly powerless to cope with an organized Turkish army; and the approach of winter made their guerrilla tactics quite ineffectual in dealing with the Turks. Bulgaria has disbanded her army, and settled down to the conviction that it is no use to go farther, as long as Austria and Russia both lie across her pathway. The scheme for reform, urged upon Turkey by these two countries, will virtually put Macedonia under a Christian government, and give to that unhappy province a vastly better government than it has ever before enjoyed. Uncle Sam's Widows. Uncle Sam's possessions and wealth have long been the envy of the world, and his possession of widows is by no means scanty. The last census shows that in the United States there are 2,720,000 of them. The city of Chicago boasted of the greatest showing 224 IMPROVEMENT ERA. of any city in the Union, with its 60,396, while the number of widowers is only 23,097; but the city of New York is far in the lead with its 105,000. The State of New York has 320,000. Indiana has 88,000; Utah 8,000. Our population is 276,000; the population of Indiana is 2,516,000. We have nothing like as many widows per thousand as Indiana. With so many widows surviving, it is remarkable that the insur- ance companies of the United States should have been so long prejudiced against putting insurance on the lives of women. They really outlive the men, and there are far more widows in this country than widowers. However, the insurance companies are mending their ways, and are now looking after the insurance of the women of the United States v/ith commendable zeal. Russia and Japan. For weeks, the newspapers have been filled with wars and rumors of wars between Russia and Japan. It is hardly likely that these two countries are going to war. It would be easier for them to reach an understanding of mutual benefit in the divis- ion of the spoils which they now both have their eyes upon. Russia wants Manchuria; indeed, Russia virtually has this rich Chinese province. Just south of Manchuria is Corea, an unpro- gressive and backward country, into whose soils and institutions the Japanese could put new life if they were permitted to do so. According to last accounts, Russia had about concluded to give Japan a free hand in Corea. If this is true, the difficulty will be easily settled. The United States will only insist on free ports in Manchuria, which the Russians, up to this time, have not denied our country. Neither Japan nor Russia is at this time prepared for a war. There is really something to be said in favor of Russia's re- tention of Manchuria. This province has been very greatly en- riched and developed through Russian enterprise: and Russia having spent millions in order to secure an outlet to a harbor that is not ice-bound, is not likely to give up her ultimate intentions of making Manchuria a Russian province.