MR. DAVID LUBIN, OF CALIFORNIA. (To whose devotion and hard work for years is due the inauguration of the International Institute of Agriculture opened last month at Rome by King Victor Emmanuel.) during the sessions of the institute, hopes that not only will the institute diffuse highly useful information throughout the world. about agricultural conditions and progress, but that it will also ameliorate the condition of a large section of mankind by its war upon the parasites of speculation." In setting forth the views of the government of the United States Mr. Lubin declared that the institute should secure and publish data of interest to agriculturists in all parts of the world, and that such intelligence should be. communicated to the secretary-general of the institute without delay, so that such information, as to crop conditions, weather forecasts, prices, and so forth,-might be published to the world simultaneously, and at proper times and seasons. It cannot fail to be gratifying to all Americans to learn that success has crowned Mr. Lubin's efforts in this laudable enterprise. It is, moreover, particularly appropriate that this institute should have its home in Italy, which of all Old World countries has during recent years made the most noteworthy progress in scientific agriculture. It is becoming evident that if Will Austria and Servia actual hostilities break out in Go to War? southeastern Europe the responsibility will lie either with Austria-Hungary or with Servia. Acts of aggression by the military forces of both these nations upon the other are constantly reported. Dr. E. J. Dillon and other keen observers of affairs in the Balkans assert that there is an insurrection brewing in Bosnia among the Serb population, that this will goad the Servians to attack some Austrian outposts, and that the forces of the Dual Monarchy will then advance against Belgrade. The absorption of Servia has been an ambition of AustroHungarian statesmen for many years. Dr. Dillon says on this point: As things now stand Servia has virtually ceased to exist, and with her political death the Slavs of southern Europe will also be extinguished as a political force. To-day Servia lives, and has her political being solely because Austria permits it. But she has hardly any outlet for her agricultural exports, except what the oracles of Vienna and Budapest may from time to time allow. A few weeks ago the Austrian authorities kept back wagon-loads of ammunition destined for Belgrade. A few days ago Servian steamers in the Danube were turned back by order of Austrians in Zemlin, because, it was alleged,-Austrian gunboats Whit Cash were practicing. In a word, King Peter's Ser- chamber with two houses is to consist of 240 via is scarcely more than semi-independent, deputies. A dramatic feature of the camwhile all the other Serbs are set apart to be Germanized, assimilated, swallowed up. paign in Constantinople was the procession, on December 3, through the streets of the capital by crowds of the populace, in the midst of which city officials, guarded by troops, carried the municipal ballot-boxes. In his speech from the throne Sultan Abdul Hamid denounced Bulgaria and AustriaHungary for their "illegal, unfriendly acts," and closed by saying: Then, say these keen observers, Quiet when Belgrade is occupied by the Balkans ? Austrian troops, the fate of peace in Europe will depend on how far Russia will 20 in espousing the cause of the Balkan Slavs. Although these peoples,-Roumanians, Bulgarians, Servians, and Montenegrins,-look to the Muscovite Empire to protect them. against Austria, it is not certain that they can count on any active support from the Czar's government, although the entire Russian people and press are much incensed over what is termed Austria's perfidy. The second session of the Duma, which began in St. Petersburg on October 28, while discussing the Balkan question with animation, did not venture to take any radical action on the subject. Perhaps, after all, the entire situation will be cleared by the payment of money. Both Austria and Bulgaria have agreed, in principle, to reimburse Turkey for her loss of nominal sovereignty over the territory involved. How much money is to be paid remains, as yet, to be settled. In the meantime, the Turkish boycott of Austrian goods continues, and Turkey, Servia, and Montenegro are gravitating into a triple alliance, while anti-Austrian demonstrations are taking place in Italy and many demands are heard in Hungary and in Austria itself for the resignation of Count Aehrenthal, the venturesome Foreign Minister of the Dual Monarchy. The Amid great rejoicing and some Parliament at public excitement, although no Constantinople. disorder is reported, the first Turkish Parliament was inaugurated on December 17 at Constantinople, the Sultan driving in state to preside at the opening cereThe Parliament of 1876 sat but for a few weeks and was never meant to endure, so that this may be accurately termed the first Turkish Parliament. The elections, as far as the press dispatches have reported them, have been carried on with dignity and without overt interference from the government or from the reactionary elements. The balloting was on a system modified after the German and Russian methods, three sets of electors being chosen, the third set choosing the representative. The election laws provide that one deputy shall be chosen for each 50,000 males of the population. The entire two years ago there were many difficulties in When I first proclaimed a constitution thirtythe way of its execution, and I was advised to suspend it momentarily. In the interval great and for the establishment of institutions of a efforts were made toward popular education nature calculated to elevate the public enlightenment. I am now happy to know that the people are more able to understand the benefits of a constitution, and I was heartily glad to rethe contrary. My will is definite and unalterstore it, notwithstanding influential advice to able, and henceforth the constitution will regulate the affairs of the nation. get of the empire will be presented to you, the financial situation being the chief matter for strengthening of the army and navy will also your consideration. Public instruction and the occupy the most serious attention of my government. . . . I am happy to see assembled heartily salute them, it being my will that the here the representatives of the people, and constitution pe faithfully observed and jealously guarded. I pray that God bless your labors and grant divine assistance. The Russia. The bud L The large issues which will come Problems of up for discussion in the third Russian Duma at its second session, which began (as already noted) on October 28, are the questions of finances and the dissolution of the communal-land system, in domestic affairs, and the unrest in Persia and the uncertainty over a general European-Balkan conference, the last hav-. ing already strained Austro-Russian relations nearly to the breaking point,-in the empire's foreign relations. The imperial revenues for 1909 have been estimated at $2,000,000,000, and the expenditures at $2,076,000,000. To meet this deficit of $76,000,000, and to provide also for the unforseen requirements of the army and navy and railway construction, the Duma, at its session on December II authorized an external loan of $225,o00,000. The internal condition of the empire is reported as quiet, although early last month the Russ, of St. Petersburg, announced "from official sources that the average of executions for the past three months had been seventeen daily. Poland has been de the partition of Bengal in spite of the bitter opposition of the Bengalese, and the change in the long-established self-government of Calcutta and other larger cities, have indicated a lack of sympathy and understanding on the part of the British authorities which the Hindus find harder to bear than more vigorous forms of persecution. British rule has undoubtedly accomplished great things for India. The Englishman has been a just ruler, but he has never really understood or truly sympathized with Hindu life and ideals. Putting Now the imperial government is aroused, and only last month Sedition. the Indian Council passed a bill providing for speedier trial of persons implicated in plots and other political offenses against the imperial government. There have been many trials, executions, and deportations. In his proclamation of November 1, last, just half a century after Queen Victoria announced that India would be a viceroyalty and no longer ruled by the East India Company, King Edward TO THE UNITED set forth the imperial policy toward the dependency in these words: (His Excellency, Prince Tang Shao-Yi, who is now in this country to convey the thanks of his government for the remission of the Boxer indemnity.) clared absolved from martial law, and after a campaign of almost three months the empire has been pronounced absolutely free from cholera. As we go to press the cable dispatches are saying that Russia and Austria have finally agreed, in principle, to the summoning of a general European congress, to consider the Balkan question. Such agreement, if actually achieved, will mean the meeting of a congress, since the rest of the Continent has already expressed its willingness to participate. What Is To the almost interminable story Happening in of famine, plague, class riots, inIndia? dustrial boycotts, and seditious speeches which have come to us from British India during the past few years is now being added reports of bomb explosions and murderous assaults upon high British officials. For a decade or more there has been open disaffection in Britain's Indian empire, due largely to conditions beyond the power of the British Government to change. During, however, the administration of Lord Curzon, who preceded Lord Minto, the present Viceroy, two specific causes of complaint, The charge confided to my government concerns the destinies of countless multitudes of men now and for ages to come; and it is a paramount duty to repress with a stern arm guilty conspiracies that have no just cause and no serious aim. These conspiracies I know to be abhorrent to the loyal and faithful character of the vast hosts of my Indian subjects, and I will not suffer them to turn me aside from my task of building up the fabric of security and order. The educated Hindu sees his own debased condition and compares it with that of other Asiatic peoples,-the Japanese, the Persian, and now the Turkish,-who elect members of parliament and are deemed worthy of independent existence, if not of an open alliance with Great Britain. Lord Morley, Secretary of State for Indian Affairs, in a recent speech declared that an enlightened and just British policy toward India demands. that "we no longer keep Indians at arms' length or shut the door of the council chamber of the paramount power against them." cularly to thank the President and Con- high, and, moreover, the management of gress for remitting the larger part of the the two Anglo-American cable comBoxer indemnity, was reading to President panies, holding as they do a monopoly of Roosevelt the letter from the late Chinese trans-oceanic communication, has not been at monarch, which closes with these cordial sen- all receptive to suggestions of improvement tences: "Long may your Excellency enjoy in the service. That veteran postal reformgod health and happiness. May the Ameri- er, Mr. Henniker Heaton, M.P., has alcan people be blessed with prosperity and ready begun a campaign for government conprace. These are our hearty wishes." Am- trol of existing cables or the laying of a new bassador Tang, who is a graduate of an Eng- one which, before long, should give us a foursh and an American university, and speaks cent a word rate, as against a present toll of English perfectly, expects during his stay in 25 cents. Mr. Rodolphe Lemieux, the Canathe United States to study the science of dian Postmaster-General, is openly advocatConstitutional government and public finance. ing the laying of an Anglo-Canadian cable, In China itself it is becoming increasingly to be under government control, and many evident that Prince Chun, the regent, is a eminent Englishmen have joined in the dezan of intelligence and progressive ideas, mand. The New York Board of Trade and and that his rule will be marked by many re- Transportation has passed resolutions authorterms. The baby Emperor, Pu-Yi, was for- izing a committee to investigate the situation, mally enthroned on November 20, under the and there are many American as well as Britofficial title of Hsuen Tung. An imperial ish advocates of Mr. Heaton's plan for holdedict issued in his name pledges the throne to ing a conference of all the postmasters-genontinue the policy inaugurated by the late eral of Europe to discuss the matter. Experor, especially the program providing For the granting of a constitution. Why Not Case Bates? Nothing is perhaps. more significant of the modern fraternization of the world and of its peoles than the increase and improvement in he means of rapid communication between Artually all portions of the earth's surface. Following quickly upon the establishment of a greatly reduced first-class postage rate beeen the United States and Great Britain are the agreement between this country and Germany, in accordance with which, beginng the first day of the present month, the rst-class letter rate on mail sent directly trim one of these countries to the other shall be the same as the domestic rate in each Ountry. The same cable dispatches which announced this agreement, by a singular condence, also described the proceedings of a mass-meeting in London under semi-govmental auspices, held to consider the question of a reduction in ocean cable rates. For twenty years the cable system between the United States and Great Britain has reLained practically unchanged, although cean steamship traffic has greatly increased and the time and cost greatly decreased durng that period. An "Peace on Earth."' In these opening days of a new year it will be profitable to recall the notable progress that is being made toward a real world peace by the conclusion of arbitration treaties between almost literally all the nations of the globe. The following table of treaties concluded since the first Hague Conference is compiled from lists published in the latest number of the American Journal of International Law: Argentina, 5 with Paraguay (1899), Bolivia (1902), Chile (1902), Brazil (1905), Italy (1907). Austria-Hungary, 3: with Switzerland (1904), Great Britain (1905), Portugal (1906). Belgium, 7: with Switzerland (1904), Russia (1904), Norway and Sweden (1904), Denmark (1905), Greece (1905), Roumania (1905), Spain (1905). Bolivia, 2: with Peru (1901), Spain (1902). Brazil, I with Argentina (1905). Chile, I with Argentina (1902). Colombia, 2: with Spain (1902), Peru (1905). Denmark, 9: with Netherlands (1904), Belgium (1905), France (1905), Great Britain (1905), Italy (1905), Russia (1905), Spain (1905), Portugal (1907), United States (1908). France, 10: with Great Britain (1903), Italy (1903), Netherlands (1904), Norway and Sweden (1904), Spain (1904), Sweden and Norway (1904), Switzerland (1904), Denmark (1905), Portugal (1906), United States (1908). Germany, I with Great Britain (1904). Great Britain, II: with France (1903), GerThe British Government, as many (1904), Italy (1904), Norway and Sweden international well as our own, is deeply (1904), Portugal (1904), Spain (1904), SwitAgitation. interested in zerland (1904), Austria-Hungary (1905), Dena reduction of mark (1905), Netherlands (1905), United The present tolls are very States (1908). rable rates. zaman in the South and Centra sus and Mexico, Sant mu mam providing for the ref te hige Tribunal of all pe Te mingers would have u Et in certain year mongou the ages remarkabl II De bodies and othe Assence the huma CITAT IN Psique that children born a me and commanding I ring the appearances o zs I Ces li so, there mus The manifestation of ce esta manera in the year 1809, for a sur e number men and women De Comanec tame and greatnes v te ge in the year. During thos Were Home accured the births of thes sers: Hannibal Hamlin Jer mm. Gen Joseph E. Johnston max Over Wendell Holmes Lnown mi Edgar Allan Poe Jesser Antre son was born Decem e 24 dst be very nearly comes int stumer penud Asong eminent Eng sther Vis ares belong also to ou WE WILL Huge were: Charles Dar am E. Gastone, Alfred Lord at Stuart Blackie, Elizabet Butter Browsing Edward Fitzgerald, and Bearzer W. Ke. In the same yea Fex Kenaissot Bartholdy was born in Austra Pere Joseph Proudhon in France and Frederic François Chopin in Poland There are to be celebrations in this country mi in Engind, and in some cases through out the dialized world as well, of the anni se mans bed the sputines, verre : Hilies, Lincoln, Poe, Darwin Home TaNEL L 25 Gassine, and Tennyson. In the United the States and England last month was cele brated the third centenary of the poet John Mitte, who was born December 9, 1609 A. Protestant Europe and America will tak note of the four-hundredth anniversary o John Calvin, who was born in Switzerland in 1509, while England will commemorat the bicentenary of old "Sam" Johnson, wh first saw the light 200 years ago. Americans finally, will make historic commemoration upon one occasion of the Fulton steamboa triumph, which was begun in 1807, and th discovery of the Hudson River in 1609, be sides celebrating, with their Canadian neigh bors, the discovery of Lake Champlain by th old French navigator in 1609. ferences in so ter as they do not c |