Current Mention

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D. C. · Apr 13, 1905

— At Madrid, Spain, April 8, 400 persons were killed or injured by the collapse of a new water reservoir, which was in process of erection.

— Forty-three miners were killed in a coal-mine at Zeigler, Ill., April 3, by an explosion of blasting powder, which is believed to have been the act of some unknown parties. The verdict of the coroner's jury was that the men were murdered.

— One of the greatest and most destructive earthquakes of modern times has devastated a large section of northern India lying to the east of Lahore. It is reported that in the town of Kangra 4,500 out of a total population of 5,000 were killed. The towns of Dharmasala, Simla, Palanpur, Sujanpur, and Dhawan were also laid in ruins, with great loss of life, the full extent of which is not yet reported. Lady Curzon, wife of the Viceroy, was at Simla, and narrowly escaped death. Great damage was done in the Kulu Valley. The region affected by the earthquake is said to have a population of about 800,000.

— A gift of $100,000 made by the head of the Standard Oil trust to the American Baptist Missionary Union has been accepted by that body. The like gift from the same source to the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions (Congregational) has not yet been accepted by that body, but the indications are that it will be accepted within a few days. Dr. Josiah Strong, Rev. Washington Gladden, and other clergymen have protested against the acceptance of the gift, on the ground that the Standard Oil trust is a robber of the people, that a person has no right to give a thing which does not belong to him, and that no one has a right to accept such a gift.

— France and Great Britain have concluded a treaty relating to Morocco, by which France becomes the virtual governing power in that country, the sultan's will in government affairs being subject to that of the French governor. By this treaty it is arranged that the interests of France and England in Morocco are to be preferred over those of other countries for a period of thirty years. The German kaiser, who recently paid a visit to the sultan of Morocco, ignores the claims of France and Great Britain, and has announced that such claims will not be recognized by Germany. There is at present no stable government in Morocco, large sections of the country being ruled by bandits and local chieftains, and the most barbarous practises are perpetrated unrestrained. It is believed by some that the kaiser has designs on Holland, and is preparing to negotiate with France and England for a free hand in that country, in exchange for a free hand in Morocco on the part of those powers.

— Recent dispatches from St. Petersburg show that the revolutionary movement in Russia has attained dimensions which cause it to overshadow in importance the progress of the war with Japan. Every day brings an increasing prospect of a general upheaval in city and country.

“Evidence accumulates,” says one dispatch, “that the radical forces are acting in unison, and awaiting a signal, which, it is generally believed, will be given shortly after the Russian Easter. The Terrorists are showing great activity, and reports from all over the country prove that the workmen, who in many cases have been formulating petty demands which are no sooner granted than they are succeeded by others, are acting under instructions from the revolutionary leaders, who are only biding their time.” Peasant uprisings, which are generally of a savage character and marked by murder, pillage, and destruction of property, are reported from the Baltic provinces, and the Gore district of the Caucasus, and in many other places civil government is virtually suspended. A dispatch from Samara, dated April 6, says: “The Exchange here, representing commercial connections over a region inhabited by 7,000,000 people, has telegraphed to M. Bouligan, minister of the interior, that the whole area is in a condition of extreme excitement, and that a terrible catastrophe is only avoidable by immediately summoning representatives of the people, in accordance with the terms of the imperial rescript. The Exchange also demanded representation upon the commission which is considering the subject. The peasants are greatly aroused over the reports that the ‘intellectuals’ are seeking to return them to a condition of slavery.” From Moscow come reports of the movements of the Social Revolutionary party for the overthrow of the monarchy and autocracy and the establishment of a republic, for the forming of which a most complete program has been prepared. The main points of this program are set forth in a document issued by the central committee of this party, of which hundreds of thousands of copies have been scattered in all parts of European Russia. The program is divided under two heads, the first covering the “politico-legal” domain, under which is demanded, among other things, the institution of a democratic republic with broad autonomy for the provinces; direct secret universal ballot for all persons without distinction of sex, race, or religion; proportional representation in the national legislature, direct popular legislation; electibility, responsibility, and removability of all officials; separation of church and state; complete freedom of conscience, speech, and of the press; and the abolition of the standing army and the substitution of a national militia. Under the second head, of “national economy and domain,” the industrial system is considered, in which is included the hours of labor, wages, state insurance for laborers, child labor, factory construction, etc. The party declares in this part of its program that the earth is the common heritage of all citizens, and demands the abolition of private ownership, with the sequestration of crown, state, and church lands, turning them over to the communes. The ideas of socialism are also applied in the realm of finance. It is reported that the fleets of Admirals Rozhdestvensky and Togo are now close to each other, and the report of a great naval battle is expected within the next few days.