The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1879-01-18
Foreign Events In 1873.
Cincinnati Gazette.

Across the Atlantic momentous events
have crowded fast upon one another.
BY n series of victories Russia brought
Turkey to the last extremity, and com
PEELED treaty which the British Cabi.
net could not prevent, but of which it
sought to conceal the true Importance
by diverting the public attention to the
negotiations held at Berlin and the ac-
QUESTION of Cyprus. Hardly was this
much boosted triumph of diplomacy
achieved than danger was perceived near
the northern frontier of the Asiatic pos
sessions of the newly constituted En-
press of India. A Russian envoy was
welcomed to the Afghan Capital, Cabul,
| while entrance was refused to the Brit
ish ambassador deputed to watch the
newly arrived Muscovite. War was
therefore declared on Afghanistan. The
Emir, Shere Ali, was compelled TO flee
from his Capital, and Russia, instigated,
it is thought, by Bismarck, withdrew
her representative from Cabul. The
worst fighting is probably over, but the
details.of the British settlement with
Afghanistan have yet to be settled. The
times have been hard all over Europe,
but the suffering has been peculiarly
great in British agricultural and manu-
featuring circles. Their foreign mar
kets have diverted much Of their pa
tronage to the United States, while
large strikes have resulted from inabil-
ity of employers and employed to agree
on rates Of wages. The recent death Of
the Queens much-loved daughter, Alice,
has borne gloom to the palace, while
numerous heavy bank and other fail
uies have shaken the public confidence.
All over the continent Socialism has
reared its head. The lives of the Kings
of Italy and Spain have been at
tempted, and the octogenarian Emperor
of Germany has been twice attacked by
assassins, on one occasion receiving Sc
we're wounds. AS a result very strin-
gent law has been passed by the German
Parliament, from the provisions of
which not only Socialist agitators, but
many loyal men of liberal tendencies,
have been madeto suffer. Indeed, 1t has
been enforced in regard to 80 many
trifing offenses that its workings would
be deemed ludicrous, if they were not
so vexatious. The double-headed en-
pire of Austria has been troubled by
lack of harmony between the Hungar-
ian and Austrian Parliaments, and by
stubborn resistance ON the part of the
Bosnians to the Austrian rule provided
for them at the Berlin Congress. Con
sentative republicanism seems to be
growing stronger in France, much to
the benefit of the country, 80 long torn
by dssensions, and made to pay 80
dearly to her German conquerors. The
continuance of peace will confer more
permanent benefit, If less eclat, than
the great Exposition at Paris, which
closed few weeks ago.
In Italy Pope and a King have died,
both of whom have successors who will
not depart from the policy of their pre-
decessors Spain, nominally constitu-
tional monarchy, seems leaning rather
far toward absolutism. MoncasIs at
tempt on the young Kings life is par
tial excuse for this. The death of Queen
Mercedes was sad blow to the expecta-
tions of both her husband and his sub
iects, for she was credited with good
sense and good heart as well as with
youth and a pleasant face. Russia il
disturbed by rumors of Socialist plots
and by outcroppings of free thought
and desire for more liberal govern
ment, upon which the authorities place
the worst construction. The Scandi-
navian monarchies and the minor States
of Portugal, Belgium and Holland have
moved quietly on. If stagnant any
where it has been in their political rela-
tions 20 the greater powers, for all are
improving in educational matters and
doing fairly we'll in commercial way.
Little Greece has naturally enough been
shaken by the conclusion which proved
SO stunning to her neighbor, Turkey.
Asia, as we have seen, has been the
theater of the Afghan dispute. Would
this were the sum of her troubles! The
terrible famine in China has swept Oft
not only thousands, but millions of vic
tins of starvation, and it is not to the
credit of America that the Chinese in
California gave as much TO the yellow
| fever sufferers as the people of all the
United States to the famine stricken.
Great Britain did much better. In
Africa the British have been fighting
the Kaffirs with general but not decisive,
success. There have been no such bril-
liant discoveries as those announced by
Stanley in August, 1877, but several
expeditions are penetrating its unknown
depths from different sections of both
coasts, and rich fruits may be expected
British America has exchanged its
very popul,' Governor-General, the
Earl Of Duferin, for the Queens son-in-
law, the Marquis of Lorne, who is likely
to oppose, from his free-trade views, the
protective tariff now urged upon the
Dominion Parliament. The brilliant
demonstrations attending mis- arrival and
that of his royal wife have been checked
by the death of her sister Alice. The
West Indies and the South American
States are normally in respect to most
of the latter we should say abnormally
quiet, and Mexico is free enough OF
revolution to welcome an American del
egation to her National Exposition.
Such is the situation at the close of 1878.
WILLIAM SCOTT claims to be one hun
bred and forty-nine years old. He is
known to Baltimoreans, among whom he
lives, as /" Uncle Billy" Snowden Dis
ney makes affidavit before Justice Pole