The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1881-07-13
FOREIGN ITEMS.


prise OF M. de Lesseps. In addition to his pro
posed Panama ship canal he has Just concluded
contract with the Greek Government for cut-
ting the lsthmus of Corinth and opening shin
channel between the Kgean Sea on the Cult of
Corinth, agreeing to begin the work in 1882.
and complete 1T In five years. A similar work
was once undertaken by the Roman Emperor
Nero.
Much indignation is expressed by
Roman Catholics in Paris at the Government
giving up to Pere Loyson the church of the As
SUMPTION on the Rue st. Honore, in which the
Aobe de Query, who is deemed to have suf
tered martyrdom from the Commune for many
years oticiated. Dean Stanley went over to be
present at Its opening by Pere Loyson
The statistics of Protestant Sunday
Schools in the city of Paris shows SO schools
having 1886 scholars and 675 teachers. The
Protestant population of the city is estimated at
from 10000 to 10000, or between two and three
per cent of the whole number of souls. Fifteen
Protestant periodicals are published in the
French capital. The international Series of
Lessons is used in thirty-two Sunday Schools.
While the French expedition has been
surveying the desert of Sahara for the Trans
Saharan Railway. M. Rabourdin has discovered
numerous beds of cut hints, and within a dis.
stance OF 900 miles of Ouargla has met with not
hints, proving that the desert was habitable in
prehistoric times. He believes, also, that the
trade OF the Sahara was formerly much more
actlve than 1t Is now, but that it consisted
chiefly in slaves. He reports having met with
remains of those largehorned oxen which. accord
ing 70 Herodotus, were found in the country of
the Garamantes.
On the coast of Africa, west of the
Bight OF Benin, there is an extended lagoon.
Directly behind the principal opening there was
built years ago on the mainland a city designed
esp as hiding place and stronghold of
the slave trade; and for generation or two the
very name of Lagos synonym of all the
horrors of that infamous traffic This is now
called the " Liverpool of Africa" the great cen
trai emporium of the coast trade, The landmark
winch now guides sea going vessels into the
opening OF the lagoon is the spire of a Christian
church raising gracefully above the city. The
yearly exports OF Lagos amount to $2,o0o,ooo.
-IRELAND.-The English papers re-
port that the Land League in Ireland is visiblv
weakening, and that universal strike against
rent paying Is no longer even proposed This
report is somewhat confirmed by the rumor that
Mr.: Parnell has avowed his intention of again
visiting the United States, though not unit.
after the House of Commons has gotten through
with the present Land bill. An agitation In
Ireland which can be kept alive only bv voices
and contributions from the Irish in America
lacks the elements OF strength essential to sue
cess Inc English government has called the
attention of the United States government to
some utterances published in American newspa
pers on the Irish question: which are certainly
worthy of the severest reprobation, and deserve
punishment.-ChriStian Onion.
-JAPAN.-The condition of .Tanan TO-
day is not wholly satisfactory, but the advance
is marvellous and, considering the difficulties
involved, substantial and promising. Educa
tion IS compulsory over the whole kingdom
and the school house is a familiar feature in the
villages. Universities and scientific institutions
nave been established in many of the large cities.
100 miles of railroads have been laid. and more
lines are In contemplation. Telegraphic lines
ana cables make easy communication with all
important points The military system has been
and although the army numbers
only $4,000 men it is said to be well eouinned
ana disclplined. The navy is in an equally
sound condition: The friendly feeling of the
. . japanese toward this country is more marked
than toward any other, and we shall show wis
dom by maintaining it intact. The Jananese
school system is almost entirely in the hands OF
japanese who are sent abroad to be educated
come to this country. About 800 American
missionaries are carrying forward the work of
rehgious instruction throughout the country
Whlle the trade between the two countries is
steadily increasing in volume-J.
EUROPE AND AMERICA.-In the
July number of the International Reyie,o DIR
Won Hoist the author of the best political his
tory OF the United States that has yet appearedO
addresses himself to the army question in En-
rope In Its relations to the extraordinary adj
vance OF this country in population and wealth
= The hours of the landed arstocracy of Eng
land, he tells us, and therefore the hours Of
the present social structure of England are
counted, IN consequence of American competi
tlon' Great and important as this conse
quence OF American competition is, it is of ut
Ter inslgnihcance In comparison with the fact
tnat tnis competition must ultimately lead to
the overthrow of the military system Of the con-
tlnental powers of Europe" The standing
armies OF Europe number 3,215 900 men or one
per centum of the population. The army of
the United States numbers about 35 OOO.men
or one-twentieth of one per centum of the popu
lation. The arabic area of the United States is
about equal to that of Europe, while the resources
Oh the former In coal, iron, and the precious
metals greatly exceed those of the latter
Added to these unequal conditions il the fact
that Europe is contributing an OVERLOOKING
stream OF sober, industrious, and healthy men
and women in the prime Of life, with their
children, In America, every one Of whom re-
presents money expended in nurture and educa
ton and money in their productive powers, to
say nothing OF the money in their pockets.
upon this spectacle, says Dr. Won Hoist, "the
eyes OF all the powers of Europe-even Russia
In some respects not excepted-are becoming
rlveted In kind of awe stricken sewilderrnanfp
They are as yet far, very far. from realizino
now renchant these arms of peace will n1,;