Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1883-01-01
FOREIGN REVIEW.



been perhaps the most serious. The continuance OF
exceptionally bad weather has injured the crops
considerably, while the pressure Of American m
petition in cattlera:sing has so reduced the profits
OF the English farmers as to incapacitate them for
to continue to pay the high for land, and the
land owners have been in turn obliged to reduce |
their charges often to their own great inconveni
ence. At the beginning Of the year this state OF
things had created much uneasiness and discon-
tent that movement was set on foo. to modify the
free trade policy of the country. The projectors
were mainly men who did not understand economic
problems, and who consequently proposed absurd
measures as remedies. 1t was only necessary 10
state the facts Of the to convince all intelligent
persons that England cannot 60 back to protection,
and that the worse her land situation becomes the
more nj cessary free trade must be to her very
little frank discussion put end to the visionary
so-called free-rade movement and the national con-
fdence in free trade was shown by this attack
upon it to be unassaiable. But the solution Of the
land problem has certainly not been reached, and
the tendency of legislation concerning Ireland still
indicates that unless Mr. Gladstone takes Lord Der
bys advice and calls halt in his communistic FRO
gramme there will sooner or later be an inevitable
demand for radical and subversive meas
ures in regard to English land. In Ireland the year
has been eventfal Its central tragedy was the
Phoenix Park murders, deed which, however
regarded, must always appear the most perverse,
treacherous and infamous crime conceivable.
For it was SO timed as to appear to
be answer to the most distinct and far reaching
offer of reconciliation that had ever been made by
Ill -
gested that the arocity deliberately planned by
the extreme party of the Irish revolutonists, for
the purpose of rendering impossible that treaty of
pease and anlity which the faction referred to
feared But the failure to trace the perpetrators OF
the crime has since involved all Ireland in the re-
sponsibility since it is evident that the silence
which envelopes it is largely due to sympathy with
the assassins The Land Act during the past year
has produced great number Of changes. 1t has
been freely awaited of by the tenants everywhere
The Land League, having been broken up by the
Government, has practically ceased to exist, and
though attempts have been made to continue the
agitation in its old form, it is clear that the next
movement will be made by the peasaDtry ard agri-
cultural aborers, who have precisely az good reason
to raise against the farmers as the latter had to
revolt against the landlords. 1t is moreover be-
coming apparent even to those who have partaken
Mr.. Gadstoues sanguine expectations, that no land
measure which stops short of general confscation
and redistribution, and political measure which
stops short of Irish independence, will even mo-
mehtarily asy the chronic dsaffection existing |
in the island while it is coincidently dawning upon
these daring experimenters that Government
which is willing to try the efficacy Of anarchy in
ri NJ tha ia of
of things reproduced elsewhere without its initia
ton. Lord Derby who has just entered the Cab-
net, is we'll known to entertain views on the Irish
question wholly at variance from Mr.. Gladstones |
He does not believe that it is possible, or even
worth while to opacity Ireland. And since Lord
Derby is not at all likely to change his views may
be thought that his entrance into the Cabinet FORE
casts some change in the policy Of Ministers.
In her foreign relations Great Britain has during
the past years been fortunate, save as regards |
Egypt. Her pre-existiug connection with that
province rendered it inevitable that when Arab Bey
undertook to defy the authority of the Khedive |
and created so called National movement. having
for its ostensbe object the expulsion CT all foreign
ers, the abolition Of the Joint Control and the es
Enlistment of purely Egyptian Government, she
should interfere for the protection of the Khedive
But the situation had not been duly prepared for
and therefore when the massacre at Alexandra was
followed by its bombardment by the British fleet no
arrangements had been made to secure the fruits of
victory, and so the sack and confagration of the |
city by the insurgents ccul not be prevented. This
mistake atoned for by the s:ngulary brilliant
and decisive campaign under General Sir Garnet
Woseey, ending in the vi tory of Telel-Kebir, and
the surrender OF Arab The instruction collapsed
at once, and order was established everywhere with
out any trouble Now began perpleXties as to the
disposition of Arab, and, after a great deal of
diplomatic discussion Lord Duffern was instructed
to cut the Gordian knot by dissolving the Court
martial which had been called together, and by
procuring the Punishment OF Arab and his lieuteu
ants to Ceylon, for life. The year ended without
any settlement of the Egyptian financial question
having been made France displayed good deal OF
jealousy because she longer possessed representa-
ton in the Egyptian Government, though she her
self had deliberately refused to join England in her
action against Alexandria. The decision of Mr.
Gladstone as to the future Ct Egypt has not yet
been made known. Twelve thousand British troops
have meantime been kept in the country, nominaly
to prevent any native rising, but really doubt to
render impossible any French or other raid 1t is
Egypt she is to have it. Should she choose estab-
lish Proectorate there will be serious opposi-
ton even from France. But it is by no means Ger
tain that Mr.. Gladstone wishes to have any more
burdens upon his shoulders, and it is quite certain
that the English people have no ambition to extend
the boundaries of the Empire il the operation is to
cost anything. In the field Of production, and
especially of manufactures, English industry has
been as usual prolific and successful. The com
merce Of the country under the fostering influence
of her free trade policy, is continually extending
and charging. No other country on the face of the
earth has thus far been able to hold its in the
markets of the world with her. Her marvellous
foreign trade is a standing admoniton and example
to her neighbors. And yet up to the present time
the majority Of them have preferred policy which
gives their great rival the monopoly not only of the
seas but of all foreign markets, and which restricts
their own commerce to their own boundaries.
FRANCE
At the beginning of the year Gambetta, hardly
warm in his seat, was the eve of disaster. The
event proved that he had made double blunder.
He had overestimated his own capacities, and un.
derestimated the tolerance of his countrymen
to threats of autocratic rule. He owed his sudden
anu nulnluAtlDB uOWuiali W Ills oNu
arrogance to his pet project OF scrut de Iste and
to the Tunis affair." in which his friend and euten
ant, NJ. Roustan, had been making record incapa
BILE of defense or palliation. Gambet thought he
could bully the Chamber of Deputies, but he |
found that the Chamber could destroy him. He |
FELL and so caamitousy that until the close of the
year he was hardly heard from again, and many |
even of his friends seriously doubted whether
his political was not ended. Mean |
time NJ. Freycinet called upon to form a
Cabinet and did so. Under the circumstances it |
could cot be stable a strong Ministry, for the
Chamber was disafected, condition of general
agitation prevailed, and Cabinet which was as it
were forced into Office without policy could only
maintain itself by avoiding conflicts and tempoIiz
ing with all parties. NJ. Freycinet in fact made DO
attempt to do more than carry on the business of
the Government. He suggested no programme
He adopted distinctive principles. And yet this
neutral attitude, which really seemed the only
poss bic as the stood, appears to have dis
satisfied the Chamber, and in August resulted in
his dismissal also, and the formation of the Duc,erc
Cabinet How long that will last nobody knows |