The Sunday herald. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1866-1887, 1885-11-08
FOREIGN NOTES.


O8sEhvEk.
FOREIGN NOTES.
MIR. A. II. Colquhoun, the explorer, whose con,ri.
buttons to our knowledge Of the East hayc bccn ot
the highest Importance, publishes in the Sneicenth
Century valuable paper on China. lie thinks fear
Of Russian encroachmcnt Is the moving spring of
chinese foreign policy, saying: ~ found that France
WAS held by the Chinese In but small fear and dis
trust compared with another powcr-Russ,a. The
chinese fought the French over the TonguIn qucs-
ton less for the sake Of any sentimental hankering
after the suzerainty OF Auam than for the no, un-
reasonable object OF teaching European powers that
to make IN aggressive movement upon China was
an expensive process In life and treasure, and not
power The Chinese were well aware OF French
aims and aspirations from the commencement OF the
Tonluln affair. They knew that the French political
agents had lnstigated their government to acquire
Tonquin, not so much for the value OF the country
as possession, but as base from which they could
proceed TO gradually dlsmcmber southern China,
during periods OF rebellion, and thus add Chinese
provinces to their 1ndoChlncse Empire. II II were
her object to read salutary lesson to the French.
she seems TO have abundantly justified her policy;
for, costly as the war has been to China II has rela
lively been much more costly TO France, and may
prove still more costly In the future. Russia Is the
one power feared by China. She has closely
studied and watched the forward progress OF
Russia, and whatever the peace-at-any price people
anu humanitarians may think about Risslas not be-
Ing an aggressive power, china herself encrtans
n0s'oubt whatever as to what Russas aims are and
ready TO defend herself by force OF arms While in
emma found the Idea In favor with Chinese stateg-
men, and spontaneously expressed In the native
formed with Ensiand Ssat Russia, S Tie rSonai sH% SG
and inyeteraie ehemy of both aud the sound sense
but also that the only way to bring about any per,
manen alliance was to develop the
an ana thus me intercourse and commerce, between
the TWO empires OF India and China. In this basis
OF common and permanent interetls, cemented bt
Increasing commercial connection, they saw the
prospects OF an alliance which would prove more
Trustworthy In their opinion than ali the paper
treaties ever executed, China has not forgotten
how ls,lssia nlched froii het the large territory OF
Manchoorla In 1853. the fatherland OF the imperla
family, when she had been brought to her knees by
me Anglo French expedition, nor how Russia an-
nexed knldja some years back, which, however,
emma compelled her TO evac,iate. 1tussia is the
source OF dslrust and dread Of all Chinese states.
men, as ~ well M she may be. and burning, rambling
object China would fight for and make sacrifices for
IKE war against Russia in which she could hope TO
thrust back Russia from the Pacific and beyond the
AmOOr.'
The report that Servian troops had entered Bul-
gara and that war between these new Slay States
Is Imminent Is incomprehenslblc to the average
reader. We are indebted to the correspondent OF
the London Tones ut Nsh for much light upon the
present hostility between Scrva and Bulgaria. He
writes: "It Is curious to remark how Bulgaria for
some years past has becn AMI still continues 10 be-
tne spoiled child Of circumstances And certainly
is with her. The blood and money of other nations
Servia, among them, won bulgarian Independence,
Bulgaria was constituted 10y treaty, under specific
obligations, every one OF which .shc eyadeti, and
Europe accepted II all Complacent!y as matter of
course. Now Bulgaria jumps completely over the
treaty. anncNes province half as large as herself,
anu tlle balance OF European opinion rather nclines
10 applaud than dsapprove the fact. At this rate
ibugara VIII declare her Independence six months
hence, establish Kingdom, and annex Macedonia
neiore Europe mas time to recover from her surprise.
The Bugarians naturally declare themselves salts
neu TO the full limit of their ambition by the unOn
bnt the servans are convinced that these declara-
! lions are more opportune than sincere. There is
1HIs WhsGrer contrast with the case OF scrva.
tory or independence, comes OF long painful
struggles and the lavish outpourlng 0f Servlan
situation iolerabc for Servia though not coInmen-
snrate either with her sacrifices military achieve
men,s Serv settled down and executed faithfully
every treaty obligation impressed with the solcm-
nifty OF her engagements toward Europe, she sought
10 iulnll them In the fullest spirit by placing strong
restraint upon the adventurous spirit of the people
In endeavorng 10 compel this spirit into the grooves
OF progress and material development The King
authority Nevertheless, they would have per aie
severed but for an event which places the future OF
Servla In extreme perilperceiyed by the whole popu
iitlun FOR, though not au educated race like the
English, the Servians have keen political sense,
ana i,n know when when their national interests are en-
uanEercd WIN Austria on the one side and big
bulgaria on the other, Serva would he completely
smut In, with only the future before her OF sewing
III heI OWN Juice, or OF one uay praying TO be an
nexe by one nc!ghbOr or the other In order bor.
row strength, even ut tho sacrifice OF national in
diyldnality, the inextingushable of which has
sustained her through centuries of struggle. What
seryIa would have to expect from powerful Bull
garia Ia sunicleny foreshadowcd by tho prohbitive
.arm estaollshed ny bulgaria against seryia, and by
many acts Indicating the Bulgarian desire to fOment
Internal troubles In Servia."
"An Old Resident" writing to the Coaienlp po,aIU
RepieU from Constantinop!e, September II, before
the Roumelian revolt, foreshadows that event and
gives very clear idea OF political movements under
way In the Balkan States. lie says that Russian in
trgues, often purposeless and contradictory, have
greatly impaired the friendship which the Southern
Slavs formerly felt for Russia. Servla has become
the Intimate friend OF Austria, and Bulgarlans begin
to see that Austria Is their natural ally. Now that
the independence OF Turkey Is practically assured,
absorption by Russia is feared by the Bulgarans.
The inhabitants OF Eastern ROumelia, who have be-
come prosperous and entcrprsIng, are anxious for
union with Bulgaria. The position OF Prince Alex
ander has been dlnlcult one, but he has won the
confidence and affection OF the people. Russia has
kept up system OF irritating interference In Bull
garian AFFAIRS and assumes the position OF dictator
Sle mas opposed the Prince and allowed her agents
to Interfere In evcrythiDg.n the offensive way.
She has hundreds OF officials living on the Bulga.
and more inclined to assert their independence.
This article on Contemporary Iife aud Thought In
w4Iisy nv r@i o. inf9rmaiion aud was evidently
lie thinks the Prince ought to have the support and
sympathy OF all the powers Interested In the peace
and prosperity OF the Balkan peninsula. strong
and inlependent Bulgaria, and ultimately an alliance
OF the Balkan States Including ROumanIa, would re-
Sfe p"gf 81 AZ ,hs to ss Sl this
lsbliry desires and what Russia Ia Intriguing TO pre-
vent. By recognizing tho Sultan's snzeraln rights
~ Egypt the English Premier has doubtless snOolhcd
ms way 10 convincing the Sultan that his best pro-
lection against tho increasing pressure OF the great
statn ss.hcrn power y strong and nnlied Balkan
long ago Russia was the defender OF the BulgaraDs;
now tlat role devolves upon England. Yet there Is
no inconsistency OF purpose on either side. This
queer shifting OF positions has been brought about
by the current OF events
All hope OF securing uniformity OF pitch between
English orchcstras aud the Orchestras OF the Contl-
nent has now been abandoned, the military authorl-
ties having declared that sowing to financial and
other difficulties the didpdson normal OF Parls and
OF nearly all Continental ctes cannot be adopted.
inc change would, OF course, involve the alteration
OF complete renewal o. almost every musical insru-
ment used III the British army IL meanwhile the
reglmental bands maintain the high pitch which
since SIT Michael Costa's time has been kept to
!where, some years ago. to meet the views OF Nine.
patl, u was lowered II will bc impossible to change
me tp pitch IN orchestras with which military bands
from Time 10 time cooperate. The greatest oppo-
nents OF the elevated pitch have been
Nine. Adelna Patti and Mr.. Sims Reeves, who
rnce his voice for the sake OF little extra brilIancy
IN wind Instruments II Il said. however, that con-
uhloS anu Dabsob are quite satisfied With the high
pitch now general In England and that they would
for personal reasons object TO see 1t lowered 1t is
dlnicut In this, as In 30 many other matters TO
please every one. Meanwhile the diapas0n In Eng
land IL TO be maintained at liz proud height Without
reference 70 the standard diapason OF The rest OF
Eur0pc.-The Week.
The Liverpool Mercury explaining the decline OF
Madame Blayaisky and the thcosophy cult, says:
"Theosophy has given up It's miracles. Stl retain
ing thelr belief In the existence OF brotherhood
deep In the mountainous recesses OF Thibct, their
belief In MahatmaB, who lived for q thousand years.
and In their astral bodies passed from Scandinavia
10 australia from London TO Calcutta, without dii-
cuIly, tne Theosophists have nevertheless Burren-
dered their early faith In Nine. Blayatskyis myste-
rlons letters, placed by Invisible hands In locked
cupboards 0aw the other day drawing OF Nine.
Iiiavaishy's rooms, allowing how she worked the