The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-04-19
THE GENERAL SITUATION.
Gladstone's Frank and Manly Attitude-vast
Extent of Speculation in Europe


Extent of Speculation in Europe
LONDON, April 1S.-The prospect of peace
may be delusive. and many experienced dlplo-
mats entertain firm conviction that the appar-
ent truce is taken by England merely to get
proper Weapons for effective action. Mr.. Glad
stone has made some retreats during his minis
try, but he has always, on these oc-
casions, betrayed himself by indecis-
ion and evasiveness in his parlia-
mentary statements. 1t is quite different
with him now. To all interrogatories in the
House of Commons, during the past week, the
Premier has presented the very perfection of
firmness in reply. When the questioner desired
to know something which the government were
not ready to confde to the public. Mr.. Glad
stone has straightforwardly refused to give in
formation and has plainly based his refusal
upon public policy. In nearly every other case
the Liberal leader has been frank to
his constituents, fair to his opponents,
and unimpassioned and truthful to the
Russians. It is admitted by even the Premiers
enemies that his conduct has been like that of
man strong in fore knowledge about the result
of his cause like that of man managing well
good cause with many ugly features necessarily
attending the preliminary stages of its
progress. Mr.. Gladstone appears to have his en-
tire case in hand, seems to be unembarrassed
by the prospects, and undoubtedly has the full
sympathy and cooperation of his entire Cabinet.
It would appear from all this that the Premier
has another coup d. theatre prepared nor next
weeks vote-of-credit day. Hence, although all
the surface indications warrant the statement
%ho% f1n 10 NJ
the only description of the actual sit
| uation which can be given as literally
accurate is contained in the statement,
'"The situation is practically unchanged" OF
course, such statement is rather oracular. but
so is the situation, for no one outside the Cabi-
net knows just what it is. 1t may be set down
as absolutely true that the rise and fall Of war
stock during ten days past has been largely due
to the speculative money interested in making
sales or purchases Never in the history of
modern times has such vast amount of
money been interested in the change of public
opinion of single nation. The enormous sums
| invested out-and-out by Berlin, Vienna. Paris
| and London capitalists in Russian securities and
! British consols have compelled vast and power
| full interest to maintain and spread good news.
The owners of the millions of idle money
| in London aud in the continental bourses, seek
| ing investment, constitute, on the other hand,
an equally powerful class, whose interest it is to
break values by securing and circulating bad
news. This struggle to retain against this bat
tie to sell has been largely responsible for most
of the war news given to the public during
the past fortnight. Every piece of news
| has originated in some form from other
than the Russian or English government. The
| Russian generals are good, and ambitious for
| fame, but nobody supposes they are market
| spectators. England never had a Ministry
| purer than the present Cabinet. It is not only
above suspicion, but out Of suspicious
reach. In Paris and Berlin spectators
hold large amounts Of Egyptian stocks.
These holders fear that crash would ensue
in all these stocks if England should be COM
PEELED to evat aate Egypt in order to strengthen
her force against Russia Russia has been max
| ing the strongest possible effort to maintain
her financial credit in Europe She has recently
announced that the new tax on coupons
will be collected from Russian holders only.
Foreign holders of Russian bonds have,
therefore, nothing to do to escape this coupon
| tax but to make affidavit to their nativity The
Imperial Council, which has this entire matter
under present consideration has made haste to
relieve foreign holders of alarm by making them
acquainted with their exemption from this
coupon-tax, and will soon make known
other important results of the discussion which
the Council is holding The result of the efforts
| of the Russian government to negotiate o loan
with the Rothchilds is not known; it is believed,
however, that the Rothchilds have declined the
Russian terms.
The Marquis of Salisbury, replying to an ad-
dress of 1000 conservatives of Wales, said that
| the Cabinets helpless instability of purpose con-
| demns their enterprise to disastrous end Dis
grace had repeatedly been caused by their
neglect until too late to rescue officers
and garrisons which their policy had exposed to
mortal peril. They had compromised EnglaLd's
good name. England, he said, speaks with lit-
| tie authority. Her protests will carry little
weight as long as the men who represented her
are discredited, owing to repeated failures.
| General Won Nouski. Russian Minister of
War, it is stated, is suffering from i'll
| health, ana desires to retire. Gen. II.
| Obrontcheff is named as his successor. General
Voa Nouski belongs to the peace party in
| st. Petersburg. 1t is not generally believed
that he b really i'll. 1t is suspected that If he
retires, it will be in Difference to the war party,
which seems to be getting control of the Russian
policy. General Obrontcheff is thoroughly in
sympathy with the war party, and his assump-
| ton of control of the War Office would un-
| doubtedly be indicative of the adoption of q war
| like policy by the Car.
| The Spectator says that, after clutching Herat,
Russia will be almost certain to turn her
attention to Persia and attempt to secure control
Of the Shahs dominions BY combined attack