San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1886-04-06
TUESDAY, APRIL 6, 1886.
EUROPEAN COMPLICATIONS.

While America is threatened with
labor riots, Europe is threatened with a
general war. Gladstone, uneasy at
home, is far from finding matters to his
liking on the continent. A double bur
den is laid upon his shoulders, either
one Of them sufficiently weighty to tax
the energies of a younger nan. His
seventy-seven years, however, have not
dimned the keenness Of his intellectual
vision, nor abated the ardor of his men
tai force. He faces the problem of Irish
home rule undaunted by the detection
Of his trusted followers, and und g.
mayed by the combinations which" the
enemies OF liberal government are form
ing against him in every quarter. With
Ireland divided against herself; with
Scotland in open hostility to his plans
for tranquilizing Ireland, and envious OF
the attention that the northern island Is
receiving; with England jealous Of her
prerogatives, and suspicious OF every
movement that looks toward Irish eman-
cipation, the problem that Mr.. Gladstone
has presented for his solution is one that
might well challenge the undivided at
tention OF the ablest statesman OF this or
any age. But, while thus perplexed at
home. he is not allowed to give his I'M
divided mind TO the solution of these
vexed questions of internal administra-
ton. He finds his ancient enemy in the
east, alert, and ready. to take every adj
vantage of the situation to gain foot
hold, one stadium nearer his coveted
seaport on the Mediterranean. The
complications in ROumelis, with which
the Car has no real connection, are
made the pretext for forcing upon that
unwilling people his ultlmatum, that by
their refusal he may press claim to in
reference in the interest Of his own oc-
cupation Of part Of the peninsula lying
west OF the Black sea and stretching to-
wards the Adriatio.
Greece, ever jealous Of Turkish en-
croaohment and resenting the humilia-
lions Of her beloved Servia, refuses to
disarm at the demand Of the powers and
maintains q defiant attitude towards
Alexander OF Roumelia, secretly melted
thereto by the Emperor Of all the Rus
SLAMS. Alexander, supreme in the affec-
tions of his Roumelian and Bulgarian
subjects, refuses to relinquish the post
of Governor for life, conferred upon him
by the Turkish Sultan, and so refuses to
accept the ultimatum Of his uncle at st.
Petersburg. England informs Greece
that she must disarm, or an allied fleet
will be dispatched to Grecisn water.
For answer, the Gar of Russia starts
from his northern capital for the Cremea,
100, 100 guards stretching along his line
Of travel southwark, to prevent a posi-
BILE assassination. While Eastern Europe,
and the little kingdom on her western
shores, are thus disturbed and dis
quisted Central Europe is far from being
at peace. The iron hand that rules con-
solidated Germany still keeps subdued
the mutterings Of his disstfected Polish
and Austrian subjects, but there is deep
disaffection beneath the surface and the
fires smouldering there may burst into a
conflagration at any favorable moment.
France looks gloomily on, biding her
hour of revenge and ready to seize the
first plausible pretext for crossing the
frontier. Belgium is really in the midst
of a socialistic revolution, for the pres
ent subdued, but secretly abetted by
France, ready at any time to threaten
the very foundations Of the govern
ment. Hundreds of thousands of unem.
pleyed and starving workmen but add
to the dangers of the situation, and
stand ready to foment any disturbance
that may arise in the possible hope Of
improving their condition. Seen from
any point, there is nothing assuring in
the condition Of European affairs, and,
bad as matters are with us on this side
Of the water, we are in Infinitely better
condition than the most peaceful and
prosperous Of all the European govern
ments. A little wisdom and little pa
thence, little common sense and little
mutual concession, little more regard
for humankind and little less worship
Of the almighty dollar, little reform in
our laws and little more Of the early
American respect for labor and its just
demands, a little more true democracy
and-s little less demagoguery, and the
American people will find themselves
under no serious necessity Of complain
ing Of their situation.