The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1886-12-18

THE FOREIGN NEWS.

The news 10 hand by the last mail re-
specting the Bulgarian difficulty Is less
copious than usual To all appearance
there IS 10 more immediate prospect Of
a settlement than heretofore, no more
concurrence among the Powers a. to
who shall Be Bulgaria's future ruler.
Another candidate has been brought
forward, but his nomination has not at
tracted much public attention, from
which It may be inferred that there i
but scant proba bility Of his occupying
the vacant throne The question has
for the time being relapsed into q state
Of quietude such as has not been wit
messed since the abdication II Prince
Alexander. This is to be attributed 10
the abandonment, for the present at
least, OF Russian threats to occupy Bull
gaTia, which have from the first con-
stituted the real element Of danger
Even an attempt 10 foster another re-
bellion has been discouraged the
authorities at St. Petersburg declining
to provide the necessary funds The
only Power which at the present mo-
ment is taking any action in relation to
this matter Is Turkey, and further eyi-
dences are forthcoming Of the en-
tente cordiale existing between Russia
and the Porte The sudden withdrawal
Of Russia from the threatening attitude
she had assumed was probably the re-
suit of the decided declaration Of policy
by the Austrian and British Prime Min
listers, combination which it would be
impolitie to ignore, considering the pres
ent relations Of Germany and France,
especially in view OF a prospective alli-
ance among the Balkan states. The
crisis for the present is suspended, but it
cannot be said 10 have passed. 1t may
be that the vacant throne may be filed
and an amicable agreement arrived at
concerning it without armed interven-
ton on the part Of Russia, in which case
the inevitable rupture consequent upon
the advance Of the Muscovite in the di-
rectiOn Of Stamboul may be prolonged in
definitely. On the other hand, fresh de-
velopments may arise in the politics Of
Europe calculated to afford the opportu.
nifty sought in the near future.
Now, however, the eyes Of Europe. are
turned more particularly in another di-
rection. The enmity which has been
ranking between France and Germany
since the year 1870 is at length begin
,,,r,fr -, aas,,y,,s q, 4ov,,iE.I. aIoy. V,,r-
ing the sixteen intervening years which
have elapsed, France has been sssidu-
ously engaged in promoting the efficiency
and increasing the strength OF her de-
provinces Of Alsace and Lorraine Her
intentions in this respect have been
made no secret, and the vigorous mill
tary policy Of past years is now receiving
an additional impetus by the demand Of
the French Minister OF War for increased
credit. Following close upon this, we
have the significant utterances OF the
Prussian Minister Of War, the enthusi-
asm evinced by the Reichstag upon the
Military bill, coupled with the emphasis
laid by the Emperor William upon the
absolute necessity for an immediate in
crease OF the German army. These in
dications are oTninCus and sound like IN
mistakable portents Of coming trouble.
Advices from Great Britain are well
nigh silent but upon one topic, the all
engrossing one OF Irish discomfort. The
coercive policy Of the present Tory adj
ministration Is producing its inevitable
result. The repression Of legitimate
liberty must ever create revolution by
aggravating the evils for which redress
is sought. The Irish people are too
much in earnest and their grievances too
real to admit Of their being effectually
dealt with upon such basis Coercion
only affords pretext for increased excess
es and incites a wider sympathy with the
cause. The consequence Is the Irish
Nationalists to-day occupy 4 stronger
position probably than ever in the past.