Omaha daily bee., 1888-07-28

the Shelbourne hotel, and she came to Dublin
no more. 1t is very likely that an adven-
turess of a similar character has been trying
to dupe MIR. Parpell in the same way, and
failing of success, has duped the tories with
a lot of forged letters.
-.
OF the great powers of Europe the Repub-
lie of France has the most to gain by dis
armament, and yet France demurs. With
all their love Of military glory the French
are eminently an industrial people. They
need years of peace i'm order to restore their
shattered national finances; yet, in their Ell
forts to organize a military establishment
capable of coping with Germany and Austria
in the field, they are running deeper and
deeper into debt. But France has little need
OF great standing armies either to repel for
eign invasion or to suppress domestic insur-
%rection. In 1912 the young republic was
practically disarmed in the presence of hos
tile Europe. The French srmy was in the
worst state Of disorganization, most Of its
officers of high rank and experience having
fed the country and joined its enemies. But
the patriotic spirit, the bravery, the ire
pressible energy and military genius of the
French people proved more than a match for
the invading armies of banded Europe. One
after another the ablest generals at the head
of the best drilled armies Of Europe were
beaten by hasty levies of undisciplined
French peasants and mechanics. France
can have no motive now to resist dis
armament other than revenge, and Bismarck
has an obvious right to require the removal
of this menace to Germany and to the peace
of Europe. Should the French government
refuse to Join the rest of the powers lin dis
banding the armies, Germany, Austria and
Italy would probably unite in demanding sub
stantial guarantees to keep the peace. A
declaration from France that she has no hos
tile intent, while maintaining a warlike attt
tude, would be treated as evasive and insin-
cere. Austro-H Hungary, loaded down with
debt and impoverished by keeping up armies
to watch her ambitious rival in the north,
would be relieved Of financial embarrass-
ment in the present, and of anxiety for the
future by a general disarmament. Italy,
though only a second-rate power, is straining
all her resources to maintain fleets and ar
mics by which she may hold her own in Eu-
rope. II these three allies should insist upon
the disarmament Of the standing armies as
the most effective guarantee of peace, and as
a means of financial relief, France would be
obliged to succumb or to accept the RESPONSE
bility Of provoking an Immediate war in
WHlCu All Hceulul guarantees vi WIZ
would be secured.
What has became of Stanleya is a question
that is being repeated with increasing in
terest throughout the civilized world. Since
the great African explorer reached the
sources of the Aruwimi, at the head of a
strong and well-equipped expedition, there
have been no trustworthy reports of him.
The interior of Africa is full of strange mys-
terles, but none so great as that which sur
rounds the fate of the man who has done so
much to bring its vast regions to the knowl-
edge of the world. The impression of those
who have most closely watched his move
ments is that he has given up the ostensible
plan of the expedition-the relief of Emin
Pasha (Dr. Schnitzler)-and has advanced
from the Congo into the dominions of the
Mahdi. According to this view the explorer
will next turn up at Khartoum. AS for Emin
Pasha, his relief seems to be wholly unneces-
sary. 1t is related that the former governor
of the equatorial province of Egypt on the
Upper Nile has accumulated at Wadelai a
great store of ivory, on which he would be
glad to realize. The conjecture is that he
may have taken up The line of march for the
relief Of his rescuer. What increases the in
terest of the situation are the repeated re-
l L 1loIlb VIZ libSl ~ thhu u III piohu
has appeared in the Upper Nile, and is
marching against the Mahdi and gathering
recruits for the native tribes as he advances.
If these reports can be trusted, they indicate
that Stanley has left DIR. Schnitzler to take
care of himself, and Is advancing upon Khar-
toum. 1t may be months-and it may be but
a few ~days-before the veil which covers
these movements in the heart Of Africa will
be lifted.
~
The safety of England's colonial empire is
at present causing as much serious thought
as is the defenceless condition of the United
Kingdom itself. To protect the trade lines
} in the Pacific ocean, with its ninety millions
of square miles of water, would require an
enormous feet in case of war. Besides ar
senals at Sydney and Bombay to serve as
, the naval base for ships in war time in the
eastern part Of the empire, it would be nee
essary not only to occupy, but also to garri-
, son certain strategic points like st. Helena,
, vancouver's island and other places which
command all the lines Of oceanic communica-
t ton between Great Britain and her colonies
4. and lie at the mercy of a hostile attack. The
argument, therefore,, is that, since the colo
, MES have no control over British diplomacy
Z and no power to determine whether they
shall go to war or remain at peace, there is
no political reason for asking them to helT
defray the cost of a war in the declaration OF
which they have no choice, and perhaps nc
interest. There is nothing IN this view Of
the case that is selfish; it is simply a corol
l larry of the admitted doctrine that taxation
I and representation go together.
, ~
y The thrust that M. Floquet made at Gen
eral Boulanger's throat seems to have
. reached quite through the district of Ar
! deche, in which the latter was a candidate
for reelection to the assembly, as at tn,
election of Sunday he was overwhelming,
defeated by his opponent, who received
!, nearly three votes to his one. Genera
= Boulanger evidently overestimated his popu
larity when he so Electrically resigned hi
seat in the assembly; he no doubt though
that the first district in which an election
4 occurred would vindicate him by returning
h him by a great majority to the place he ha'
II deserted. But the citizens of Ardeche di,
70 not want him. Apparently they are for tn
N "I