Omaha daily bee., 1889-10-05
OTHER LANDS THAN OURS.

OcnCHb Ol Lne uOUDb III Ill CunlSSbSs
-
OTHER LANDS THAN OURS
Tho victory gained by the republicans In
| France is gratifying TO all friends Of repre-
| sentative institutions, but there is tendency
| TO magnify IL to an extent not warranted by
| the facts. Tne republican majority in the
next chamber OF deputies will not only not
| be unexampled, but it will scarcely be
| greater than that held in the last chamber,
and will probably be somewhat less. Noi-
| ther has thore been q uniform diminution in
| republican sentiment In tho past dozen years
| On total popular vote which has not varied
much in recent elections from 100000, the
majority for the republicans was about $780,
900 in 1877, 3,4O0, 900 in 1881, and but 100000
| In 1885. The vote of the country In last Sun
| days elections is not vet knoWn, but IT, is
hardly probable that the popular majority
| for the republicans will DO much greater
| than IL was twelve years ago. There were
specific influences which affected injurously
| the foes of the republic in 1881 and its friends
| in 1889, but these influences were not pnrma-
| nent. Boulangism is undoubtedly devoted
| to speedy destruction, yet he would be
rash who, while knowing anything
| about recent French history and the Drift
| and potency of the forces which combine to
make French politics, should predict that
| Bonapartist aud bourbon parties have made
| their last appearance in o national election.
1t Is entirely probable, TO be sure, that the
| republican system in Franco will endure the
| most exactlng tests 10 which 1t will be sub
iected in the future, but many decades will
| undoubtedly pass before the foes of its cx-
istence will become extinct.
-.
Russia Is now engaged in raising new
| loan, and Germany repeats her old tactics of
making the most of war rumors in order TO
frighten the capitalists. Incidentally an un-
settled feeling will help Bismarck IN push
ing his new scheme for the enlargement OF
the German army. We have had accounts
| of six Russian regiments of cavalry sent for
ward to join the thirty-four regiments al
ready on the German Austrian frontier. In
fantry from the Caucasus has also been sent
to the western borders. Emperor William
| plans to extend his southern tour to Con-
stantinope, which in all probability he
would not do If he were upon cordial rela-
tons with the czar, who will be extremely
irritated by the step. These incidents have
caused renewal of speculation regarding
the chances of European war. 1t may
pertjnenty be asked what elements are
there IN the present war scare more danger.
Gus than the many that have preceded it.
The excitement in Europe just before the re-
tirement of Gladstone was occasioned by the
| aggresslonS of Russia in Afghanistan. A
conflict between England and Russia would
| have been viewed by Bismarck with great
| complacency. The actual danger of war was
not great at any time during that crisis, as
Russia was experimenting upon the extent
| Of England's forbearance The next serious
crisis seemed to threaten an impending
struggle between Germany and France.
And yet this generation is evidently not
destined to see another war between the
fatherland and the republic, as the senti-
meut of revenge for the losses of the Franco
Prussian war is fast dying out in France. 1t
was only when Russia interfered and drew
down upon herself the wrath of Bismarck
and frightened the reichstag to pass his
seven-years' army bill that the natural
rivals of Europe came face to face The
danger of the present situation is that the
two civilizations are now matched for fight
either on the field or in diplomacy ana in
trigue. From now on the world may expect
stirring times. The triple alliance IS secure
and the car must either fight or abandon
the historic policy and ambition of the Ro
manoffs.
-.
The com pletion of 1000 miles Of rail way
IN Japan was celebrated on July 10 by 8
, grand banquet. While Japan has 1000 miles
Of road, China has only eghty-six and one
half miles but 1t now seems probable that
in less than twenty years the middle King
dom" will have as many miles of rails a:
may then De found in the territory of its
more progressive neighbor. The recent de-
cree of the emperor of China, directing that
work on railway 700 miles long should bt
| undertaken at once, was issued only eighi
| months after the sudden and unexpected IN
| terrupton of work on the proposed extension
, | of the Tien-Tsin line. A road eightysix anc
| half miles long, connecting TienTsin anC
| Taku with certain coal mines, and lyinl
| wholly in that far northern province whict
contains the city of Pekin, had been COM
pleted and was in operation. Surveyors wer,
I at work upon an extension of IL to Tung
Chom, and had located forty-ive miles
| when they were suddenly withdrawn. The
censors, the astrologers, and other conserv
= | atives had overcome the liberals, and appar
, | emily had reversed the railroad policy of thu
government. There had been great fire in
the imperial palace and the astrologers were
| induced to declare that this fire had been
I caused by the malIgn influence of the new
|
e European nations were tearing uD their rail
s ways and we're trying to unload the aban
4 | doned rails upon the Chinese people. For
time they seemed to exercise greater infu
ence than that of Ii Hung Chang, the grea
viceroy, and other liberal statesmen. 1t nov
appears that while the liberals seemed to b
in disfavor, they had not lost the confidence
l of the emperor and the empress dowager blu
were seeking support and gathering argu-
t ments upon which they might rest securel!
a when the progressive policy should be re-
3 sumed.
4 -.
Two thousand armed men, led by Euro
peans, are now following the beaten tract
toward central Africa made famous by tn
great explorers who were the first to gaz
upon the equatorial lakes. The paths whcl
Speke, Burton, Grant and Stanley followed
I on their peaceful missions are now the rout
Q or an army bent upon destroying the rebe
Q chief Bushiri, who, having been driven out o
= all the coast towns he defended, has talter
refuge among the mountains. 1t is a strik
inu Ill of N han nal ha