Omaha daily bee., 1889-05-25

European monarklc& and also Of the Bra.
zilian. to accept ~ Invitations TO attend the
banquet given iuktoner Of the cabinet of the
French republic pY delegates from all the
American republics whose products are rep
resented in the PSfisHxposition, was a natu.
raj, though unmaapssiy, outcome Of circum-
stances The successsof repu blican form
of government oarriss menace to every
monarchy. The ambassadors refused TO at
tend the banquet bpin direct orders from
their home govegnments. The exposition
itself has been REGARDED with unfriendly eyes
by the kings and emperors OF the world;
their ambassadors were present at its inaugu-
ration, indeed, but only as private person.
ages; they did not appear as friendly repre-
sentatives Of friendly powers. The mon
arches have made mistake. They have
been insssent upon tho decay of republican
theories and the demise of republican long
ings in Europe, but their conspicuous hostl-
ity TO convivial meeting of the delegates
from republican nations is evidence of their
dread of the republican instincts of their
subjects 1t is natural enough. Every dis
play of the resources aud achievements of
the citizens of republics Is an object-lesson
on the iuferiority of the monarchical system.
And yet better manners would have been
policy on the the part of the dsgrunCled
sovereigns.
The reception of the shah of Persia in Rus
sia and in England will. it is safe to say, be
attended by every phase of spectacular dis
play which will make favorable impression
upon the mind of an oriental potontate.
Persia is destined to tall into the hands Of
either Russia or England, or be divided be-
tween them. 1t would be according the fit
ness of things, as Europe views them, il
England yielded to Russia a sel-coast outlet
through Persia, as the price of q final adjust
ment Of the eastern question. The diplo-
matte agents of England have of late been
very successful in gaming the confidence of
the shah-so much so that Russia threat
ened, not many months ago, to withdraw her
representatives, cut Off official relations, and
to receive the shah upon his tour simply
as a private person. The threat produced
its effect, and this is why the Persian mon-
arch is greeted with such honors in Russia.
lie walked under triumphal arches at Erwan
and feasted his eyes upon the inscription:
''ro the Shah's Sacred Person" The Brit
ish fatterers of the shah will be compelled to
do something more handsome than lodge
him in the dreary halls of Buckingham
palace, if they expect to outdo the Russian
display Of respect for barbarous ruler, for
whom there is in reality not the least re-
gard.
~
Besides the exhibition, Paris has an attrac-
| nationa! congresses debating all manners of
questions save those related to politics or
| religion. Such congresses (they are common
| to all international exhibitions) not infre-
| quently accomplish great deal OF good by
bringing together some of the brightest
| minds in the world-a succession of special
| lists. Their audiences may be small but they
| are select, and the publication of what is said
and of descriptions of 5what is shown carries
| around the world the consensus of thought
| on various practical and scientific subjects.
The Electrical congress of 1881 was of great
value in securing something like uniformity
| in nomenclature and standards of measure
ment, and the Electrical congress will this
| year have more work of the same kind to do.
| 1t should, for example, get a new standard
| for measuring electric lights, and it ought to
| discuss the subject of laying wires under
| ground. If it should succeed in settling
these questions to the satisfa ction OF Amer
| ican cities it will justify the flood of talk
| which Paris invites when 1T calls together
sixty-nine international congresses to meet
there within six months
| ~.
| The latest conspiracy against the czar was
| evidently no commonplace nihilstic affair.
| IL is an old device of the Russian policy to
invent conspiracies in order to cover over
their lukewarmness and inefficiency and pose
| before the government as models of vigilance
and zeal. But the numerous arrests of army
| officurS soma Of whom aotuaIlv s1eu than
selves upon discovery indicate a deep plot
! against the life of the czar. What We're the
| ultimate political aims of the conspirators, in
| the event of the czar's assassination, is not
| likely to become known to the world. The
| Russian government in its despotic jealousy
| does not permit any report of its state trials
| to extend beyond the walls of the court
| house in which they are held. it is feared
| with reason, that the more the Russian peo.
| pie shall become familiarized with con-
| spiraces against the government the greater
| will be their frequency and danger. Such a
political system has nothing to dread so
| much as publicity.
The government of the Argentine Repub-
| lie has been more successful in prohibiting
| speculation in gold than was the government
| of the United States when it undertook the
| task but the extreme methods adopted there
would not have been tolerated here. AS soon
| as the new minister of finance, Senor Varela,
came to his post, he pent all his energies to
| reducing the premium on gold. But in spite
| Of all he could do, the price Of gold steadily
advanced from 1876, last December, to 100 in
February. He attributed this largely TO the
| speculation of the exchange. In February,
the minister showed, the dealings in gold
| amounted to ninety million dollars, while the
actual needs of commerce would not have
| called formore than five million dollars. 1t
was on March 2G that the decree was issued
declaring all buying and selling of gold, not
for immediate delivery and immediate use,
TO be illegal. More than this, the doors of
the exchange were closed at once by the po-
lice and guard of soldiers stationed before
them. The members of the exchange natur-
ally felt themselves highly aggreved. and
would not agree to live up to the terms of
the decree, which was the reason the gov
ernment resorted to extreme measures. The
larger part of the press strongly opposes the
new law. Yet it IL popular with the country
l ot lar nd thare a tn ha IN irnn ,adi ta