New-York tribune., 1889-12-31
MINOR STATES.

Belgium has once more been the scene Of great
strikes, and has gradually come to be regarded
| by tie remainder Of Europe as the very hotbcd
| of labor disturbances. During last summer a
terrible explosion of Cunpowder, dynamite and
| cartridges took place at Antwerp. near the docks,
| which destroyed portion of the city and caused
| an immense loss Of life and property. VI. Cor
villain, tie Of the explosives, was indicted
| for criminal negligence, and was sentenced to five
| years Imprisonment and to the payment of
| heavy fine In November an International Con-
| ference met at Brussels for the purpose Of dis
| cussing means for the suppression Of the slave
| trade in Africa. Notwithstanding the part taken
| by Cardinal Lavigcrie and by the Pope himself
| in arousing public sentiment on the subject Of
| the slave trade and in bringing about the Con
| ference no invitation was addressed to tho
| Vatican by the Governments represented at the
| Convention TO take part therein Both the Pontln
| and Cardinal Iavigere are understood 10 have
| resented greatly tie slight thus put upon them.
| The Congress is still in session. But there are
no prospects Of its achieving any practical results
and it bids fair to end like It's predecessors in
mere empty talk.
In Holland the most remarkable event OF the
year has been the recovery Of the septuagenarlan
King. after he was already regarded as IN the
throes of death SO hopeless did his case appear
and so imminent his demise, that
the public buildings actually n many
cases already draped in black ana emDens
of mourning were visible everywhere suddenly
the King rallied He rapidly recovered his mihd
and his faculties, but lost his temper on dlscoV-
crinc what he termed the " indecent haste 'ha'
had been displayed by his family, his Government
and his people in making the pos'-moriem ar
rangements. His first act was 10 resume lie tehS
lp
been appoiuted by Parliament u g0'ern the klng-
dom during the most critical portion OF MS III
ness and Immediately afteTwafd nc sent cuIt
summons TO his relative, Duke Adolph OF Nassau,
to surrender the sovereignty Of LuNembuIg,
which the Duke had assumed ht lhc 'iinc VIZ" W
Kinp William was reported 10 DE dying IHt
unfortunate Duke who had aHeauS Tno 'i'O %
congratulations Of all the courts ol EuI"Pe on
his accession had 10 other course open 10 MN
than 10 obey the summons ana 10 sh"Nc 'ii' uU''
of Luxembourg from OIL ms ieeU'
Switzerland has witnessed during 'ie P'''
twelve months new encroachmen's Oh HcI n'u
tralitv. which. being founded solely on uhe JedI-
ousies of her great neighbors, Is becoming 4euiN
more and more insecure syhulc"" u -"
Gnancicrs who are notoriously acting on the IN
sr,iro,ion Of the German Foreign Office have sue
ceedcd in obtaining gradual control OF the entre
.oi,,,,o, s,.stom in Switzerland And it is obvious
tbat tho Great Chancellor who has SHOWN suCh
CONCERN about German investments ia huSoia'
would never have allowed his countIyh@n oss go bc
qulfe qI ior 1nuH 1osians on the little republic. Ihe
GoveTnmcnt Gov Of the latter realizes the danger ana
has not only issued loan for The equipment yd ana 40
Increase Of her army but is also On be tEe Federal SE
C,,nrnTnent 70 take forcible possession OF the
yaiIway system of the country in return ioI .m an
indemnity 10 be paid TO the present Ucru'"n con-
trollers thereof. . h. d
10th Span and Portugal appear TO DC grad
fahl
ually drifting toward the es'a"iis'i,"s .,t.i,,.
auhI,c In Portugal the movement is essentially
,onrIor ono and attributable 10 the democratic
sentiments Of the people at large. In Spain'
howevar u NAV he described purely admins
trative That is, il is due TO the PERSONA
ambitions of statesmen out Of Office ana oi greedy
politicians. who see in an overtime" o' tIic
monarchy their sole opportunity oi o"'ain'ns
rank, power and wealth The principal uangei
lies in the generals and officers OF ths army