The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1889-12-29
rnE NINrH DECADE.


We are now in tbs last week not only OF
t..ss year issl, bat OF the ninth and next to
the last decade Of the nineteenth century.
In few more days we shall have entered
npon the last decade OF the century and it
viii be but = short tisne, comparatively
speaking. until We bid farewell 10 CEN
tnry which has unquestlonably beer in
point Of material advancement and ma
terial welfare, the most remarkable epoch
OF history.
Ii Is the decade which Is about to
pass away, however. whose events
should he passed in review at the
the present tine. Generally speaking
ii may be said that it has been an era
OF quiet aud repose. II has added little 10
the political history OF the world. There
have been 40 social commissions. and there
have been no great wars. There have been
rumors OF wars innumsfgble, but though
the clash OF arms has often been expected, it
has never come. The nations Of the earth
occupy the same relative position toward
one another that they occupied at the be-
ginning OF 1850 and with but few eIcep-
tions their destinies are controlled now by
the same minds that controlled them ihsn.
Among the NEST notable political events
OF the decade has been the British invasion
OF the Nile valley, which, in one form or
another. has occupied the attention OF the
world almost continuously. Beginning
with the bombardment Of Alexandra in
iss2. les nnai result is still as much OF .
problem rs Il was then. The British still
hold the lower valley Of the Nile, OF Egypt
proper. and Il may now fairly be regarded
- rs wing been incorporated in the British
empire. Their attempts 20 penetrate the
upper valley, however, have been success
fuIiy resisted and entirely abandoned.
The military operations Of this invasion
have unqneshonshsy been the most inter
esting and instructive OF the decade. and
the unsuccessful efforts OF the British sol
dists, though supplied with the most inn
proved implements OF warfare, 10 contend
with the halE-civilized Arabs upon their
native deserts aud beneath tropical skies,
convey lesson which as least enc nation
Of Europe seems 70 have learned thoroughly.
The experience of France In Tonquin was
not aisSimtiar 70 that Of Great Britain in
Egypt. the difficulty in this case being ne
in great part 90 the distance OF the warlike
operations from the home base ~ supplies,
and the impossibality OF maintaining such
. line OF communications as is essential 10
success
The most important event az domestic
politics ia Great Britain has unquesfion-
ably beea the accession of Gladstone and
the liberal party 30 the cause OF Irish
home rule. The most important events IN
the politics ST France have been the rise of
the retroactive national spirit IN the form
oi boalangism. is successful resistance by
progressive repnhlieAnlsm and is almost
total disappearance as political force. la
Russia the nihslist agitation has been, for a
tlme al least. almost eatlFely sabdued. In
Germany the national pewer has been
rendered stronger and more consolidated
than ever hefore. In Austria, on the con.
tfaFy, liberalism has Increased. and there
are evidences thAt the new decade may be
one Of danger 70 the monarchy. Tals i
true also Il Italy and spain. Ia the new
Bslkaa states there has been steady
growth Of natlenslism. In Nogway.
Sweden and Denmark repahlicanlsus has
iRcrea@d and promises 90 become ia The
bear future potential posi.ieal force.
The political event Ell the aecafs in the
United States has been the brief return 20
power os tAe Democratic party. after eca-
tlnueas career tn opposition fos twen "
fear yvAss This wss intensely interests
ing - lac tAeeEhsful ssudeHi u current
syvnts, soE Is practically settled the gnes-
tion q whether the political questions CT
sas Aate var tlEsse had heen set al rest for
ever. The Democrats party had been Ia
The past the eAAmp3on az state soverc1 entv
as cppesei % the poNes eG shs national
government Ii bad eone s3seh extremes
In les asfs0eAey 81 states rarass A. &C. take
mp the cause o. nuls 6eatian and seeesst "a
sRa 10 deny ssTpnuoasly thag she nation a
government possessed Any power - enfovcs
sas owu lass - - prsvSns 3 dissatisfied
state frea lsaxsas tie Union. lt bad
s9TNaueusly resisted every step tAkpn Is
tAe Repas&Aean party toward he ssseazth.
sasaw e The natsoaI geyvsursnt tn SIS
legitimate SFAerv q aessosl, and had newer
b taeorg yselsiest one Sei et the pginSsYlss
whseh il believed - * ss The faan&ss80a
et is organization
II Il pa& strange taeeofars. thss she
sasseAtfssi ssfe eassess g see A0w tA.s
T@F7y e cgssSekss Ana eppositson weaad
eeaaaes Tie ass.aaal gavesnsent ahsa Is
eaee more eaEsz tata poNer The tgenf
ess pspsesA sasaa san nsnaosusfsc party. aa
sHass e Hssit Aas h<ea sAsssa3 froan is
fssssiseH - tAe lessc & ta4t wascA hss O.,
ssFev&. 4 sseN she Euxeynnseat IS Is
tsHna e, sssa sAFeeseh sls gaas yeArs ~ -
FoavF AAaata ssrs.s g aa ire genss4s hass
TfseF iesat IF sAs KxIaA4cAA F41sy, i1s