Omaha daily bee., 1889-07-20
OTHER LANDS THAN OURs.

the court to order the production OF the
books of the Loyal and Patriotic League.
The National League was compelled to pro-
duce all its accounts in the hope that by the
drag net process, some entry might be found
which might give a color of truth to the
gross charges made by the London Times.
Mr. Parnelrs counsel, having reason to be
lieve that the whole conspiracy against the
Irish leader had been Matched in the callow
councils of the Loyal and Patriotic League,
asked, as they had right TO do, that the
books of that organization should be sub
iected to a similar investigation. There was
good reason for this. The young secretary
of the Loyal and Patriotic League was a
conspicuous witness against Mr. Parnell; he
was the confessed obetween in the negoti
ations that resulted in the Pigott forgeries,
and there Is ample room for the belief that
he was the original nstigator of the plot. If
the commission desired to get at the bottom
of the affair, and that is what it was ap-
pointed for, it should have ordered the pro-
duction of the books without argument or
hesitation. IF it was simply appointed as a
desperate official device to throw discredit on
MIR. Parnell aud the home rule movement.
its refusal to compel the production of the
books is easily explained. Mr.. Parnelrs
withdrawal from the case at this stage is not
likely TO have much influence upon its final
decision. The evidence is nearly all in on
both sides and the court has doubtless deter
mined upon its decision. But Mr. Parnel's
action concentrates upon the partiality of the
court the attention of two continents; it ex-
poses the aninlus of the commission and de-
feats the ulterior purposes of its organizers.
Isl. ~
The legislative term of the French cham
| ber OF deputies, which began IN December,
| 1885, closed on the 18th instant. The
end was reached in the midst of
scenes of disorder similar to those
which marked its opening. France expert
enced frequent vicissitudes during the exist
! ence Of the chamber. The new elections are
| to be held on the old plan of single districts,
and one of the last acts OF the chamber on
Saturday was to prohibit a candidate from
| contestlng more than one seat at the same
time. This will prevent any hippodroming
| on the part of General Bouanger, and at the
| same time save the trouble of holding so
| many special elections. So far as Boulanger
| is concerned, this step seems to have been
hardly necessary, as the popularity Of the
| 'brave general'' has vastly declined since
his absurd flight. Not only has he made
himself ridiculous in the eyes of the French
nation, but he has gravely COM
promised his position with the party
| of revenge" by his suspicious al
lance with the monarchists. While Bou-
langer and the other enemies of the republic
have lost ground, the Tirard-C -Constans min
| stry has visibly strengthened itself by its
| vigorous measures as we'll as by the brilliant
success of the Paris exposition. Whatever
fate the coming elections may have IN re-
| serve for the third republic, it is reasonably
certain by this time that the French nation
will not tolerate monarchy, whether of the
| Bourbons or Bonapartes. Should the re-
pubic be overthrown it would be succeeded
| by anarchy and convulslons, unless new
| Bonaparte should arise to establish new
military despotism on the ruins of political
liberty.
While Italy maintains vast army and is
constructing formidable fleets her people are
starving. The patriotic pretcxt fol
this enormous military expenditure is
| the danger that France would
dominate the Mediterranean sea If Italy
| should be weak and defenseless. Yet to the
| French at Magenta ana SolferIno in 1859 the
| Italian monarchy owes its existence. Cur.
tozza and LIssH, in the war of 1865, were hui
| initiating Italian defeats. No greater boon
| could be conferred upon the Italians than O
| disbandment of their immense standing army
| and cessation of their costly attempts tC
cope with the great and wealthy European
| powers IN naval armament. If the European
balance of power be not a mere ticLon Italy
is safe under the protection of Germany
Austria ana England from the encroach
ments of France, without the necessity
OF maintaining vast armies and navies
But there is no disposition ON the part of
France to oppress their neghbor anG
former ally beyond the Alps. On the
| other hand, evidence Is not wanting of an ex-
treme Willingness in some of the politicians
of Italy to provoke u quarrel with France
upon almost any pretext, il they could be as
sured Of the support of Germany and Aus
tra A war with France would enable the
Italians TO put TO satisfactory test their
military strength. While the government il
thus draining the resources Of the Italian,
for military expenditure, the people are sink
ing deeper and, deeper in poverty and dis
tress. In some populous districts the people
are dying of hunger by thousands III tn,
Italians should abandon their warlke policy
they would be enabled to develop their in
dustries and recuperate their strength. l.
they should maintain this policy much longer
war would find them too greatly enfeebleC
and dlspirited, with all the expenditures fol
fleets and armies, to keep the field against
| vigorous foe.
I -
The situation on the southern frontier O
Egypt may be summed up in a few words
For over two years the Egyptians have fell
safe behiud the fortifications at Wady Halfa
but have maintained a strictly defensive atti
tude, their efforts being confined TO prevent
ing any concentration Of rebels within rang
Of that stronghold. The Soudanese, whose
headquarters are on the Nile, about one hun
dred miles south Of Wady Halfa, have beel
afraid to attack that place, but have i'm
proved several opportunities TO offer battle u
Egyptian detachments outside, and have re
pealedly sought to tempt the Egyptians int
the open. 1t has been believed sine
the fall OF 1887 that when the Sou
danese got ready to advance in fore