The morning call., 1891-09-06
DISTURBING
COMPLICATIONS.
Two Incidents Liable to Pro-
yoke War.
Free Passage Of the Dardanelles and the
SerYlaD Military ManeuVeTs-BritiSh
Crops Ruined by Rain.
Epecial TO THE MORNING CALI.

NEW YORK, Sept. 8. - The Tribune's
special cablegram from London says: 1t is
curious that at the time when two such high
authorities as Lord Salisbury and Prince
Bismarck unite In crying peace, two Incl
dents should have rapidly succeeded to
show upon what a foundation of powder
barrels the peace of Europe rests. The first
touches the old battle-ground of the Darda-
nelles. Early in the week the report
reached London that the Sultan, under
pressure from st. Petersburg, had conceded
to Russia free passage to its war-Ships
through the Dardaneles. 1t was added.
with suspicious exactitude, that Russia had
been backed up in this request by France.
1t would be impossible to eXaggerate the
Importance of such an arrange ment If it
were really brought about. With the Dar-
daneles free waterway, the Russian
feet could sweep down on Constantlnople
and rush through into the Mediterra-
mean, making it q Muscovite lake. and
commanding the worlds trade passing
through the SueZ Canal. OF course Russia
urgently desires such emancipation. She
nearly StCuEeu IL Sixty years ago anu
seemed finally to lose it as one tangible re-
suit of the Crimean War. That fresh ne
Gotiations on the subject have been in prog
ress is likely enough, and 1t is even pos
sible, though not probable, that the in
scrutable Turk might, for some immediate
advantage, be induced to place the key of
his empire at the disposal of Russia. Happily
Turkey is not the arbiter of the situation.
England, Italy, Austria and, in a remoter
degree, Germany, would have something to
say on the subject, considerations which
enable US to dismiss the rumor as scarcely
worth the attention it has absorbed here
and on the Continent at this dull season.
The other disturbing element has had
more actuality. Here again Russia and
Turkey have been at work using their
old tools, Bulgaria and Seryia. The SerYian
Government suddenly resolved that tile time
was oppOrtune for q series of military ma
neuveTs, and orders were issued for the
mobilization of $1,000 men. This was we'll
enough and perfectly within Seryia's right,
but the aspect of affairs was altered when it
was discovered that the maneuvers were to
take place on the Bulgarian frontier. Bull
garia was instantly on the alert, and forth
with orders were given for the mobilization
Of three army corps destined for maneuver-
ing on the Servian frontier. Only one re-
suit could follow from such an artistic ar
rangement. With a lighted match and a
train of powder conveniently disposed, an
explosion would be a matter Ony of days
or even hours, Diplomacy was thoroughly
alarmed. and. moving promptly. succeeded
in at least deferrlng the collision. The
7 orte, acting in the character of suzerain
Of Bulgaria, plainly Informed Servia that
the proposed maneuyers must not take
~, 1aI 20 H,r-th h. Sart ian,
Government, said that under the circum-
stances the maneuvers had better be post
poned. So the cloud suddenly darkening
the horizon has blown over.
1t is understood by some Of his friends that
Psrnell intends forthwith to set out for the
United States to see what can be done To-
ward closing up the ranks Of his party on
the American side Of the Atlantic. Money
is sorely needed, since a considerable pro-
portion of the members Of the old party
first been accustomed TO the receipt
of those regular subsidies which the
late Biggar judiciOusly distributed. The
need will become more pressing If any
thing like fight is to be made at the gen.
eral elections. Moreover, there is an i'm
mediate demand for the funds to start in
Dublin daily paper with which
to crush the renegade Freeman's Jour
nal. That the seceders from Par
nelrs leadership includes the mon
tJtu men VI lub pdIIl was ouONu
by the promptitude with which the money
TO float the National Press was forthcom-
ing. Parnell, to whom the possession OF a
daily paper is matter Of life and death,
has not yet succeeded in raising en- ough
money to rent an Office and purchase the
machinery for his proposed new paper.
His wife, if even she gets only portion OF
the fortune left her by her aunt, will be
rich enough to indulge in the luxury Of
starting daily newspaper, but Parnell has
L.. l.nrs.
ings Id the prosecution OF public purposes,
and what is Kitty's isnow his" America,
once the FL Dorado of the cause represented
by him, is his only hope, and he talks boldly
of trying it. The result of the last visit of
his emissares was, however, not encourag-
ing, and Mr.. PaInell may find a preteXt for
Indefinitely postDoning his excursion.
Toward the middle OF the week 1t seemed
probable that the long spell of bad weather
that has played havoc with the crops was
broken and that something might be saved
out of the wreck, but the burst of fine
weather was only temporary. Once more
the rain descended. Floods have come and
beating on fields ripe for harvest have
quenched the last spark of hope. What
makes the trial harder TO bear is that the
disaster has followed fast on what promised
to be an unusually fine harvest There was
not only a bountiful crop, but owing to the
failure of the harvest on the Continent
prices rose and British farmers began to
mediate Serenely on In6 prospect OF Blk
shillings a bushel for sound wheat
But that dream is over and the only
question is whether it will be worth
while or even possible to harvest the
beaten-down product of the flooded fields.
The grain already cut is sproutng and
few more days such as We have lately had
would render the crops worthless for bread
making purposes. 1t is not only rain, but
wind that has completed the ruin of the
farmers in Kent. Hops might have stood
up against the rain, continuous as it was,
but tney have been ruthlessly beaten down
by the prevalent storms, and whole gardens
which short time ago promised fair re-
turn are to-day hopeessly battered Nor
las fruit culture escaped the seourge, ap-
pies, pears and peaches being swept off the
trees. 1t is bitterly felt by British farmers
that England's adversely is Americas OPP
portunity, and tile reports which reach this
country of the magnificent hsrvests in the
United States do not relieve the despair
with which the British farmer looks upon
his own wasted land.
CANADA'S SCANDAL.