New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-09-06
THE NEWS OF EUROPE.
prAoE TALK AND WAR TALK ON SEDAN
DAY.
,,rr rpucArIoN IN ENGLAND-ELEoTIoN PROS
rEcTs-MR PARNELL-THE RUINED
HARvEsTs OF ENGLAND
my CABLE TO TIE TRIBUNE

1881: By The ITtOu"e <ase'''N'
,ordo, Sent 5.-Sedan Day has been ceN-
hrated in Germany with something more '""u
o,ainarv fervor. II is the twen'y-hIs' "nni-
versary of that historical episode Sedah na' oO'u
~ are. as Mr.. Gladstone said in the hou'0 "
Commons one day last session. when SONIC 'iie ~
called a position assumed by him eloNen 80 80
.co differing from that lie now found IL CON-
20 adopt Germany was EN- fete IN VO"n ,.as "a
eountry. and patriotic addresses were UeN
with a common undercurrent OF dehahce " Tt
thing France and Russia might coh'e'npi"''' II
voung Emueror prsnced about In the lo'osIo
as usual Only two persons VINO hau 00"e +Lo
- do with bringing about Sedan were out OF the
national festival-Moltke dead, ana li.n't aot
marc, in the enforced retirement where nc e"V
-. o,t his beart The Chancellor, whose voice
was once potent throughout Europe, is no" IT.
Ancod "a the expedient of speaking through thaC
ysnaner press which, in the days of his power, ne
hated and missed no opportunity of maltreauhg.
Ilo teens a newspaper now, he who once kePC
Furona in awe In this journal there appeared
or Sedan Day an article evidently inspired Il not
actually written by him. 1t discusses the pohtlcal
situation and prophesieS peace, ana deIuy duiill-
is,ers a back-handed slap at the Emperor Dy SNOW
inc that the rapprOchement between france ana
Rpssia was direct consequence oil the EnperorS
.ollivapting over TO England. Prince Bismarck
= ho,,o,,or careful TO guard against the impress
sion that any personal proceeding OF the emperor
i sufficiently important TO lead to national COM
rlications The Emperor'S visit TO England was
demonstration The visit of the french heet 10
Russa and itsenthusiastic reception was counter
demonstration, theatrical business, the eN-Chan-
cellor implies. in keeping with the character OF
stripling who amuses himself by noislly playing
ct being Emperor
II is curious that at time when two such high
authorities as Lord Salisbury and Prince Bismarck
mite in CRYING peace, peace, two incidents should
have ranidly succeeded TO show upon what a
foundation of powder barrels che peace of Europe
rests The first touches the old battle-ground oil
the Dardanelles. Early in the week report
reached London that the Sultan under pressure
from ST. Petersburg, had conceded to Russia Tree
passage to its warShipS through the Dardanelles.
II was added with suspicious eXactitude that Russia
had been backed up in this request by France. Ib
would be impossible to eXaggerate the Importance
of such an arrangement If 1t were really DrOuShb
about With the Dardane4es free waterway, a
Russian fleet could sweep down on Constanunople
and rush through into the Mediterranean, making
it a MuscOvite lake, and commanding the
worlds trade passing through the Suez
such emancipation She nearly secured IT
sixty years ago, and seemed finally to lose it as
the one tangible result of the Crimean war. That
fresh negotiations on the subject have been in
progress is likely enough, and it is even possible,
though not probable, that the inscrutable Turk
might for some immediate advantage be induced
to place the key Of his Empire at the disposal OF
Russia. Hsppily Turkey is not the arbiter of the
situation. England Italy, Austria, and, In re-
moter degree, Germany, would have something TO
say the subjcct-consderations which enable
to dismiss the rumOr as scarcely worth the
attention it has absorbed here and on the Con-
tinent at the 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
Servia. The Servian Government suddenly re-
solved that the time was opportune for
series of military manoeuvres and orders were
issued for the mobilization Of $4,000 men This
was well enough and perfectly within Servias
right but the aspect of affairs was altered when
II was discovered that the manoeuvreS were to
take place on the Bulgarian frontier. Bulgaria
was instantly on the alert, and forthwith orders
were given for mobilization of three army corps
destined for manoeuvring on the Servian frontier.
Only one result could follow from such artistic
arrangements With lighted match and train
of powder conveniently disposed the explosion
would be a matter only Of days or even hours.
Diplomacy was thoroughly alarmed and, moving
promptly. succeeded in at least deferring the col
lison The Porte, acting in the character of
Suzerain OF Bulgaria, plainly Informed Servia
that the proposed manoeuvres must not take
place Russia appealed to the Servian Govern
ment said that in the circumstances the manOeu-
vres had better be postponed SO the cloud sud
denly darkening the horizon has blown over.
Free education is now an accomplished fact
throughout the length and breadth of the coun'
Try The act estahlishin- it came into operation
on Tuesday, and never was 50 momcnt0us q reVolu-
ton accomplished with such quietude. In many
districts in London it appeared that thousands
Of families we've not aware of the boon secured
for them. which must be little disheartening for
tie Government, who, over and above honest con-
eern for the welfare of the masses, look 20 get
few votes at the general election in reward for
freeing education. Thousands Of children arrived
as usual with school fees in hand, though all the
papers had for days in advance been proclaiming
the opening of the new era. Further evidence of
the prevalent ignorance or Indifference on the sub
ject was forthcoming in the exceedingly slight in.
crease Of attendance. With few exceptions, all
The schoold doors were freely flung open; but, so
Tar from there being crowd of children anxious
TO take advantage Of free education the attendance
IN many cases did not rise above the normal aver
age Matters may improve as knowledge of the new
state OF things is more widely spread. But it is
already agreed that the Free EDUCATION act will
iall In accomplishing its purpose unless the COM
pulsory clauses Of the old Education act are en-
forced. According TO the law of the land, all
children must putin a certain attendance at school
under penalty Of fine imposed on the parents
This fine Is imposed by magistrates, who have
with one accord done their best 10 make this pro-
vision Of the act dead letter They could not
he induced, except in extreme cases. to punish
parents who declared that they were not able to
send their children TO school Now, the fees hav-
ing been abolished this plea will lose much of its
force, and magistrates will be more inclined TO
make operative the compulsory clauses of the
act
Mr. Gladstone's article in The Nineteenth Cen.
tury," figuring out the results of the coming gem
eral election, continues 70 command attention.
IT, q. L.,