Omaha daily bee., 1892-08-13

at an official banquet in connection with the
trienuial federal shooting meeting, held at
G.aris, President Hauser declared In the
most explicit terms that the Swiss are firmly
resolved TO fulfil their duties and RESPONSE
bilities as a neutral state. 1--WE shall re-
iect," he continued, 'all proposals OF alliance
from whatever quarter they may come. II
is not in vain that we have spent millions in
fortifying the San Gothard passes and In
equipping our army with q ouick-fring rifle
of small caliber. For we have thus shown
our strong desire to defend our neutrality
and our intention to resist by force OF arms all
attempts to violate 1t, no matter from what
side the attempts may os made" These
patriotic words have been endorsed by the
press Of every shade of political opinion
throughout the length ana breadth OF
Switzerland. They possess n more than or
dinary significance just at tho present mo-
ment, when so much activity of military
character is apparent on the Alpine frontier
OF Italy. There is a feeling, both in France
and In Switzerland, that oil this activity
bodies no good for peace, especially when 1t
is considered that the Italian government is
in the most straitened circumstances, and
that the last ministerial crisis turned upon
the disproportion between the military OK
penditure and the narrow resources Of tho
national treasury.
The restlessness which prevails among the
people of Europe shows no signs of abate-
ment. The latest report is that conference
of delegates representing Czechs, Croatians
and other natioualities outside of Germans
and Hungarians under the Austrian domin-
ion is to be held in Vienna in November to
prepare petition to the powers of Europe in
favor of a general federation OF the nation
alities tnat owe allegiance to the Austrian
emperor. For years there has been disor-
ganizing spirit at work in Austria Hungary,
and the government has been compelled to
adopt policy Of compromise which was de-
scribed by Count Taafe as rubbing along"
The great struggle has always been between
Germanism and Slavism, Bohemia being the
chief battle ground. The young Czech party,
which has grown with great rapidity, has
persistentlv demanded the restoration of the
kingdom of Bohemia by the coronation of
the emperor at Prague and the proclamation
OF an independent constitution, like that OF
Hungary, under which the German language
could be suppressed; while the young Ger
mans have yearned for incorporation with
the Fatherand.
In the Morocco question England has conf
mercial and strategic interests at stake.
What slender historical claim she has TO as
cendancy in Morocco is based upon her
former possession of Tancier, which was
ceded by the Portuguese to England on the
marriage of Kath crime OF Braganza to Charles
III. The fact that she did not think the town
worth keeping when she had it left her with
out any title valid in international law. But
the English are doubtless right in thinking
that If foreigners were allowed to acquire
real estate and to work mines in
Morocco, and if the existing obstruc-
tions to foreign trade were re-
moved, they would reap the lions share of
tue profits derivable from such opportuni-
ties. They are also well aware that il an
other European power were firmly planted
on the African side of the strait the advan-
tage which they draw from the possession of
Gibraltar would be in a large measure neu-
tralzed. Sooner than permit such an cut
come of the Morocco question: they would
seek to prop up the totterlng power of the
present sultan. But If the disruption and
partition Of the country are unavoidable, as
they seem to be, England will unquestIon-
ably fight rather than reinquish her claim
to Tangier and the adjoining district tor her
share of the sultan's domnions.