Omaha daily bee., 1893-11-04
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latest inventions and discoveries of science
can make them, and the enormous armies,
which have drained the states of the flower
OF the population, hav been drilled, discip-
lined, mobilized, till IL is scarcely an exag-
geration to say that no more than twenty
four hours notice is needed to begin hosttl-
tiles. What the cause of the war ssall be
seems n matter OF small consequence. OF
course, each ruler has clear conceptions of
what he hopes to accomplish by a war, but
rs to what shall serve as an excuse is a
matter which will probably receive little or
no attentlon-almost anything will do.
Austria, Germany aud Italy have that
community OF interest which makes them
allies. France and Russia are believed to
have an understanding that they Will stand
by each other. England is free from en-
tanglements and yet is so directly interested
In almost any subject of quarrel that may
be made use of TO start the fighting that
when the moment comes she will scarcely
be able to keep entirely free of the general
complication. The outlook is all the more
gloomy when 1T is reflected that If war
should come it must inevitably involve all of
Europe, broadly speaking. The situation is
such that it seems out of the question that
France and Germany shall fly at each
others Threats, for instance, or Russia and
England shall engage in the ever recurring
struggle over the sick man of Europe with
out drawing the other great powers, with
the possible exception of Spain, into the
conflict.
The political situation In Austria is well
nigh chaotic. Count Taaffe was forced to
resign the premiership Or face almost GER
tnin dofpat IN JDarlinppopy md no ntha,
leader seems to be forthcoming who is ac-
ceptable to a majority Of the Rcichsrath.
No party has a majority in that body
and only q combination ministry can be
sustained. The difficulty is that the de-
mands OF the parties are 80 diverse as to
be practically irreconcilable, so tina a COM
promise program has been an impossibility
so far. Count Taaffe had two definite OBJ
jects. He wanted the passage of the suf-
frage bill, which would have moro than
doubled the number of voters in the en-
pire, and he wanted parliamentary ap-
prevail of the severe measures which had
been taken to check the disturbances in
Bohemia. The Germans, the noble and the
rich middle classes, opposed. the extension of
the suffrage, while all parties of the Bo-
hemians opposed the approval of the oppres-
sive measures applied IN that country. The
consequence was that a government major
ity in the Reichsrath was an impossibllity
and government defeat inevitable. The
ministry was itself divided over the cleo
toral reform bill and Count Kalnoky, minis
ter Of foreign affairs, had threatened to re-
sign If it was pressed as a government meas
ure. On the other hand, there is q strong
popular demand for the bill, which is in the
interests of popular representation In the
Reichsrath. LII be enacted it will fall very
far short of establishing universal suffrage.
1t will only give the ballot to one man in
four or five, and those of classes most
nearly allied to the property and privi-
legged interests. Nevertheless it is a long
step toward democracy, and is a part Of
that irresistible movement toward popular
domination which is slowly making it's way
over Europe. Count Taaffe IS said to have
warned the opponents Of his bill that it was
the part of wisdom for them to make this
concession now, and avoid being compelled to
make much greater one later, and the en-
peror is declared to agree with the minister
and warm personal friends in the view. The
reintroduction of the bill, after IL had once
been withdrawn, Is credited to the initia-
tive of the emperor. Whoever Taaffe's sue
cessor may be he must face the same demand
from the people and protest from the priyi-
legged classes, and will find it difficult task
to steer a middle path. Probably the
Reichsrath will be dissolved and u new cleo
tion ordered, in the hope of thereby obtain
ing the majority, which will support some
well-deaned policy.
Spain Is 80 very dead that 1t is only once
in a great while that anything is heard of
her, but there are indications that the coun-
try of the Hidalgos will figure rather
prominently in the foreign dispatches for
some few weeks to come. The origin of the
disturbance which is agitating western
Morocco, and which led to the recent serious
fighting at Melilla is obscure, but the Incl
dent is assuming some degree of gravity,
and threatens to cause SPAN a good deal of
trouble. OF course, the SpanIards have no
particular right to exercise dominion in
Morocco, but in Africa more perhaps than
in any other portion of the globe might
makes right, and owing to the contiguity
of that part Of Africa where the trouble
has occurred TO Spanish territory. the
Spaniards have long regarded IL as part
of their possessions. They have allowed the
sultans of Morocco to continue in the occu
patton of their hereditary throne, but then
condition has been that of an differentiated
vassalage. and If any particularly good thing
turned up in Morocco the Spaniards have
claimed a right to appropriate 1t. Even now
this claim is not being disputed by the rec
ognized government of the country. Tht
hostiles are a lawless, predatory tribe, ovel
whom the sultan himself is unable to enforc'
his nominal authority. They are fanatics
who are animated by a fierce desire to exter
inmate 'the infidels," and who are engaged
In tina most rancorous of conflicts, a so
called 'holy war" The Rifians are going
to put Spain to a lot of trouble and expens,
before all is said and done.
~
According to a Vienna correspondent
there is reason to believe that the socialist
movement is making rapid progress il
Austria. There have been, at all events
no fewer than thirty-six new workinSmen's
associations founded in Vienna within the
last three months, which brings up the total
number to something over 800. Their organ
ization Is excellent, whereas the employers
OF labor for their part have how a marked
deficiency in that respect. The fact is that
In this country the employers of labor are
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