Omaha daily bee., 1896-02-22
OTHER LANDS THAN ours.

In spite Of the rebcllious spirit which l,
, stll being shown by the hill tribes In the
, island OF Formosa, the Japanese are hard
at work instituting good government and
seeking to develop the resources Of their
newly acquired territory. They have noti-
hed all nations with whom they have trea-
ties that their citizens may settle on the
island and do business. not simply with the
city OF Tai-Wan as was the case when China
held sovereignty over the island, but with
six cities specified. and may also enter and
clear their vessels at four ports. Modern
warfare between the most civilized nations
has never brought about such remarkable
aud beneficial results as has the campaign
between China and japan. Too often wars
are simply wars inspired by selfish greed
and the love Of conquest, and the one thought
Is to inflict every possible burden and hu-
initiation upon the defeated combatant But
Japan has been generous. She has not
sought in her hour of triumph to form an
ags "essive alliance with some other power
ful nation, but has gone on as before, look
| ing to the development of her commerce
| aud industries and striving to take part
| In the peaceful rivalries Of civilization.
China, too, has been taught a lesson, and
is throwing down her barriers and turning
her face to the light of progress. History
| will yet have to record that the world owes
| d, ,bt to Japan.
Emperor William may be picturesque and
erratic at times but there is never anything
commonplace about his schemes. The latest
| fancy of his ever active brain is a project in
regard to the future requirement of Hol-
| land. According to a story widely circulated
in Europe he intends to arrange marriage
| between his eldest son and little Queen VIII
| hclmina. This will give him such influence
| with Holland that the Dutch may agree to
| enter the German empire on the same basis
| Raygria Holland with her commerce
colonies and ships. would come under his
| cortrol without the necessity OF a war and
would undoubtedly BE- a valuable acquisition
and one which would long rebound to the
credit and fame Of Kaiser Wilhelm. The un-
| expected message to President Kruger after
| Jamesons raid was sent for the purpose OF
| conciliating the Dutch, and is regarded, by
| those who give crcdence to the story of the
| kaisers plan, as the first step toward its
| accomplishment OF course Germany could
annex Holland by force easily enough If the
other powers would stand aloof and allow
| her to, but it is not necessary to state that
| an arrangement with them to keep out of
| the fight would be practically impossible to
consummate Hence the advantage Of
peaceful acquisition of the historic little
country. which, by the way, will probably
never be made. the Dutch spirit of inde-
prnGence, If nothing else. being strong
enough to prevent it.
The British Blue Book on Armenia. issued
this week, shows that the total number of
persons massaCred by the Turks or other
| subjects of the Porte is 25,O00 Accurate
information has been obtained as to the
fate of these unfortunates, and there is no
guesswork at all in the figures While
Great Britain has come in for bitter censure
for refusing to interpose by armed force, If
necessary and protect the Armenians, it Is
now plain that Russia Is equally respon-
sbIe with the British government for per-
mitting the massacre to continue. Great
Britain according to the statements made
in Parliament and the more diplomatic dis
patches printed In the Blue Book, was
prepared to interfere in behalf Of the
Armenians, but was met at every point by
an objection from Russia, which declined to
entertain the proposition for an armed occu-
patton of the disturbed provinces. II Great
Britain had ignored Russia's wishes in the |
matter she would have had to consider the |
probability of war with that country. 1t
has been the fashion of recent years to laud |
Russia as the dsinterested friend Of the |
United States, and therefore most admir- |
able nation. But the czar could easily have |
come to an understanding with Great Britain |
by which the massacre of Armenians could |
have been ended. Political considerations |
were more potent than the higher demands |
of humanity. If Russias course has been |
admirable in regard to Armenia, then Great |
Britain is blameless.
The nominal position of Egypt among |
countries and nations is that of depend
ency Of the Turkish empire, under the gov
ernment of a local ruler. the khedive, who
acknowledges the supreme authority OF the
sultan. The presence of an English army
and English administrators or overseers of i'm
portant branches of the Egyptian government
is said to be nothing but the friendly loan
of an armed force to help the EGYPTIAN gov
tnyyo cinn hv dan
fanatics and maintain order An incident
which Is Just reported shows in a curious
light how hollow this pretense Is ard how
much reason France has to be angry with
the hypocrisy which prompts Great Britain
to continue such a farce. high official Of
the Ottoman empire lately fed from Constan-
tinople in danger of his life and under the
displeasure of the sultan. He has since been
found guilty Of treason. unjustly, 1t appears, |
and condemned to death. But he is now in
Egypt. and the Egyptian government, when
asked to hand over to the Turks first con-
suited Lord Cromer. the British rep
resentative, who virtually rules the country,
and then refused to surrender the refugee.
In the face of such facts. the English gov
ernment will probably still keep up the pre-
tense that it's armed occupation of Egypt
is only temporary. that the sultan is still
suZerain in the Nile valley, and that In local
affairs Egypt is free, or soon to be entirely
relieved of foreign interference Of any kind.
|
|
It is reported that the central committee
of the German Colonial association intends to
take in hand the agitation for an increase of
the German navy and give 1t the support OF
its extensive organization. There are said
to be powerful influences at work to promote
q forward policy. The advocates Of big
navy bill, on its merits or in response to the {
wishea of the crown, are convinced that this
io the moment If ever, to carry 1t through
on the top of a great patriotic wave The
government, on the other hand. realizes more {
fully the parliamentary difficulties which
would have to be overcome and questions I
the expediency of subjecting the popularity of
the emperors telegram to President Kruger d
to the severe test of heavy money vote. |
1t is pointed out. however, that there are in
iluential parties in the state. who have no
love for the government as at present con-
stituted and no dislike Of parliamentary COM
plicatlono The Agrarians and their con-
allies would welcome any measure
to provoke that conflict between
the crown and the Imperial Diet, upon which
their hopes have centered for a long time
past The reflection that in such conflict