Omaha daily bee., 1896-10-10
OTHER LANDS THAN ouas,

Spanish intolerance aud pride have been
the secret Of Spain's uudoing. The mon
strous crimes OF the expulsion OF the Jews
and the Moriscoes fatally crippled her domos-
tic Industry aud stopped all progress in the
arts and left her dependent upon her colonies.
But her colonies have been treated as sub
ject provinces, to be governed sololy for
SpAin's own benefit. Home rule has been
denied them, and they have been made to
feel that they have no lot In the glory and
prosperity OF Spain, but are to be merely
hewers of wood and drawers Of water so
long as they belong to her. They would have
been less than humane had they not reNolted.
Today, under the bitter irony oil an mex
cradle fate, Spain. with her still great popu.
lation, her unrivaled natural ADVANTAGES oil
position. soil and climate has fallen beloW
the rank OF even the little Netherland states
which she once so cruelty and so contemptu-
ously oppressed. They retain and even eN-
pand their colonial possessions, and develop
their domestic resources, while she seems
capable OF doing neither. That pretender
should now so eagerly and pertinaciously
seek succession to a falling throne Is one OF
the curosities OF political ambition one
almost wishes he might succeed. just TO see
what new form Spanish policy would take
1t could hardly be a change for the worse,
or cause the decline OF the Spanish empire
to be more rapid than 1t now is, or moro
inevitable.
The suggestion that France take the gem
eral supervision of the sultan and the oc-
cupation of Constantnople Is not a new
one, but was made just after the massacres
last winter England would scarcely enjoy
it, but could hardly object. The strongest
objection would come from Germany. Still,
even there 1t is probably becoming evident
that something must be done or the Turk
ish empire Will fall to pieces by Its own
weight and inability to hold together.
France can, at least for the present, do tho
work with less danger OF arousing the preju-
dice of the other powers, and will have less
temptation to make her occupation perma-
nent The suggestion of an Armenian zone
is simply absurd The experiment has been
tried elsewhere and has always failed, and
in Turkey, with a people native to the soil,
1t could not have the faintest chance OF sue
cess. Any such plan, however must be
looked upon as purely temporary, make
SHIFT to tide the Armenians over until the
mai division OF the empire can be made.
The general drift of European opinion
appears to be that any arrangement that
might be reached between England and
Russia would primarily concern princi-
pally their own supreme interests in the
east and possibly in Egypt. 1t seems to
be generally conceded that the other pow
ers could have no alternative but to ac-
cept an agreement Of such a character,
especially II France were recognized by
some soothing concessions. In tentative
way, there has been considerable discus
sion OF a suggested understanding that
would divide the Asiatic world between
these two powers, and which might or
might not give Constantinople to the
car In the higher class periodicals of
England this idea has been canvassed
with much persistency for the last twelve
months, and though frequently anony-
mously yet for that very reason. evidently
by writers having high political associa-
tions. How far these suggestions may have
been intended as political feelers or as a
means of creating opinion, IL is impossible
to say; but it is perhaps not outside of prob
ability that some such proposals may have
come under consideration at the Balmoral
interview. 1t is, however, useless to specu-
late upon possibilities in a matter on which
everything is held in the strctest secrecy
But this much seems reasonably sure, that
matters of the highest political gravity are
now under treatment by authorities COM
petent to create finalities the most vital
questions. The present diplomatic silence
may be broken when the czar has made
his visit to France; and it is to be hoped
that conclusions may be reached that will
put end to the Turkish inhumanities and
to the stupendous evils OF the armed peace
which has afflicted the world for the last
generation.
Russian persistency in seeking ports
which shall not be located either on the
shores of inclosed seas connected with the
ocean by narrow straits or on an icebound
coast receives another illustration by the
undertaking of the construction of city
and harbor at Ekatrinograd, on the MUIR
man coast, In Northern Lapland. The Rus
sian port OF Archangel ON the White sea,
lies more southerly; but it is closed by ice
for many months in the year. The influence
of the Gulf stream, however, which keeps
the Norwegian port of Hammerfest, located
h In th. IL, Ct.A1
throughout the winter, Is also felt in the
bays of the treeless tundra of Lapland. II
is the desire to obtain an ice free port. open
to direct communication with the Atlantic,
which has determined Russia to build rail-
way to her bleak northern coast and caused
the government to try to emulate Peter the
Great who built his capital on the swampy
Neva and peopled it by imperial decree.
Whether the will of the car be still as
potent as in the days OF the great Peter re-
mains to be seen.
The Berlin exposition just drawing to a
close was designed to exhibit the Industrial
and artistic productions Of that city Alone
and has been strikingy successful except on
the financial side, where it shows the usual
deficit. AS a demonstration of what one
city can do in the line of various produc-
tions and in the plendid quality of its ex-
hibits, it has never been exceeded, nor could
1t be by any capital In the world. 1t Is
doubtful If any city except Paris could even
come into the field of rivalry with it. 1t
is evident that the industrial progress of
the capital has at least kept pace with its
increase Of population, which has more than
doubled since Sedan, and may show like
augmentation in the coming quarter Of
century. 1t may leave Paris itself in the
shade one of these days, taking the first
place among the capitals of Europe in magni-
tude and splendor and art and learning, and
it may already have done so in the variety.
usefulness and beauty Of It's productions
The fact that Menelek, whom all powers
are likely soon to recognize as the emperor
of Abyssinia, has shown the most naive
generosity in dealing with the Italians 10