The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1896-02-01
THE YEAR ABROAD,
Storm and Stress Have Marked the
Course of 1895 in Many Lands.

There have been wars and rumors
OF wars, and peaceful revolutions
OF great importance There have
been some noble achievements. and
some most base and criminal. Scarcely
any foreign land not one of considerable
rank-has been without its stirring bit of
history. The map of the world has been
materially altered and the annals, both
of human progress and Of human woe, have
been greatly amplilied.
In the Far East the war between China
and Japan was brought to an end by the
Treaty OF Simonoseki-at once generous
and Il most humillating document.
Japan had her vast antagonist at her
mercy. With turn of the hand she might
have occupied Pekin and dissolved the
Empire She was content with taking
Formosa and large cash indemnity. and
able to the international laws of trade and
progress. Russia, Germany and France
formed a marplot league to rob Japan of
some of the fruits of victory and to spoliate
the vanquished Empire for their own profit.
Thus they practically reduced China to "A
dependency upon themselves Great
Britain seemed to hold aloof from the
whole business, but contrved to secure for
herself, after all, the lioDs share of spells.
China thus passes into the category of semi.
protcctoratcs, while Japan rises to a plar"
among the great military and naval a..
well as commercial. powers OF the whole
would.
At the other sides Of Asia the crime of
the century has been consummatcd. Early
in the year the Turkish Government
officially dcCrecd the cxtcrmation of about
half the Armenian people, This hdeous
work has been executed openly, with
cynicll fraukne~s and with every possible
accessory Of outrage and torture. The
Great Powers of Europe responsible for
the ext tence and good behavior of Turkey
have looked ON alphabetically, or at most
have busted themselves with petty details
of etiquette, while hundreds of thousands
of their fellow Christians have been doomed
to horl iblr death. The year closes with
all Armenia slaughter pen, and the Turk
dcliantly brandishing his blood reeking
scimetcr in the face of all Europe which
either does not care or does not dare to
interfere.
In Africa the British Empire. under the
inspiring leadership of Cecil Rhodes, has
steadily advanced its borders and has en-
joyed an almost unparalleled "boom" in
mining enterprises. Matters in the Trans
yaal have approached crisis which may
make that Republic once more a British
State \ full protrctorate has been estab-
lished over ganda, ''thc Peal OF Africa.
The King of Ashanti has broken his
treaty with England, and thus brought
against himself an expedition which may
dethrone him and make his famous king
dom thing of the past. Abyssinia has
been turbulent in both domestic and
foreign affairs, and has at last challenged
Italy to IL decisive struggle, which will
doubtless end in the utter subverson of the
ancient Empire. France has extended her
power in the Senegal and gold coast region
and has completed the long desired conquest
of Madagascar.
Europe itself has witnessed some notable
doings. Great Britain has had one of the
most striking electoral revolutions of the
century, which has retired the Glatstonian
Home Rule party and given the Conserva-
tives and unionists practically unlimited
power. In France President was driven
to resign, but his place was promptly filled
by stronger man, and the Republic goes
on prospecting and to prosper. Italy has
mony and financial soundness and is. on
| the whole, in much better condition than
a year ago although tension Of relations
between the Government and the Papacy
is unrelaxed Germany has had a stormy
time and has still stormier in prospect.
| The burdens OF mlitarism have driven the
agricultural classes almost to revolt. The
Government in its anti Socialist campaign
has suppressed freedom of speech and OF
the press, and by its tyranny is arousing
sympathy and friendship for those it seeks
to crush, Discomfort among the Fed
Grated States is steadily increasing, and
Bavaria is said to be on the point of max
| ing open resistance to the intolerable
assumption of the Prussan dynasty, The
Dual Empire has been the scene both OF
progress and of reaction. Hungary has
cast off the yoke of Clericalism, and estab.
lished religious freedom and equality,
while powerful faction in Austria has
organized particularly bitter J udenhetze.
Russia has contented herself with main,
tanning absolute despotism at home and
extending her influence in Asia at the ex-
pense of China; and the Scandinavian
Kingdoms have in a measure composed their
differences and are now more harmonious
than for years.
Coming nearer home, it is seen that the
Canadian Dominion is in serious trouble
over the long vexcd questions of race and