Omaha daily bee., 1896-01-25
OTHER LANDS THAN OURS.

On the first day of the new year the
people of Hungary began the celebration of
the 1000 years which have made up the
duration of their country's existence. The
WEole year has been set aside for the cere-
monies, and during that time it is proposed
II commemorate all the great events which
led up to the unification of the kingdom.
EVER since the accession Of Arpad in $50 the
dukes of Hungary have ruled over an in
dependent people, although it vas not until
the year 1000 that Pope Sylvester III, eX-
allied Stephen to the rank of a king. The
history of Hungary has been as eventful and
picturesque as that of any country in Europe.
In the early days of its existence as a king
dom 1t had its times Of civilization and
power. 1t waged successful wars. it even
seized Vienna and made it the capital of the
country, while its rulers were also wise
legislators and arts and sciences were cuI-
tivated. When the Hapsburgs at length OBJ
tanned a final foothold in the country there
came a long period of suffering and humiiia-
ton. Under the leadership Of Kossuth the
HuEgarians declared their independence, but
internal dissensions brought about failure,
hungary was made an hereditary province
and was governed with unexampled harshness
and cruelty. In 1866, however, Austria
agreed to the political demands of the people.
two years later Francis Joseph was crowned
king of Hungary and the country has since
made rapid strides in the path of civilization.
49, VI elementary dIlQ
higher education is in existence, a magnif-
cent net Of railways has been built. the
judicature has been improved and commerce
and industry developed, and today Buda
Pesth, the capital, Is one of the most splen-
did cities on the continent Of Europe, even
rivaling Vienna.
1t was hardly necessary TO give an official
denial to the rumor that Great Britain had
bargained with Portugal for the purchase
by the former of Delagoa bay. Portugal is
poor, but she is also proud. Her record of
discovery and colonization in Africa ante
dates that of Great Britain by several CEN
tur.es. The Portuguese people are about as
quick in quarrel as any in the world; and
though they are but a feeble folk, like the
comics, they make up for lack of strength
to fight a foreign foe by rendering 1t very
hot for any domestic ruler who, they think,
lovers the Portuguese flag by so much as
a quarter Of an inch in a diplomatic con-
troversy. 1t is not five years since there
was something very like a riot I'm the streets
Of Lisbon on account of the government hav-
ing yielded TO Great Britain in q dispute
affecting the possessions of the two countries
in Africa, when the stronger nation had
issued an ultimatum, accompanied by a
threat of instant war, as is her manner
when dealing with one OF something like
her own size, Portugal yielded, indeed, but
said while doing so, II not in plain English
at least In plain Portuguese, that she yielded
to brute force and did not, and never would,
cease to affirm that her territory had been
taken from her not by diplomacy, but by
highway robbery. England might In like
II al ner get Delagoa bay by bullying. but 1t
is absurd to suppose that she could get 1t by
buying.
There is no reason to anticipate that Rus
STA will take advantage of the complications
which beset England to interfere in Turkey
ON her own behalf. Great Britain 10 not the
only power whose jealousy Of Russia, or
quasi-frlendliness to the Turk would prove
an obstacle to Russian aggression In that
quarter, and II is probable that nothing
would lead to a quicker patching up OF differ
ences between London and Berlin than evil
dences OF a Russian advance toward the Bee
phorus or into Eastern Turkey. William Of
Germany has himself much TO answer for in
giving the porte a free hand to continue tn
massacres, and there Is nothing to indicate
that he has changed his attitude toward that
abominable power in the least. The out
look for European interference 10 as hope
less as ever, and the prospect IL that every
Armenian will be dead, and every mission
airy expelled, before this interference takes
place.
The German nation may we'll be congratu-
lated on the quarter OF a century just past.
For Germany II has been an era of peace,
and of peace with unquestioned honor. 1t
has also been an era OF progress, and If Vie
tories greater than those OF war in the field
Of art, Of science and Of literature. There
have been no battlefelds TO describe, strewn
with the lifeless forms OF fathers and brothers
and husbands. but there have been. on the