Omaha daily bee., 1896-07-04

Nut tSl1nllSlllCW OF u JOlHA lluANNAoltNt
over Corea. There is no doubt that the
land Of the midnight calm" is in a state
which may be described as one Of anarchy.
Tho queen and several members Of the min
istry have been assassinated, and some time
ago the king was compelled to fee from his
palace and seek protection at tho Russian
legation. where he still remains. Tho south
orn part of the peninsula is also In a state
of turmoil, and there is no security for life
or property. How far all this unfortunate
condition Of things is due to Russian
Vaccinations can only be guessed at, but II
Is notorious that they have often been re-
sponsiblo for uprisings in the far east. aud
II Russia Is ostcnsibly ondeayoring to allay
the turmoil, it may be only Il part OF those
plans of aggression which she formulatCs
so skillfully. Certainly there can be no
sincere concert of action between Japan and
Russia. The primary object for which the
former went to war with China was to cstab-
lish the independence of Corea. She was
tho victor, but she was deprived of the
spoils. The war indemnity which She de-
manded was cut down. Russia will build
railways through China; Port Arthur will
undoubtedly fall into her possession, and
Japan's great work will resolve itself into
a needless waste of men and money. But
Russia cares for nothing OF this. Japan is
her rival in the Orient. and to outwit her
she VIII put on the mask of friendship. seek
an alliance, and draw upon all her resources
of flnesse and duplicity. Nor is Japan
lktig 10 nc ueCbtNeu DN lcr nrCtCnSlOnS OF
good will. That she is not, is shown by the
fact that she is making every preparation to
increase her strength by land and sea. A
compact such as that into which she is
said to be about to enter is a hollow mock
cry. and some day an explosion will come.
When that day does arrive, there will be a
battle between giants.
1t is said that France and Russia have
formed a new plan for elbowiug England out
of Egypt by proposing the naturalization"
of Egypt. 1t is TO be placed under the care
of all Europe, no one power having any
special influence or control. The scheme is
a good one, but it has been tried before,
and there is no likelihood that Italy, Aus
tria and Germany will cease TO prefer the
present situation. No doubt Russia and
France can make it uncomfortable for Eng
land in Africa by encouraging and helping
the Abyssinians to march west into the
Soudan, but it takes time to realize such
plans. Evidences are numerous that the
empire built up by the mahdi Is no longer
held together by religious feeling. The
khalifa rules over unwilling subjects, his
own tribe of Arabs, the Baggaras, being his
only faithful supporters. AS the Nile is now
rising rapidly, the advance to Dongola will
soon begin, and it will be seen whether the
common belief as to the khalifa's weak hold
on his subjects is well founded. In the ac-
lions hitherto fought the dervishes have
shown no spirit. Desertions from his force
are constant. BY the end of September
Dongola is expected to be in the khedive's
possession. The want of money may then
prevent an immediate advance on Khar-
toum, but that is on the program, and by
Christmas. if luck holds. the khalifa may
have been expelled from his capital. When
that happens it will be too late for France
and Russia to interfere with the completion
of the undertaking..
The growth of Russia in territory and pop
ulation since the accession of the Romanoffs,
nearly three centuries ago, has been mar
velous. 1t now comprises one-sixth OF the
land surface of the globe, and the popula-
ton numbers about 400 900. OF this i'm
mense population, composed of every va
riety OF race, language and religion, about
so, geo, 900 are Slavs. This is the great domi-
nant race, and its general characteristics
are courage and steadfastness in war. mild
ness and attractiveness in peace. The Slavs
have a wonderful power of assimilating
other races; and in pushing their way into
central Asia they soon overcame the hatred
of Mohammedan populations. and in those
seats of power, Khiva, Nerve,
Bokhara and Samarcand, the rule of the
great white car is acknowledged with un-
questioning obedience. The young car
reigns over the mightiest empire beneath
the sun. 1t may not be the most civilized,
or the richest, as II certainly is not the
most free or the happiest, but in its own
impregnability-in its capacity to resist the
disciplined forces of a Charles XII or the
unmatched cohorts of a Napoleon, and in
its capacity, from numbers and physical re-
sources, to advance its boundaries and en-
large it's dominions. it is the modern po-
litical and military Colossus.
Some time ago the TransvaaI secretary OF
state suggested to the British government
that the proofs of guilt which the latter hal
justified the bringing to trial of Cecil
Rhodes and Alfred Belt of the South Africa
company, as well as of DR.. Jameson and his
fellow raiders. Two weeks ago the Trans
vaal authorities sent another message de-
handing speedy holding of the inquiry. and
it is now announced that the designations
of Rhodes and Belt from the directorate OF
the company in question have been accepted.
Mr.. Chamberlain has undoubtedly found
himself embarrassed by the continuance of
Mr.. Rhodes relations with the company and
his delicate hand can be seen in the accept
ance of the designations. His action, how
ever, would have had a better effect If it
had occurred a few months ago. The South
Africa company may be rehabilitated and
live a reformed life as a corporation, but
1t will be hard for right-minded Englishmen
to forget its past and the mischief which it
wrought.
FREDERICK Errazuri2. the newly elected
chief magistrate of Chilli, will become pres
ident by a more nearly unanimous support
than any of his predecessors. The retiring
president, General Mont, came in on the
waves OF a revolution, and the election Of
his immediate predecessor, the Inflated
Balmaceda, was the beginning of a civil
war. OF all the governments of Latin
America that of Chilli approaches nearest
to a constitutional republic. and its stabil-
iy has been far greater than that OF any
of the others. Chilli has attracted a larger
proportion of European immigrants than
any of the states of South America. and
her population of Indians and mixed races
is proportionately small. Her statesmen
have entertained glowing dreams of the flu
ture greatness OF their Country-not alto
gether without good reasOn-and If their
ambition shall not get the better of their
discretion Chill may grow to be the south
ern counterpart of the United States of
North America.
From past experience of the dealings Of
the porte, it can hardly be predicted that
r the troubles in Crete are now at an end.
The most that could be said is that there
is a truce. 1t is true that the prince Of
Samos, a Greek and a Christian, has been
appointed governor Of the island and that
tho uttItan has nrpn1aip1aI a general am