Omaha daily bee., 1896-10-17
OTHER LANDS THAN OURS.

Sir william Harcourts letter to the liberal
whips resigninE the leadership OF that party
In the House OF Commons and iutimatlnE a
desire to retire from Parliament will prove
even a greater sensation in British domestic
politics than Lord Rosebcry's dramatic re.
nunclation OF his purely nominal leadership
OF British liberalism. Tho course OF Sir VIII.
liam indicates that the breach In the liberal
ranks Is beyond healing, and seems to Justify
the assertion OF those who have long main
tained that nothing but the overmastering
genius Of Mr., Gladstone had held together
the discordant groups OF his party and
forced them to scmblance OF harmonious
action This view OF the liberal plight was
indeed supported by the spectacle presented
during the recent parliamentary elections.
when each OF the liberal chiefs appealed to
his constituents with a distinct issue, John
Morley having emphasized tho demand for
home rule for ireland, Sir william Harcourt
the question OF local option. and so on. The
friends OF liberalism, however were loath
to believe as they will now be compelled to
admit that the great liberal party is on the
verge OF political bankruptcy.
1t is plain enough from the tone OF the
comments OF the German press upon tho
cars reception in Paris that Germans have
viewed the Paris festivities with some un-
easiness and more dissatisfaction. There
are rumors that the kaiser will decline TO
meet the car in friendly spirit. but II is
not likely that the emperor Of the Germans
would dare to offer an afrront OF so pointed
character to the ruler OF the Russians
There Is no doubt. however, that Wilhelm
feels very much aggricycd over the present
situation, and he has deemed the crisis OF
such Importance that he has held special
kronrath, or crown council. to discuss the
OUTLOOK These councils are rarely called
this being the second one since that of 1890
when the retirement OF Bismarck was
brought about. The Paris festivities will
make the German emperor all the more de-
termined 20 secure an increase in the Ger
man navy, but II Is doubtful whether even
this arbitrary German sovereign can force
mis- people to exceed the present rate of mil
itary and naval expenditure.
When the dignitarics invited to attend the
| ceremonies Of the opening OF the iron gates
of the Danube by the emperor of Austria and
the kings OF Servla and Roumania reached
the scene OF the exercises they found some
| thing in the nature of military surprise
awaiting them, the Roumanians having mo-
| bilized what practically amounted to a com
plete division on their bank OF the river
| Here were stationed thirteen battalions OF
| infantry, forr squadrons OF cavalry and six
| batteries OF field artillery. These troops
i ohbuAtu muir ike a single man as the
| monarchs passed by. An English cor
| respondent. referring to this incident. re-
| marks; THE exhibition OF Roumanlan mill
| tary power is regarded to some extent as
| confirmation OF the idea which Is current in
| circles which are usually well informed, that
| the circumstance OF the emperor-kngs being
| accompanied by the chief OF the general
| staff on his visit to Bucharest is not uncon-
| nected with the possibility of a military con-
vention between the two states. one thing
| Is certain, tho greater part OF the stay of
| the Emperor Francis Joseph In Roumania
| was occupied with military reviews which
we're attended by his chief military adviser"
| The British government is about to in
crease its subsidies to private steamship COM
| panies which will build and hold their vos-
sells in readiness to be turned into war
ships, II required. Nine additional steamers
have already been secured on these terms,
| and the scheme adds immensely to the eff
| fective strength of the British navy at
comparatively trining cost. Something In
this has been done by our own government,
but not nearly so much might be expected
from such a thrifty. hard-headed nation as
ours. For some reason this country is sim
gularly obtusc to its commercial advantages,
as we'll as Indifferent to the risk II runs In
leaving its extensive coast line and rich
seaboard cities so long exposed to the attack
of hostile fleet. The cost OF one war ship
would encourage the building OF a large
fleet OF these auxiliaries, and would be re-