Smyrna times., 1896-01-08
THE YEAR ABROAD.


been greatly amplifed.
In the Far East the war between
China and Japan was brought to an
end by the Treaty of Simonoseki-at
once a generous and most humilli-
ating document. Japan had her vast
antagonist at her mercy. With turn
of the hand she might have occupied
Peking and dissolved the Empire. She
was content with taking Formosa and
a large cash indemnity, and with re-
quiring China to make herself amen
able to the international laws of trade
and progress. Russia, Germany and
France formed marplOt league to rob
Japan of some of the fruits of victory
and to spoliate the vanquished Empire
for their own profit. Thus they prac-
tically reduced China to a dependency
upon themselves. Great Britain seem
ed to hold aloOf from the whole bust
ness, but contrived to secure for her
self, after all, the lions share of spoils.
China thus passes into the category of
semi-protectorates, while Japan rises
to place among the great military
and naval as well as commercial powers
of the world.
At the other sides of Asia the crime
of the century has been cOnsummated.
Early in the year the Turkish Govern
ment officially decreed the extermina-
ton of about half the Armenian peo-
pie. This hideous work has been exc
cuted openly, with cynical frankness,
and with every possible accessory of
outrage and torture. The Great Pow
ers of Europe, responsible for the ex-
istence 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 a horrible death.
The year closes with all Armenia a
slaughter-pen, and the Turk defiantly
brandishing his blood-reeking cimeter
in the face of all Europe which either
does not care or does not dare to inter
fere.
In Africa the British Empire, under
the inspiring leadership of Cecil
Rhodes, has steadily advanced its
borders, and has enjoyed an almost
unparalleled ''boom" in mining enter
prises. Matters in the Transvaal have
approached a crisis which may make
that Republic once more a British
State. A full protectorate has been
established over Uganda, "the Pearl
of Africa" The King of Ashanti has
broken his treaty with England, and
thus brought against himself an expe-
ditiOn which may dethrone him and
make his famous kingdom a thing of
the past. Abyssinia has been turbulent
in both domestic and foreign affairs,
and has at last challenged Italy to a
decisive struggle, which will doubtless
end in the utter subversion of the
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 revo-
lutiOns of the century, which has re-
tired the Gladstonnn- Home Rule
party and given the Conservatives and
Unionists practically unlimited power
In France a President was driven tC
resign, but his place was promptly
filed by stronger man, and the Re
public goes on prospering and to pros
per. Italy has made steady progress
toward social harmony and financial
sOundness, and is, on the whole, il
much better condition than year ago
although tension of relations between
the Government and the Papacy is un
relaxed. Germany has had a stormy
time, and has still stormier in prospect
The burdens of militarism have driver
the agricultural classes almost t,
revolt. The Government in its anti
Socialist campaign has suppressed
freedom of speech and of the press
and by its tyranny is arousing sym
patby and friendship for those it seek
to crush. Discomfort among the Fed
Grated States is steadily increasing
and Bavaria is said to be on the poin
of making open resistance to the in
2 tolerable assumption of the Prussial
dynasty. The Dual Empire has beel
. the scene both of progress and of re
2 action. Hungary has cast off the yok
J. of Clericalism, and established relig
Z ious freedom and equality, while
4 powerful faction in Austria has organ
lied particularly bitter Judenhetze
/ Russia has contented herself wit
maintaining absolute despotism a
!. home and extending her influence i
Asia at the expense of China; and tn
Scandinavian kingdoms have in
measure composed their difference
and are now more harmonious than 70
, years.
Coming nearer home, it is seen tina
the Canadian Dominion is in seriou
trouble over the long-vexed question
of race and creed. Quebec declare
that Manitoba must have sectaria
schools, and Manitoba says she wi
not-not even if she has to fight and I
\ secede to avoid them. British agres
sion in Nicaragua have impelled th
Central American States to conside
plans for Federal Union for mutus
support and defence. The question {
the boundary between British Guian
> and Venezuela has reached what
probably a critical stage. Brazil ha
kept revolutionary movement
, check, and seems now to be well founc
ed on a republican basis. There hay
been various disturbances in otht
South American States, but none ,
serious Importance. In Cuba 100, ,0(
troops under Spain's ahlest oenar,