The evening tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 189?-190?, 1897-02-01

| Inssrsssing Notes on Mattsrs That Are
Talked Of In Europe.
A semiofficial notification has Sbeen
issued by the Prince Of Wales recon-
mending that the schemes ON the part
of the people destined to celebrate in q
fitting manner the sixtieth anniversary
Of the queens accession to the thrC he
should take the form of works Of mer-
| cy among the sick and suffering and of
enterprises that may tend to brighten
and ameliorate the condition Of the
poorer subjects of her majesty"
The German emperor has been called
upon by the Japanese government to re-
call his envoy, Baron Won Gutschmidt,
from Tokyo, in consequence of his hav-
ing, while driving through the streets
Of the mikado's capital, lashed with his
whip the face of student who had got
in the way Of his carriage The affair
has produced intense excitement in the
native press.
Much dismay has been caused in
France by the rigid enforcement of the
tribution of the Order Of the Legion of
Honor. Henceforth only half Of the
vacancies that occur among the knights
of the various grades are to be filed up.
This is done with the object of restoring
the value Of this national order, which
has become somewhat impaired by the
reckless profusion and lack Of discrimi-
nation with which it has been distrib-
uted.
1t is asserted in pontifical circles at
Rome that the pope is about to disband
the force known as the Palatine guard
Of the Vatican owing to a scandalous
scene which took place short time ago
at the Church Of Angel Custodi during
the memorial service for the pontifical
soldiers killed in 1870. The scene in
question was brought about by an i'm.
proper attempt on the pert Of tho Pala-
tine guard to assert their superiority
and precedence over the Swiss contin-
gent Of the pope.
A revulsion Of popular feeling, which
may lead to the grant of a pardon, is
now taking place in England in favor
Of Jabez Balfour, the member Of parlia-
ment who some time ago was sentenced
to long term Of penal servitude for
frauds alleged to have been perpetrated
in connection with what were known as
his "Liberator" companies, the collapse
Of which caused such widespread ruin.
Inasmuch as nearly every one of his un-
dertakings has, in the hands of the trus-
tees Of the liquidation, ultimately re-
suited in large profits, that in some
cases have actually yielded as much as
40 per cent over and above the amount
invested, an impression has arisen that
he has been unjustly dealt with, that
he had no intention to defraud his
stockholders and that his embarrass-
ments were Of merely temporary char
acter due to the badness of the times.
This is precisely what he alleged in his
defense.
The recent elections which have taken
place in France have served to call at
tention to the remarkable Indifference
of the population to political matters.
In three of the most important depart
ments of France less than 90 per cent of
the voters inscribed ON the registers took
the trouble to go to the polls, while in
the departments Of Yonne and Of the
Doubs an extra ballot was actually
found necessary, as none Of the candi-
dates had polled the number of votes re.
quired by law. The same phenomenon
is apparent in Italy and in Spain, and
constitutes somewhat remarkable
point for the consideration Of the cham
pions Of parliamentary forms Of govern
ment.
Advices received in London from
Australia direct attention to q some
what knotty point which the colonial
governments have been called upon to
settle. Some time ago, with the object
Of putting stop to Chinese and Japa-
nese immigration, "colored races re-
striction statute" was enacted, and the
question has now arisen as to whether
the law affects the Syrian and Armenian
refugees from the Turkish empire who
have turned their steps in the direction
of the antipodes. The ecclesiastical au-
thorities on being appealed to argued in
favor Of the admission of the exiles,
whereas the secular officials take the
opposite view, and apparently have
made up their minds to render the per-
mission for a stranger to set foot upon
Australian territory dependent upon his
complexion.
The Italian government, having real
lied the impracticability Of draining
from the bottom of Lake Nemi, near
Rome, the two huge ships which the
Roman Caesar Tiberius was wont to use
as floating palaces and which have been
lying submerged for nearly 1900 years.
is considering scheme recommended
by its archaeological and engineering
experts for the draining Of the lake in
question until its waters shall have been
lowered sufficiently to bring the ships
to the surface. 1t is estimated that the
cost of such an operation as this would