The evening tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 189?-190?, 1897-06-12
TIMELY EUROPEAN TOPICS.



An epilozue was recently furnished 70
me comedy constituted by the trial Of
tho alleged assassins Of the Bulgarian
Stambuloff, through the
action of the court Of appeal ut Sofia In
quashing all the convictions recorded
against the prisoners charged with that
crime. their sentences being
,nnulied and their liberation decreed.
This will excite no nstonishment. II II
entirely In keeping with the attitude
observed by Prince Ferdinand with re-
gard to the murder, which he has never
taken any occasion publicly to denounce
or deplore.
The Vatican has taken occasion once
more TO express IN the most clear and
definite manner its intention Of resist
ing any attempt on tho part OF those
Catholic powers which formerly enjoyed
the privilege Of veto at oonclave TO
make use of that right at the next papal
election. It is pointed out that the veto
was formerly accorded to the rulers OF
certain Catholic states In return for
obligations to defend the church and
the papacy both in its spiritual and
temporal prerogatives. These obliga-
tions are no longer observed, and conse-
quently the right to veto has lapsed.
This is so thoroughly understood that
no power made any attempt TO enforce
It at the election Of Leo XIII. Austria
wished to exercise it at the accession Of
Plus TX, but was prevented from doing
so owing TO his election having already
taken place before the arrival at Rome
of the Austrian prelate who was charged
to communicate the veto to the con-
clave.
Sixty Russian officers were recently
dispatched from st. Petersburg to Bang
kok, where they are to undertake the re-
organization Of the Siamese army. That
the king should have applied to Russia
for this purpose, instead Of to England,
has given great ofense In London, all
the more as there has been a wholesale
dismissal recently Of British, American
and German employees Of the Siamese
government ON the alleged ground OF
economy. Under the circumstances 1t is
probable that the king will receive In
the dominions Of Queen Victoria a cold
or welcome than might otherwise have
been the ease.
According to statistics just published
by the Belgian government frankfurt
am Main holds the record for healthful-
ness. The mortality among its inhab.
itants is smaller than In any other city
of the old world. being only l6.6 per
1000. The Hague follows next, with
1919; then comes Edinburgh, with l6. 6;
Stockholm and Genoa. with II; Copen-
hagen, III; Turin. 17.2; Amsterdam
and Hamburg. l7.8; Berlin, 18; Rot
terdam and Nice, 1875; London. 1873.
and Brussels, 1919. 1t is curious to note
that Nice, which is ordinarily regarded
as one Of the chief health resorts IN
Europe. has larger pro rata mortality
than Berlin, Edinburgh or Hamburg.
British Guiana has won for itself the
distinction Of being the only English
colony that has declined to vote single
cent toward the celebration Of the six
tieth anniversary Of the accession to the
throne of Queen Victoria. The request
Of the governor for vote was defeated
by an overwhelming majority in the
colonial legislature on the ground that
the colony had "no money to spend for
the purpose"
That Great Britain looks for some
hard fighting with the Beers Is plainly
shown by the fact that the most con-
spiouous articles in the recent great con-
signment Of war stores from Woolwich
arsenal to South Africa have been sur
gical appliances.
According to expert calculation. the
war with Greece up to date has cost
Turkey sum Of $40, 600, 900 over and
above its ordinary expenditure, Of which
amount 50, 500, 900 goes to the railroad
companies alone in payment for the
transport of the troops and war materi-
al. The damage done by the Greek feet
to the Turkish cities which it has bonn
barded does not seem to have exceeded
$500, 900 all told. In fact, the great
powers are Of the opinion that under
the circumstances the sublime porte
should not be permitted to exact from
crushed, defeated and almost bankrupt
Greece an indemnity Of more than e10,-
900, 900 and will not hear Of any such
sum as $50, 900, 900, which is demanded
by the sublime porte.
The Bank of Naples, now totterinR
ON the verge Of ruin which cannot be
averted save by state interference, and
which Is ascribed In part to the ship
wreck Of kindred establishments In
Genoa. Bologna and Milan and IN part
to the blaokmailing extortions to which
1t was subjected BY government officials
and politicians during the administra-
tion Of Crispi. enjoys the distinction OF
being the Oldest bank In existence. II
was founded In 1889. more as philan-
thropio enterprise than a. an ordinary
bank, a number Of rich citizens patriot
ically coming forward to enrich, 1t with
gifts Of money and lands. II has sur
vived all the numerous dynastic, politi-
cal and economic changes Of four GEN.
turies. only TO be brought to the border
Of final ruin by recent maladministra-
tion and extortion, which together have