The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1897-10-12


dition-The Big Strike In Eugland
Copyright by the Associated Press.)
London, October 9.-Not even in the
case Of a presidential campaign in the
United States have the English newspa-
pers displayed such interest as they are
now taking in the struggle preparatory
to the election OF a mayor OF Greater
New York. Even the heavy weeklies to-
day devote much space 10 the subject.
The Spectator and The Speaker both
print long articles on the mayoralty con-
test
The Speaker says: Never since the
days of imperial Athens, OF republican
Rome, has a municipal contest involved
such important issues. Many a king has
not had so much power as the mayor OF
Greater New York will have
Continuing, The Speaker expresses the
opinion that the success of the Tammany
ticket would not merely mean victory
for the 'plunderers of New York" but
the triumph of the silverites at the next
presidential election.
The Spectator says it breads the sue
cess of Tammany, and asserts that the
election is a matter of deep interest to
the whole civilized world. After out
lining the immense power which the fu-
ture mayor of Greater New York will
have, The Spectator remarks: The sue
cess of such an elected officer will al
most realize Carlyle's ideal of a demo-
cratic king. On the other hand, should
failure attend this great experiment. II
will be felt throughout Europe, as well
as America, and will sound the doom Of
the principle of democratic self govern
ment in vast modern Cities
Lord Wolseley, commander-in-chef Of
the British forces, is making desperate
efforts to surmOunt the difficulties which
Great Britain is experiencing in finding
troops for her numerous small wars.
That the government is at it's wits end
to secure the additional 10000 men which
parliament will be asked to add to the
permanent strength of the army. is
shown by the plan elaborated by the
war office, by which the volunteers Of
Great Britain will be liable for service
abroad in case of war. Up to the pres
ent, it has been impossible to call upon
them for duty abroad, only for the de-
fence of the colonies and in exceptional
cases. The proposition, however, is re-
garded as threatening to smash up the
volunteer force.
The British government is also con-
sidering the adoption Of an internal bull
let, invented in Birmingham. This bullet
Is made Of lead and, instead of being
conical. the top is level and has cup
acts like a punch cutting a clean, round
hole which does not close. 1t is a Ques-
tlOn whether its use would not be a
breach of the international convention.
In spite of the French Ballons Essai
suggesting a European coalition to turn
Great Britain out of Egypt, the evacua-
tion of that country by the British troops
was probably never so remote as it is
now. Indeed, signs point to the possible
deposition of the khedive Of Egypt,
whose attitude lately has not been as
submissive as the British agent and
minister plenipotentiary, Lord Croner,
DESIRES in which event British protec
torate will inevitably follow Russia, it
is said, has effectually snubbed the
French efforts to make the Egyptian
question a European one.
The difficulties in west Africa between
the British and French are assuming
definite form. The French expedition
consisting of 500 soldiers and 1000 car
riers, has started from Porto Novo on
the coast of Dahomey, for Mikki, whence
it proceeds to Hinterland of Lagos. The
French officials are said to have pressed
natives of Lagos and their canoes into
the service of the expedition. AS Lagos
is a British colony, this action upon the
part OF France Is not likely to pass with
out strong protests. Thus far the mar
Quis of Salisbury has not shown a sign
of yielding an iota of the British claims
in the Hinterland. and the authorities at
Lagos have been preparing for some
time past to circumvent the French
reinforcements Of troops and gunboats
to the front, and on Friday they ordered
Captain Frederick Lugart, a thoroughly
experienced officer of the Royal Niger
Company to go to the front All the
steamers from Liverpool to the west
coast of Africa are taking officers,
troops and large quantities Of munitions
of war.
In addition to this attempt at colonial
expansion upon the part of the French
In west Africa, France is apparently pre-
pairing to swallow the kingdom of Siam.
An American diplomat. who has just
arrived from Madrid, says the condition
| of Spain is even worse than the CORE
spondents depict. Whoever Is sent to
Hnea tba ne adds viii attempt to buy Of,
further says that the Spanish govern
| ment is so hard pressed for money tha,
1t is attempting to sell all the public
| land and buildings that can possibly be
| spared. Not only have the soldiers beer
| unpaid since last March. but the pension
| lists are in arrears.
| All social intercourse between the
| American minister at Madrid and the
Spanish officials, and the diplomatic
| corps had been suspended for more thar
I a year. This was partly due TO the fac
| that Hannis Taylor. the former United
| States minister to Spain, was a persona
| non grata TO most of the members of tn.
diplomatic corps. For eighteen months
| Mr. Taylor had not been on speaking
terms with the French and Austrian am
The rupture with the French ambassado.
was because Mr.. Taylor protested
against being omitted from the list o.
guests at reception given by the am
| basSador.
There is no Indication Of an improve
ment in the engineering strike, 700
men are now idle. There is almost I
! certainty of a general strike throughou
| the shipbuilding establishments involv
ing another 2o.0o men. The strike ha,
already entailed the loss OF S. $1,000 an,
is calculated to reach So, 10000 b
| Christmas The railroad empoye
threaten to add TO the chaos. They ar,
| TO hcld a great conference at Birming
ham in a few days and will formulat
demands, which the companies say IL
impossible for them to grant. and II
the event of the latter's refusal a gen
eral strike of 10000 railroad workers
which will probably mean the idling O
10000 others will, follow THE liberia
newspapers, headed by The Daily Chron
icle and The Westminster Gazette ar
Il advocating he