Omaha daily bee., 1899-08-12
OTHER LANDS THIN OURS.

The Chinese empire possesses illimltable
resources OF every kind. Her population.
comprising searly one-fourth of the human
race, is composed Of brave, patient, hardy
and industrious people, who, while they are
not OF military disposition and, following
the precepts of Confucius. have for centuries
applied themselves to the peaceful cultiva-
ton of the soil. are still capable, as Chinese
Gordon showed, of being converted into
good soldiers. AS for the mineral wealth
of China, which no serious attempt has ever
yet been made to develop. il is simply out
Of sight. But the lack of any capacity for
imperial government, the absence OF any
effective organization, the total lack among
the Chinese masses OF any conception of ma
tionality, all these and other similar con-
siderations have combined to reduce a com
munity thus plentifully endowed by nature
to its present condition OF atrophy, help
~lessness and dependence. 1t may be that
the disease has gone too far to admit OF
any remedy. 1t may be that at this late
date nothing can save the Chinese empire
from disintegration. 1t would be rash upon
a point into which enter so many elements
of complexity to hazard a confident %conjec-
ture. If, however, the thing is possible at
all, DIT is possible in Japan. That country
is better qualified than any other for the
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people better understand the Chinese char
acter. They know better what is needed to
be done. They are better acquainted with
all the details of the situation. They appre-
ciate what Is possible and what 1t would be
useless to attempt with a degree OF accuracy
and completeness to which no Occidental
could hope to attain. II their influence were
to become predominant at Pekin such a stir
ring OF the old bones would ensue as China
has not known for centuries.
What for the last week or two has been
vaguely described as a mere Bonapartist
intrigue of doubtful existence was, accord
ing to NJ. Yves Guyot of LIE Steele, an actual
plot to overthrow the government. Accord
ing to this authority, during the few weeks
preceding NJ. Deroulede's attempt to make
General Roget march on the Elysee, numer-
Gus meetings of Bonapartists were held in
the house Of a woman intimately acquainted
with Prince Ney, Due d'Elchingen, brother
Of the Due de la Moskowa. M. Guyot asserts
that a plan of campaign was laid out, the
funds being for the most part furnished by
ex-Empress Eugene. M. Guyot also asserts
that here was the real source of the $4,000
francs found on M. Deroulede at the time of
his arrest. 1t is alleged that M. Deroulede
played fast and loose will the leaders of
both the royalists and the Bonapartists and
received about the same amount of money
from each party. The statement of M. De-
roulede that he acted in the Reuilly affair
on his own initiative was made not so much
to vindicate the royalists and Bonapartists
as to secure for himself the praise of the
people and to protect himself in the enjoy
ment of his ill-gotten gains.
Ass
The area, resources, energy and wealth OF
the Australasian federation are very con-
siderable. The area of the continent, with
the islands dependent upon 1t, is o~,259,zlo
square miles, with a population of 4,5Oo,0oo.
This includes, Of course, New Zealand, Tas-
mania and the Fiji islands and part of New
Guinea. In 1895 there were Liza miles OF
railway, owned almost wholly by the colo
MES. The gold and silver mines are among
the most productive in the world. Agricul-
ture, fruit culture, sheep raising, etc., pro-
duce large results. The aggregate revenue
in 1895 was $140, 500, 900; the public debt ST.
O62, 500, 900. The value Of pastoral properties
alone in 1897 was ST. ,227, 900. Last year
the aggregate foreign trade was 1850, OOO, 1000.
In other words, a population less than one
sixteenth of that of that of the United
States has a foreign trade o%ne-ifth OF that
of the United States. The spirit Of the Aus
tralasians being commensurate with their
wealth and enterprise, the new nation may
be expected to play a prominent part IN the
political future of the west Pacific. RUSSIA
will find 1t an active antagonist ana the dis
memberment Of China will not be accom-
plished without an energetic protest from
the Australasians. The United States, on
the other hand, will fnd them active rivals
in the exploitation of the commercial re-
sources Of the far east.
The French government recently gave no.
tice to the Marquis de Ceralbo, representa-
tive and counselor of Don Carlos,
that he must leave the little town
of Behobie, situated on the Franco
Spanish frontier, within twenty-four
hours. A representative Of lie Gaulois
called at the Spanish embassy in Paris to
make inquiries concerning the matter, Senior
Gutierrez Britto, private secretary to the
ambassador, stated that for some time past
the Carlists had been very active on the
frontier near San Juan de Luz and Biarritz,
and that their movements had been SUE
pected. Asked whether the Marquis de c.
ralbo had been told to leave his residence
at a rquest of the Spanish ambassador made
to the French government, NJ. Britto replied
in the negative. The French government
had taken the step on its own initiative,
which, Senior Britto remarked, showed the
friendly feelings it cherished for Spain. 1t
could no longer tolerate such doings within
its frontiers. 1t is understood in Paris that
the notice to the Marquis leaves him free
to remain In France on condition that he
resides north OF the Loire.
1t does not seem unlikely that England
will soon have another troublesome little
war on dts hands in the Afghanistan from
tier region, where the Waziris are becom-
ing very troublesome. Fresh raids by these
restless hillmen are reported constantly,
and, not content with combining themselves to
cattle-lifting and the waylaying OF govern
ment mail runners and levy escorts, they
lately attacked the political officer OF Wano
himself, killing one OF his guard. Troops
are in pursuit of this particular gang of ban
dts, but the marauders win have dispersed,
probably, long before the detachment can
come up with them. On June 10 a commits
sariat kafla Nth government stores was
looted near Bunnu. This raid was not Sc
rious, as the camels were recaptured without
loss of life. But a subsequent raid, made on
June 23 across the Afghan frontier, was on
a much larger scale and Is expected to re-
suit in further protests from the ameer to
the Indian government. Later reports state
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