Omaha daily bee., 1899-10-14

have 70 be watched BY Italy, which is not
any too strong for the share she now takes
in the Dreibund. Should Spain be taken
up now 1t will be necessary for France to
finance her Spanish finances are at about
the lowest point in her history. Already
the Cuban deb, has virtually been re-
pudiatsd and though this may give Spain
a little more current cash for her ordinary
expenses, this aid cannot last long. 4
financial crash cannot be much longer
ayerted, unless France in;eryenCs TO tide
Spain over the emergency. For such as
sistance Spain must pay heavily, and the
price may be putting herself in danger Of
being watched by Italy and converting her
territory into an outpost OF the Franco
Russian alliance. BY some such manage
ment Spain might be put upon her feet and
assisted to walk slowly whenever there was
an occasion for her to make a public ap-
pearance.
1t is to be observed that the new Austrian
ministry contains no well known men and
none that have hitherto been regarded as
OF the first rank. Herr Koerber, the min
lister OF the interior, formerly held the same
portfolio, and three others were formerly
bureau chiefs in the departments of which
to expect, therefore, that the new ministry
will in general continue the policy of its
predecessor though with little more pro-
nounced bias toward clericaism. Il will at
tend to the election of the Austrian dele
cation and repeal the language decrees
That done, 1t may again adjourn the
Reichsrath and then resign in favor OF a
still more pronounced clerical ministry
Whether Prince Alfred Liechtenetein will
then come to the fore is an interesting
matter Of speculation. II he does, the next
thing may be the deluge. For it will be
remembered that he has declared that If ever
he gets into power he will be able to name
the exact moment when the liberal school
laws will be repealed and the confessional
schools be re-established. In any event, the
question of clerical dominance in the state
is the one on which all Austrian affairs are
likely to turn for some time TO come.
The unifcation or consolidation Of the re-
sources OF the rich and progressive colonies
of Australasia alters materially the political
situation in the far east. The balance OF
power is changed. The United States OF
Australasia will play more active part
in the settlement OF questions affecting
China and the Pacific than the disconnected
colonies were ever able to play. Already,
without formal union the colonies have, in
recent years taken joint action in regard
to territorial and commercial questions.
When Germany occupied the eastern part of
New Guinea 1t was owing to the protests
of the Australians that the portion OF New
Guinea adjacent to Australia was left TO
England. That part Of New Guinea is now
nominally British possession. but it is
,t,ie -. a,,c.r lipyn
which provide the necessary funds other
islands in the Pacific adjacent to Australia
have been turned over by England to the
Australians to govern. and it is owing to
the Australasian interest in Samoa that Eng
land retains a foothold in that group of ISL
ands. The construction Of the Pacific cable,
connecting Canada with Australia, is being
pushed largely with money contributed by
the joint enterprise OF the several Australian
colonies.
How great the burden OF army officers is
to Spain may readily be seen on comparison
OF the Spanish military establishment with
those Of other countries. The French army
has peace footing of about 900 and a
war footing OF 1000 600 men, and an army
budget Of $l2sOOO0O0. Yet she has only
29, 600 officers, to whom she pays less than
$40 0O0, 900. italy has 1S5 000 in peace and
200 900 in time Of war, and an army budget
of s56,O0O,000, with H,o00 czlcers receiving
SO, 500, 600. But Spain, with only $4,000 men
in peace and $4,000 in war, and a budget
OF only $34, 800 900, has no fewer than 20 900
officers, and pays them the sum of $4,000, 900.
With much less than half as many men as
Italy in peace, she has more than half as
many more officers, and pays them nearly
half as much more money. With less than
one-seventh as many men as France, she
has more than three fourths as many Of
ficers, and pays them nearly two-thirds as
much.
1t seems that another effort is to be made
in England to erect statue to Cromwell in
his own county. The appeals made by the
Huntington Grammar school, at which he
was educated, and by the Huntingdon town
council last summer, both failed. The cor
poration only obtained a very small sum
toward the statue and the fund collected
by the grammar school was inadequate 20
pay for any extension OF that institution.
third attempt is now making by the town
council OF St. Ives, where Cromwell had
his farm. where he lived for some years,
and where he held the office OF chairman of
| the waywardens. Some years ago a similar
attempt made at st. Ives was not successful,
but this year $4,000 has already been OBJ
tained toward the cost of statue. There
are now no remains of Slepe Hail. the resi-
dence OF Cromwell at st. Ives, although the
name is still preserved; but it has often
been n source OF astonishment to visitors
that no memorial has been raised to mark
the connection with st. Ives OF the great
ruler who spent there some of the best
years OF his early manhood.
The threatenings OF famine in India con-
tlnue very serious, and it seems probable
| that an appeal will be made to Americans
for contributions OF grain, as in previous
| famines. The cause is the failure OF the
| rainy season, which has ruined not only
crops for man, but also fodder for cattle
and left the poor farmers and laborers in
| a destitute and almost desperate condition
! over large part OF the central provinces.
! The Bombay Guardian OF September 2 de-
scribes the situation in Rajputana, Malwa,
! Gugerat and the southern Punjab as com
| pelling the grayest apprehensions, and the
matter is the worse because the people
have not recovered from the strain and
| distress OF several years OF scarcity OF food
| eliminating last year
n 1u