Omaha daily bee., 1899-04-02
UULL lN OUll UlUNO
First Section Of Parliament Closes and is
Almost Featureless
BRITlSHERS VIEW SAMOA 0PTlMlSTICALLY
Leading Organ Takes German Agents TO
Task for Outbreak.
WOMAN WRITES OF BESIEGED MANILA
Describes Houses in City Under Fire and
Filipinos Treachery,
WOMAN WRITES OF BESlEGED MANILA
FRENCH PEOPLE ENJOY COCK FIGHTING
Holy Week In Spain Celebrated with
More Than Usual Religious spien-
dor and Many Americans Par
ticipntc Mt Leading cities.

copyright. 1899, by Associated Press)
LONDON April THE first section OF
the Parliamentary session terminated with
the adjournment for the Easter recess and
up to row the ministers cannot boast of any
remarkable achievement.
The chief event was the readidng of the
London local government bill for the second
time, but as the bill will receive no atten-
tion when 1t enters the committee stage, the
government has no reason for self-congratu
lation, especially as it's own supporters, as
we'll as the opposition, are demanding i'm
portant notifications.
The bill of the secretary OF state for the
colonies. Joseph Chamberlain, to facilitate
the requirement of dwellings by workmen,
has fallen fiat, as everything depends on the
permission Of the landlord.
The FIRST matter Of Importance on the
Commons renssembing will be the budget.
which has been fixed for Thursday week.
The arqus CT Salisbury, although off,
caly taking a holiday on the Riviera, Is
keeping in close touch with the foreign
office. There has been continual exchange
OF kilograms on the developments in Samoa.
Messengers leave London every other day
with foreign office dispatches for the premier
and minister of foreign affairs.
Optimistic Views of Samoa.
The Samoan blaze has been the leading
political topic Of the week and the general
drift of the press comments has been that
the matter will be settled amicably between
the powers
The Spectator this week says:
THE Samoan incident looks ugly, but we
don't think 1t will ccme to anything. Under
other circumstances the bombardment would
have produced war, but as matters stand,
the three powers win arrive at an agree
menty Let us hope that they will divide the
islands for the peace OF the world. Any
government is better than the con-
dominium."
The Saturday Review throws the entire
blame upon the German agents and declares
the bombardment will not prove an un-
mixed evil IL it. finally convinces Germany
of the folly of making Samoa the 'scape-
goat of international jealousies in the South
Pacific.
Extracts from the diary of an English
woman at Manila have been published in
the papers here. They give a graphic de-
scription of the situation at Manila the out
break of hostillties and the feeling of panic
among the residents. They also tell of the
scare in the city in the middle Of January,
owing to the small rising inside the walls.
The people packed up their jewels, money
and clothing, all ready to run. Under date
OF January 8 she describes the previous Sun
day and says:
Signal by Balloon.
"a huge red balloon ascended from the
rdbel camp as a signal to attack and the
firing increased steadily. solicitor came
. to tell us that the rebels had burned the
waterworks, and that we must fill every re-
teptacle we had, as the supply would stop
in few hours. The firing came nearer
and nearer. We seemed to be in the very
center of a perfect storm Of bullets all
around the house. At last we heard that
the rebels were driven back and saw the
home troops return. Poor things; they were
dead beat just tramping along, dragging one
Yoot after the other and behind them was
Nlhe sad little procession of wounded on
sretchers."
On February ., referring to the skirmish
at Malate, she wrote:
when the fire was too hot for the rebels
they put up the white flag and showed
the butt end OF their rifles The Americans
advanced and the rebels fired at them. This
horrible treachery was Justly rewarded"
The French painter, Anne Nicholous
Merot, just returned from Abyssnia, tells
of his treatment. He says that there is a
very wrong idea in France regarding the
influence enjoyed by Frenchmen in Abys-
sinla. He claims Frenchmen are con-
temptuously looked down upon. while the
British are feared and respected. He con-
cludes:
From what have seen l am persuaded
the English will soon become masters Of
Abyssinia, just as they have of Egypt. This
is inevitable"
French Enjoy Cock Fights.
The first OF a series of cock fights was
given in the French capital at the Casino de
Paris on Thursday, with the view OF ascer-
tanning If the sport will be popular. The
cocks were not furnished with artificial
spurs The audience received the experiment
with great approval.
Holy week in Spain was celebrated with
moro than usual religious splendor. At To-
ledo and Seville there were more visitors
than usual. including a few Americans. At
Madrid the celebrations were numerously
attended, the queen regent, who is ultra
Catholic and the cabinet giving fresh proof
Of their desire to conciliate the vatican and
the prelates who so successfully assisted
the government in checking the Carlist In,
trigues Consequently the Madrid churches
yesterday were visited by thousands, all
traffic was suspended, and all the women
wore mantillas. At Seville yesterday, while
procession was carrying the famous image
OF the virgin, dressed in the most expensive
silks and velvets and wearing 10000 pese-
tas worth of jewels, the image caught fire
and was completely destroyed Most of the
Jewels were recovered.
Americans and the Papacy.
The Spectator this week published very
interesting review of Americanism and the
papacy analyzing the situation developed
by the pope's letter and Cardinal Gibbons
reply and sketching the future outlook. II
says:
I'VE may take II that for the present
. Americanlsm has received a setback and
! that the authority OF the papacy is re-es
tablished in the United States"
Reviewing the Hecker dispute and the
controversy over the endowment of Catholic
institutions, the Spectator says
The diplomatic wisdom of the pope Is
undoubtedly a powerful element in prevent
ing a serious Misunderstanding between the