Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1899-08-07
tueniuu nnndap August 1921

lament, shrewd political prophets pre-
dieting that q general election will be
held next July, at the latest. With the
Kaleidoscope transformations occurring
necessarily In foreign politics 1t 10 diff
ficult to forecast the result OF an appeal
to the country, but unless some coup
rehabilitates the prestige of the present
cabinet 1t is not difficult to foretell a
moral disaster In the shape OF an enor-
mously decreased conservative major
ity. although it is hard to endorse those
optimistic views Of the liberals, who ap-
parentIy are satisfied that the general
election will return them to power.
Candid criticism, however, compels the
statement that there are too many cross
currents in the liberal party to admit
of success until Lord Rosebery or an
other such liberal imperialist arises to
weld the various sections, such as are
now following Sir Campbell-Banner-
man, Sir William Vernon Harcourt and
John Morley respectively, and to pro-
claim an aggressive program instead Of
narrow, negative policy. which is con-
fined to the purely obstructive tactics
so characteristic Of the present diverg-
ent leadership.
So far as popular interest is con-
cerned, the great naval maneuvers have
ended in disappointment, as there was
no fighting, the rival fleets failing even
to sight each other. The naval author
tiles. however, are delighted at the sue
and conveyed safely to Milford Haven
Halifax. The maneuvers were carried
nsVt III p1a 1{rytt k,.a
expected to prevail in the event Of war
with France. The latter pinned her
faith to torpedo boats, while Great Brit
ain steadily increased the number Of
her torpedo boat destroyers, and al
though dark and misty nights were fav-
orable to the torpedo boats they seem to
have completely failed, while the de-
stroyers fully sustained the hopes of
their advocates on the few occasions
when they came in contact with the tor
pedo boats. The maneuvers seem to
have placed beyond question the value
of the Marconi telegraph. Admiral
Domville relied upon 1t for much useful
information which could not be other
wise obtained, and successfully trans
mitted information over distances from
twenty to thirty miles; neither fog nor
darkness apparently interfered with the
transmission of messages. The experts
are satisfied wireless telegraphy adds
Indefinitely to the value of scouting.
The occurrences in Santo Domingo
have naturally led to comment upon
the probable action of the United
States. 1t is generally recognized that
something must be done to prevent the
island from slipping back to African
civilization and the trend of comment
points to the United States as the nat
ural protector of the country and indi-
Gates that usurpation will follow as a
consequence.
Rumors come from France of objec-
lions from that quarter. But while the
French have considerable financial and
commercial interests in their former de-
tendency they will hardly go to the
length of actively opposing any actor
America may see fit to take regarding
a protectorate over both Santo Domingo
and Hayti.
| The fifty-third report of the commits
sioners in lunacy shows an appalling in.
crease of madness. In England an6
Wales the inmates on January 1 of this
present year totalled 1O5.0s6, an increase
of S,114 over 1898, the largest increase
Yet recorded.
The situation is regarded as SO alarm
ing that an early inquiry is demanded
4 into the causes and the best means o.
1 combating them