The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-01-01
THE YEAR ABROAD.

AZ regards domestic issues. the Tight
Little Isle" enjoyed comparative inn
munity from excitement. The people
were too much engrossed with watching
developments in the far East and the
progress of the soudan campaign, and
with resenting French pin pricking'
TO think Of much else The most notable
domestic events OF the year were. per-
haps the death OF Gladstone and the
evolution or the Idea OF an Angio.saxon
alliance. But as respects foreign rela-
tions. the British mind was kep: on a
considerable strain. At the beginning OF
| 1898 negotiations were pending for the
settlement of the question 81 the respcc-
tive territorial rights Of Great Britain
ana france on the Niger. owing 20
certain British concessions made IN the
interest Of peace. this trouble was finally
adjusted, bat hardly had feeling oyer IT
subsidized before the Marchand incident
came 10 the front. Here. however. Great
Britain stood her ground, even 10 The
point Of mobilizng her navy, and.
what with this practical ultimatum and
7
France was forced to yield. Neverihc-
less. at one time II seemed that death
grapple between the two nations was IN
evitable. or Great Bntain's outlying
possessions. Uganda has been the scene
OF almost continuous fighting. In South
Africa the Rhodes party has gained tho
asccndency. situation that portends
another aggressive demonstration against
the Transvaal when the time is ripe. and
the year closed with conditions I'm the
| Transvaal that promise 10 force the
ripening. India has suffered terribly from
the ravagos of the bubonic plague, has
witnessed a successful campaign against
the Mad Mulah, and has heard, it is
said. the first notes Of preparation for the
extension Of the sphere Of British in
hucnce over Thibet In the FAR East
Great Britain has had TO be steadily on
guard I'm force, and several times vas on
the eve of hostlltles with Russia in that
quarter Of the globe, and more or less
I'm danger Of a clash AZ arms with Ger
many and France
In order 10 improve the terminal
facilities Of her great trans-Caspian
road. Russia had occupied Port Ar
thur Talicn-Wan. and a big strip of
territory near Pekin. Germany. Who
through her Emperor had proclaimed
new Hansa, accepted this challenge by
selling Kiao-Chau. on the coast Of China.
as a basis Of German commercial opera
tions. Germony's aggressive step p:o-
duced no less sensation in England than
the action Of Russia had done. and Great
Britain retalated upon both by "ac-
curing" Wei-Hai-Wei. which commands
Port Arthur and the Korean coast. and
by enlareing greatly the area OF Hong
kong. Shc also opened new ports 20
trade. and obtained from China a pledge
not TO ALLEVIATE TO any other Power than
herself the provinces bordering the Yang
Use river. Tn securing this latter conces-
sion she checkmated France. but the
French obtained like promise respect
ing the provinces bordering Tonquin.
Recently Germany ana Great Britain
concluded a treaty. under which the
former agreed not 10 antagonize The
latter IN South Africa, China, or else
where. In some Of their phases how
ever the differences between Great
Britain and Russia and Great Britain
and France touching the far-East prob
lem may be regarded as still open.
Germany had q prosperous year COM
mercally. but made no progress indus
triany. The domestic situation, like that
Of Great Britain was comparatively quiet.
Like Great Britain. also she lost by death
her greatest statesman. Her more vital
foreign complications are explained In our
references 90 the far East situation.
France had year OF domestic excitement,
growing out Of the Dreyfus affair. and
embracing such incidents as change of
Ministry, rioting in the streets Of Paris,
and menace of the man on horseback"
As to cutsde issues that disturbed her,
we har,1 back, as with Germany. TO the
Chinese imbroglio. and the Niger and
Marchand episodes.
Early in the year Italy was confronted
by formidabls socialistic and anarchical
outbreaks, which she succeeded In sup
pressing without much loss of blood Since
that she has enjoyed more than usual
calmness. but the new year opens with
the development of a strong sentiment in
favor Of withdrawal from the Dreibund.
Austria-Hungary continued to be fretted
by racial dissensions and religious dis
putes and no one can see the end. In
deed. it is held by many students Of the
situation I'm the dual monarchy that only
the personal popularity Of Franz Josef
who has Just celebrated the hfteth anni-
versmy of his accession. bars the way TO
chaos in his possessions. The Hollandcrs
had a phiegmatic year. about IT'S only
noticeable incident having been the en-
thronement of their young queen.
The year gave 10 Greece formal peace
with Turkey. and freedom to crete. Nor
way and Sweden did not stop their bick-
/ ering. and In Russia there was 30 i'm
proyement upon her usual wTetched eco
nomic policy. Our own record gives the
] record Of Spain. The Balkans caused less
alarm than for YEARS, but just at present
political plotting Is going on I'm Macedonia
that may start flame any day. Such in
brief is the lSgs record of the foreign
happy family" into whose household the
new American craftsmanship is urging the
United states TO break.
Governor-eleot Roosevelt. in his first
message to the New York Legislature
will recommend il is said. biennial ses-