The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-01-01

the head of a king"
Reconstruction. however. followed the
ravages which revolution had inevitably
| wrought. Napoleon, the magnificent ad-
! venturer. was the influence mainly instru-
| mental in the restoration of law and order
in France. In the universal war which he
| waged with other countries. he unwittingiy
! instilled the spirit of patriotism which is
| the soul of nations even though they have
! been conquered. That patriotic unity.
! which led all peoples TO unite in the over
| throw of Napoleon, was instrumental in
| uniting men. not only of the same, but of
different nationaltes. with one great pur-
undoubtedly a most potent one for the
! furtherance OF human progress.
4 Period of Tranquility.
After the eventful period of the battles
of New Orleans and Waterloo most of the
| civilized nations of the world remained
| for a considerable time in a state of com
/ parative tranquility. Fortunately for the
rising generation, neither sovereigns nor
| their subjects seemed inclined to indulge
| any longer that fatal ardor for military
/ glCry which characterized the preceding
! epuchS. Both rested satisfied with their
| respective positions. the king rejoicing
! tina lis was no worse the subject that
| ropean powers. as well as the United
J States, appeared generally DESTROYS to en-
! JOY, in repose, the laurels they had for
merly won in the field. and to contend for
! the palm of national pre- eminence only by
the arts of peaceful and prosperous in
dustry.
| To Great Britain above all belonged the
honor of arresting the course of the
French revolutionary armies and of Ma
poIeon's ambitious career. This result
was largely brought about by the navy I'M
der the command of Nelson who. at the
I battle of Trafalgar. sunk the French feet,
, preventing Napoleon's poetic and preten-
ttous design of great empire in Egypt
me last scene in the life of THE greatest
actor upon the stage of the modern world
presents that element of pathos which
ever attends the failure of great men.
| Surrendering himself. unacountably. to his
implacable enemy, England he died upon
a lonely island, having witnessed the am
bilious plans he had formed for the es-
Establishment of his house, fall like house
cards.
The Growth of Reforms.
In 1927, the world beheld the successful
exertions of Britain in protecting the in
dependence of Greece against the Turks,
and afterward the Turks themselves
against the encroachments of the new
Egyptian dynasty; defending her immense
possessions in East and West: chastising
the pirates Of the Mediterranean. attack
ing the Chinese, and compelling them to
grant treaty rights. In 1929. the act OF
Catholic emancipation was passed, and in
1888 slavery was abolished in the British
Empire.
The revolution wrought in British Gov
ernment during the past century. though
accomplished without bloodshed. is none
the less remarkable When Victoria came
TO the throne in 1897. it was apparent that
great change had already taken place
In the middle OF the eighteenth century
England like her thirteen colonies on the
other side of the Atlantic was essentially
rural country. divided into small farms
Manufactures were in a primitive cOndi-
ticn. The law retained many relics of me-
diaeval restrictions upon industry and
trade. With machinery came manufae-
lures and manufacturing towns where
men used their brains with the end Of
simplifying human labor.
AS the population moved into cities ard
towns. they became aware that they pos
sessed municipal and national rights
succession of measures. according with
the new spirit and fulfilling the compre-
henslye party pledges. was put through
the Imperial Parliament. including the
disestablishment of the Anglican Church
in Ireland. the reforms In public educa-
ton, the adoption of the secret ballot
and the labor legislation.
The British Government has thus. at
length. become most liberal one. grant
ing. at the present day equal rights to
all its citizens, and a most efficient guar
dianship to life and property by a just
and equable enforcement OF the laws.
By reason of its pre-eminence
world power. Britain has necessarily TAX
en- a prominent place in the active affairs
Of the world Russia. In 1858. proud of
its colossal power and i'll conceallng its
ambition under the plea of protecting the
Greek subjects of the Ottoman Empire.
declared war against the Turks. and cp-
ened the contest by invading the Danu-
bian provinces of the Turkish territory.
The great Powers OF Europe Immediately
took alarm, on seeing endangered the in
tegrity of Turkey. the maintenance OF
which seemed necessary for the preser-
walton OF the European equilibrium. En-
gland and France, Russia. and Austria
offered their mediation; but their efforts
did not obtain the desired effect. Accord
ingly. in the spring OF 1854, England. IN
der Queen Victoria. and France, under
Napoleon III, espoused the cause of the
Sultan.
The allies having compelled the Rus
SLAMS to withdraw from the Danubian
aggression. They resolved to take posses |
sion of Sebastopol. which was the seat !
of the Russian power in the Crimean |
Peninsula. In September commenced the |
memorable siege of Sebastopol, lasting |
amid almost daily encounters. a whole |
year. The fall of the mighty Russian |
fortress was the occasion, first of an |
armistice. then of the Treaty of Paris, |
which was signed on the 30th of March. |
1856. By this treaty, the Sultan confirmed |
the ancient privileges of his Christian
subjects: Russia renowned all protecto-
rate over the Danubian provinces: the |
navigation of the Danube was declared |
free through its whole extent: the Black |
Sea, of which Russia had been sole mis- |
tress since the destruction OF the Turk !
ish Navy at Navarino. became neutral, |
and was henceforth interdicted to any |
vessel OF war; nor could any arsenal be, |
in future, erected on its borders.
Such were the conditions TO which Al |
exander II who had succeeded his fatehr |
Nicholas, was forced to submit; condi- |
lions which took from Russia her most |
powerful means of action against Turkey, |
and made her lose all the advantages |
which 1t had taken her half a century to |
acquire. Thus was prevented that momon- |
tous revolution among European powers !
hintcd at by Napoleon ! when he said |
Russia at Constantinople would become
mistress of the world
The Growth of Americn
The growth Of the United States during |
the past century from thirteen small and |
great power is unparalleled in the his
tory of the world. The treaty with Great
Britain (September 3, 1888, following the
hI CHI NJ nd