Omaha daily bee., 1902-07-05
OTHER LANDS THAN OURS.

as by a considerable development OF aeri-
culture. II these predictions are we'll
founded, and II the latest estimates OF the
extent and value Of the Transvaal gold
bearing regions are substantially correct,
that colony will be by far the richest and
most important member Of the coming
federation. This is an additional reason
why II should contain the new capital Of
South Africa. Whether that shall be Pre-
toria or johannesburg cannot be known
just yet, but. according to reports and dis
c%ussions, Pretoria has the better claim. II
has already been a capital, is so near Jo-
hannesburg that the ~latter's size and wealth
are less important than they would be II
Pretoria were distant, and for many reasons
would be more acceptable to the prejudices
Of the Beers.
Paris newspapers are disposed to mini
mize the Importance Of the renewal Of the
triple alliance between Germany, Austria
Hungary and Italy. This, however. is but
natural, and may be regarded as a cloak
wherewith the French politicians seek to
hide their disappointment at the failure
Of their efforts to coquet with Italy and
tempt her to desert her old allies for a
friendship with Russia and France Con-
ditions In Italy rather favored the plans
Of the Paris and 81. Petersburg diplomats.
There was a growing feeling Of resentment
against a German tendency to put heavy
customs duties upon imports from Italy,
some mistrust Of the actual power Of the
triple alliance because of the internal dis
s%ensions of Austria Hungary, and dissatis-
faction with the requirement to maintain
a large standing army and a good navy
In the face Of Italy's heavy debt. Ali these
factors, when taken with the existence
Of a considerable party that has always
been opposed to the alliance and with the
reported pro-Russian activity OF Queen
Helene, gave rise to a belief In some circles
In Europe that the alliance would. be do
serted by Italy. Berlin diplomacy has, how
ever, triumphed at the Qulrinal, and the
moves upon Europe's chessboard will con-
tinue to be played from the same points
as for several years, with the Zweibund OF
France and Russia watching the revival
lied Dreibund, and both together eudeavor-
ing to maintain the peace and commerce
Of Europe.
According to all reports, the domestic
political situation with which Chancellor
Won Buelow finds himself confronted in Ger
many is peculiarly embarrassing. His off,
cial tariff policy has alienated the lib
erals, the Polish policy has incensed the
c~lericals, while the conservatives feel
themselves rebuffed by the manner in which
he declined to listen to their arguments in
the Prussian Diet In favor of duties on
grain still higher than those which the
imperial tariff bill proposes. In this last
instance the chancellor might easily have
avoided all ofense by sheltering himself
behind his official position and declining to
answer any questions on constitutional
grounds. He adopted a more aggressive
course and so stirred up additional ami
mosities. AS a natural consequence Of This
political disagreements. he has been as
sailed on all sides by the opposition press
Of every degree. All this has induced him
to accuse his critics-through the lips Of an
associate--of pessimism. For this, he says,
there is not the least justification. In fact,
Germany, Of all the great powers, alone
has cause for content. England, France,
Russia and Austria-H Hungary all have press
Ing troubles OF their own, from which
Germany IL happily free. owing of course
to his enlightened policy.
zee
According to the latest reports from st.
Petersburg, several prominent literary or
scientific men, expelled during the last few
years for political reasons, have been al
lowed to return. This has created an i'm
preston that the new minister of the in
terror, M. Plehve, wishes to adopt a poll
icy of Cancellation. 1t is said that one
of the first things which he did on his
appointment was to ask for a list Of all
those who had been exiled from the prin-
cipal cities during NJ. Sipiaguine's thirty
months Of ONCE. The total is said to have
reached 10000, including workmen sent
back to their villages. M. Plehve was as
tonished, and at once recognized the danger
Of scattering such a number Of disafected
persons among the villages. The dis
orders in the governments Of Kharkof
and Poltava were mainly the work Of stu
dents expelled from their universities and
sent to live in the country. Since the muir
der of M. Sipiaguine and the appointment
Of NJ. Plehve as his successor, many of
the professors. doctors, lawyers and writ
ers who have been expelled have been ad-
vised to petition for reconsideration Of
their cases. The return Of some of them
proves that the petitions get a favorable
hearing. 1t is thought, however, in 81,
Petersburg that any efforts on the part of
NJ. Plehve to introduce a more liberal
policy will be blocked, or at all events
greatly hindered, by the influences which
for so long supported the r~eactioHary pro-
ceedings OF M. S%ipiaguine. Lately quiet
has prevailed in the capital, but rumors
Of disturbances in the provinces continue
to be frequent.
sidi-AIi, the hey of Tunis. who died re-
Gently, was a benevolent despot somewhat
on the order Of the renowned Haroun-al-
Raschid Of devoted memory. Although
Tunis is now and has been for many years
q dependency OF France. sidi-Ali reigned
in fact as well as in name. for the French
left to him supreme authority over the
native population. He was SIS at the time
Of his death, and left behind him the repu-
tation Of having been one Of the noblest
of his kind. 1t was through his wisdom
and liberal ideas that Tunis has for so long
been free from all religious troubles be-