Goldsboro weekly argus. [volume] (Goldsboro, N.C.) 1885-1909, 1903-01-08
GOLDsBORu. N @. THURSDAY, JANUARY s. 1908
FRANCIS JOSEPH,
THE EMPEROR OF AUSTRIA,
Is IN FAILING HEALTH.

Esquimaux Are Fast Disappearing
From the Face of the Globe
The Venezuelan Situation
Reviewed.
Max O'Rell in Richmond Times.
Paris, Jan. 3. The green old age
of Emperor Franz Josef of Austria
has long caused the admiration of
the world.
For a few weeks, however, the
state Of his health has given anxiety,
if not alarm, to his family and his
subjects.
The news got abroad on the very
anniversary fhe fifty-fourth) of his
accession to the throne.
All the sympathies and best wishes
of the world will go to that dean of
| monarchs, a monarch whose life has
been SO Sorely tried by unfortunate
wars against France and Germany,
and by bereavements such as the
cruel death of his brother Maximil-
ian, the murder of beautiful wife
whom he adored, and the mysterious
IL l, L. I~I,
a death which shook his throne and
still makes the Austrians feel dazed
at the idea of what may and prob
ably will happen when their En-
peror dies.
AS long as two nations of about
the same strength are on the point
of coming to blows, and that each
saws of the other, sI wonder if | am
not going to receive a good lickiEg,"
there will be chance for arhitra-
ton, for each party VIII be glad 10
avoid war and its consequences; but
so long as the world allows power
full nation to swallow small one
without hardly protest, there will
be no question of arbitration.
We saw the proof of it when hos
tilities began between Beers and
Britons; we see now another in the
case of Venezuela.
The government of that country
had hardly succeeded in putting
down a widespread revolution than
England and Germany claimed i'm
mediate payment for compensating
the English and Germans who had
suffered losses during the hostilities.
President Castro was not even
given time to have a look at his
banking account and ascertain
whether he was able to meet the
claims at such short notice.
I have no doubt that, either in
Cuba or the Philippines, there must
be some English and German sub
jects who have suffered; but [ guar
antee that, if they have claims to
send to Washington, they viii take
their time, and then do SO most
politely.
For that matter, L am not even
aware that such claims have been
lodged.
In Venezuela they have seized the
fleet. The Germans have sunk the
vessels which they have captured;
the English, more Intelligent and
practical, have kept for their own
use those which fell into their hands.
Oh, the injustice of it ali! And to
think that for little nation thus in
suited, thus trampled under foot,
there is no redress, nothing to do
except to submit to the inevitable or
fight and die.
Of course, there is one consolation
| for the poor Venezuelans; they need
| not fear being annexed, as their
| powerful neighbor, Brother Jonathan,
would soon show his teeth to either
| conquerer.
They talk of arbitration again.
Why should there be arbitration?
When the stronger can arbitrate and
award to himself all he wants?
After twenty centuries of Chris
tianity the reign of justice is as far
| from us as it was in the darkest ages.
| FTharn iS room for tho rich nnI1y.