The Washington herald., 1907-12-29
RECORDS MADE BY 1907
IN OLD-WORLD ANNALS
Remedial Legislation in Many Lands, and
in Nearly All Concerted Attack
Against Socialism.

How the paths trod by the various ma
tions of the civilized world tend to con-
verge toward a common ground Of ex-
perience. understanding, and sympathy
may be observed in the span of a single
year
England-In the hands Of the Liberal
crew, with Premier Campbell Bannerman
at the wheel. King Edwards 5 ship of state
has grOped its way forward through gath
ering clouds of social unrest and indus
trial depression. getting some pretty hard
bumps. Fear Of the rising tide Of social
ism has brought Conservatives and Lib
erals virtually into the same camp. De-
cisive moves made by the Bannerman
government were the passage of church
disestablishment in principle by the Com
mons in February the alliance with Spain
in March, the appropriation OF $500 600
for old age pensions next year. the pro-
pOsal of an Irish hOme-rule bill provid-
ing an elective national council subject
to veto of lord lieutenant, but which was
withdrawn after being rejected by the
Irish party. in May; the proposal to abol-
ish the veto power of the House OF
Lords passed by the Commons June 26 by
n vote of 432 TO I37. and the reference of
the Newfoundland fishery dispute with
America TO The Hague tribunal. The
government resisted with much difficulty
the growing movement for woman suf-
frage. some of the leading "suffragets'
electing TO suffer the martyrdom of i'm
prisOnment rather than to pay fines for
their obstructionist tactics.
Canada-The people Of the Dominion
were preOccupied with their enormous in
dustrial development in all directions. the
stream of American immigration into the
Canadian Northwest continuing unabated.
The Grand Trunk Rairway made ar
rangements with a new line Of Cunarders
for handling through business from Eu-
rope to the Orient. The new Marconi
wireless ocean service was begun from
the station at Glace Bay, Nova Scotia,
October Il. Earl Grey's reception Of SEQ
retary Root last January paved the way
for new trade treaty with the United
States. The influx of Orientals culmi-
mated in serious riots at Vancouver, Sep
tember 5, for which due apologies were
made to Japan. The new Lords Day
law went into effect. making the Canad-
ian Sunday as blue as a milestone.
Russia-The revolution Of force has
taken year off. comparatively speaking.
While the organization of terrorists has
made itself felt in the assassination Of a
number Of army and provincial officials.
beginning in January with the taking of
Of Gen. Pablon, known as the hang
man," and including several plots against
the life of the Car himself. the forward
movement in Russia has contented itself
with the progressive propaganda Of the
press and education. The masses of the
people were cowed by the counter terror
OF the repression tolerated by the Stolvpin
administration. A great section of the
present population was weakened by the
terrible famine. lasting over from the
preceding year. The second Douma.
which was opened March ). and over
which NJ GOlovine presided, clashed with
the government from the start over the
question OF martial law throughout the
country. In this connection, the exposure
of the prison horrors aroused great in
dignatiOn. After the Douma had repealed
a portion of the court-martial code, and
the premier had demanded the expulsion
OF members suspected of treason, sud
denly the DOuma was dissolved by vir-
tual military coup d'etat. June Is Under
new electoral programme. which openly
intended TO exclude the socialist and rad
ical elements. third Douma was chosen
and began its sessions November 7. NJ.
Khomiakoff presiding and the organiza-
ton being effected by a combination of
constitutional Democrats and Octobrists.
n 1n ONT Of
William had the very great satisfaction
OF decreasing the numerical strength Of
the socialists In Reichstag, as the result
of the February elections. and Chancellor
Won BuelOw took this to be a vote of
confidence, notwithstanding that the So
cialists were able TO point to the fact
that their popular vote had greatly in
creased. The government also had the
satisfaction of seeing the end OF its costly
African war in January
France-The Clemenceau ministry has
steered the republic through a period
OF internal disturbances closely resem-
bling civil war past the dangerous
waters Of church and state separation
and has begun a costly war of repres-
sion in Morocco. Following the two gen
eral strikes Of electrical workers and
bakers In Paris. in March and April.
which were settled by material conces-
sions, the serious revolt of the wine
growers came TO a head in Nav under
the leadership of NJ. Albert, with the
resignation of many city mayors and
councils in affected districts and the SYM
pathetic mutiny of some of the trooSs
sent 10 restore order.
Morocco-On August the French and
Spanish war ships at CASE Blanca joined
in a bombardment Of the town on the
preteXt that native tHbesmen had over
awed the local government so as to en-
danger Christian lives. Later the Span
iards withdrew and the French forces
took entire control Of the city and en-
gagged in a series Of battles with the at
tacking tribesmen
Austria-The universal suffrage bill was
accepted in January by the upper house
of the Austrian ReichsratA, and thus
the franchise was conferred on every
male Austrian twenty-feur years old. The
ensuing elections in May were won by
the Socialist and Radical parties.
Belgium-The Parliament in May took