Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1909-01-08
1908 IN HISTORY.
In,tinnrn frntn filst n.n,.
Old World Rulers
Had a Nerve Rackins Year.

GREAT RRITAIN.-The government
of King Edward began the year with
program ~ radical legislation, IN.
ciud NJ old age pensions, frankly In
tended ~ a sop {" socialism, which
showed signs OF rapid growth along
with the Increase OF the vast army Of
the unemployed. Asquith took the
rein, April 3, when Premier Banner.
man retired on account "f continued
Hines. AsIuith carried through the
age ,rnsion bill July 90 the plan Of
whl,l H. Sl25 q week To- all over sew
enty ears of age whose Income Is un-
der % year. To- take effect Jan. j.
1915 The Asquirh government encoun-
tere, boisteruus campaign for wo-
man .u1rage. the suffragette- ORGANIC
ing uge parsdes and PUSHES on the
parl ment 10 attract attention, many
wurGcn choosing prison terms rather
thar give bonds 10 keep the peace.
Alar,l over the signs Of coming revolt
thrc" ..hout India has increased with
nut, rUgs acts " violence against The
rulir: Britons. CANADA felt the ef-
feet Of the American depression In
fetr Ised exports and in halt IN her
indn rial development. The general
rle, ms oct. 20 sustained the Laurier
GOV" 4mant. \ great historical pag-
can marked the tercentenary Of Que.
lec. the Prince OF Wales attending.
G.! MANY. - The German people
will .member the year 1908 as mark
Ing flr end of their kaiSer's absolute,
rers nal rule and the beginning Of
mini, tev!al responsibility to the rcichs'
,ag. This revolution through the
powe- Of public opinion voiced Ia the
radical press and III parliamentary nc.
tion nearly all parties came TO
h"ad in October. the occasion Of the
outIa rst being an authorized inter
view In the London Telegraph In
viii the kaiser told Of his refusal to
,o!n secret coalition against England
duIirG the Boer war aud If sending
war ulanS to the queen. II was like
the last straw The reichstag called
Won Bul0w to account, and William
made concessions.
TURKEY The lcayen OF democ-
racy Sh""ed signs OF working even IN
the European stronghold OF autOcratic
Islam. The sultan Of Turkey saw his
army turning from him under the In
fucnce Of the Young Turk party and
thus puwerlcss, he put into effect the
hitherto dead letter constitution Of
1876 and called into being a national
parliament at Constantinople. THIS
body met amid rejoicing bee. II.
THE BALKANS. On Oct. the
whole status OF southeastern Europe
as fixed by the treaty Of Berlin llSISl
was suddenly altered Bulgaria pro-
claimed its Independence, with Prince
Ferdinand as Its ear and at the
same time by concerted arrangement
Austria announced to the powers that
she proposed to annex completely the
| former Turkish provinces Of Herze-
gUrina and Bosnia, while the Turkish
island Of Crete moved toward union
with Greece. War seemed unavoid-
ables then, and the clouds still lower
Ia the diplomatic sky as gloomy
omen Of what the new year may have
In store. The prompt action OF the
! powers on motion Of Russia In agree
, Ing - hold a conference to readjust
! the balance in the Balkans, the open
| ing = negotiations between Bulgaria
/ and turkey and the military impo-
! tenre OF Servia and Montenegro com
! binel to prevent an immediate out
| hreah. Later Turkey began boycott
| OF Austrian goods. and all the Balkan
! state prepared for war.
P0fTCGAL--The ferment of Re
| publ anism In the Portuguese mon
! archy after long restraint found vent
! IN the assassination of King Carlos and
! CroTn Prince Luiz Feb. ! while they
were riding In the streets Of Lisbon.
The younger son, Manuel, who was
! slightly wounded, succeeded to the
! throne, and the hated Premier Franco
! fed the country. Subsequent elections
| showed the Conservatives still In a
large majority.
MoHOCCO-On Aug. "a the Oft re-
peatI story of the defeat of Sultan
Abdnl Aziz by the forces of the pre-
tendo", Mulal Hafid. proved to lie true.
aud The latter demanded recognition
Of the powers as the sultan. That was
where the German emperor made a
| peck Of trouble by recognizing Hafid
without consulting the nations in the
AlgeC iras conference. France firmly OBJ
jected Spain seconded. and the kaiser
"care down. Then they all bowed
to Hafd together.
Pr SIA.--The Radical first paria.
mem Mt Tehcran under the constitu.
tion ;'ranted In 1907 was wiped out of
nNist'0ce in bloody battle with the
shahS soldiers June %. 400 persons he.
ing lied in the streets. the parliament
buildings battered down and some OF
the Radical leaders executed. The rev.
olrtionists captured and held Tabriz.
JAPAN.-The japanese government
gave the American feet a wonderful
reception. the mikado and the presi
dent exchanging most cordial greetings
CHINA. go On Nov. IS Emperor
Kwang Seu and the dowaper empress
who had been for generation the
zeal ruler Of China. died. Pu VI, the
infant son Of Prince Chun. had been
designated as heir to the throne. and
the regency was seized by Prince Chun
CENTRAL AMERICA lowered or
the verge Of war, but finally the issues
were laid before the new Central
American court Of justice. which was
set up May 90 at Carriage, Costa RIGA
with all the states represented.
NENEXIrEI added Holland To the