Omaha daily bee., 1909-10-30

on the Moroccan coast comes swiftly with
the change In the Spanish ministry, Pre-
mier Prendergast evidently measured Span
ish sentiment correctly when he announced
on behalf OF the government a cessation OF
active military operations against the war
ring Riff tribesmen, limiting military ac-
tivities 20 the immediate vicinity Of Melilla,
and the further purpose Of negotiating WITH
Morocco for n settlement Of the trouble.
The war has been most unfortunate in in
ception and prosecution. Starting from a
coal mining concession granted to influen-
tial Spaniards by the Moorish pretender,
El Roghi, the opposition Of the Riff tribes
men developed into q guerrilla war. The
concession, as events demonstrated. was a
shadowy one, its validity depending on the
pretender reaching the throne. El Rogbi
died suddenly and involuntarily and his
concessions expired with him. As soon as
the spaniards attempted to work the mines,
located on Moorish territory, a collision re-
suited, precipitating a '1ittle war costly
and discreditable to Spain. over $1,000
troops were rushed to the coast to subdue
the rebellion. and the results Of three
months OF campaigning for a coal mine
are chiefly visible by the mounds OF hos
pitable graves to which the fierce tribes
HtN WtlCoHle0 spanish HOiulCfS' AhoAo WIS
a touch Of prophecy in the public sentiment
which at the outset condemned the cam
pslgn as dishonorable TO Spain. A train OF
public evils, from martial law to press CEN
sorship, followed In It's wake, damaging
to the throne and overwhelming its au-
thors. The task Of reotifying these blum
ders called the new ministry into existence.
and II is coursgeously facing q disagreeable
though necessary duty.
The optimism OF the Irish home ruler Is
notable for its robust strength and uncon-
querable persistence. 1t survives in all
kinds of political weather and marches
from one defeat to another with the hope
fulness that is the salvation Of the race.
Just now it CLOVIS with bright
ness. Induced by the extreme friction OF
English parties over the taxing features OF
the budget r. p. O'Connor, M. p, who is
always in the thick Of the fight in the House
Of Commons, comes with a message OF
cheer to the Greater Ireland on this side
of the Atlantic. Home rule for Ireland
within four years is the gist of the mes
sage. He tells Of the struggle over the
budget and explains the probability of a
general election at an early date. In that
event he calculates that the Irish national
list party will hold the balance Of power
and will be able to dictate terms to either
party seeking. The Liberal party would
have the preference provided the veto
power Of the house OF lords is limited by
the mandate Of the people to one rejec-
ton Of a measure. Unless some such modi-
fication OF the power Of the house of lords
Is effected, or enough new peers created
to out-vote the tories. II is useless to send
up a measure Of home rule or any bill en-
bodying liberal party policies. This has
been the result in every instance since the
liberals came into power, and is particu-
larly so in the drastic mutilation Of the
last Irish land bill. AS Mr.. o'connor points
out the liberal party must overcome the
veto power Of the peers in one OF the two
ways or go out of business.
A contest of such magnitude affords the !
home ruler all the joy of anticipation. and
good reason for optimistic predictions.
Much significance Is attached to the sue
cess Of the unionist candidate in the bye
election in the Bermondsey district of Lon
don, last Thursday. The district is one Of
the poorest in London. The population Is
about $1,000. Of which a large proportion
depends upon casual labor, and many
families are always on the verge OF want.
Heretofore the district has been almost
uniformly liberal. This time the inroads Of
the socialists in the liberal following
caused a three-cornered fight, resulting In
what the unionists consider a sweeping
victory for their candidate. Compared
with the vote Of three years ago the liberal
loss amounts to COO votes in a contest of
uncommon vigor, in which the varied In
terests affected by the taxing features OF
the budget concentrated their resources. A
district partially submerged by poverty is
peculiarly susceptible to the persuasive in
fluences of wealth. yet the unionists won
by q plurality only. the vote of the two
opposing candidates exceeding the poll Of
the unionist by AS votes. Tory leaders
are said to regard the result as a mandate
to the house of lords to reject the budget,
and as a clear indication of public opposI-
ton to liberal policies In 1880. when Bea-
c~onsfield was in doubt whether to go to
the country, as GLADSTONE was challenging
him to do, he carried q bvH-election and
that decided him to dissolve. But that
bye-election was. cuFiously. also in Bar
mondsey, and after winning II, the con.
~servatives were badly beaten in the general
election.
If the duke of the Abruzzi should accept
the crown Of Greees he would be it's third
possessor of alien blood. Greece has tried
a Bavarian and a Dane as monarchs and
has not been particularly happy with either,
King Otto. the Bavarian, II sent home. bag
and baggage. after a reign Of twenty-nins
years, King George. the Dane, who sue
ceeded him, has been able to hold down
the throne for forty-six years and appears
to be well meaning and able, The diff
Guilty which has always confronted him has
been to administer a little country with a
big head. II he should now give up a
thankless job, he will have the oonsoling
reflection that the House Of savoy's expe-
Fienee in governing a foreign country has
not been happier than his.
Russia really must be awakening. The