The Dickinson press., 1909-01-02
Won Bnlow. to account, and William
made concessions. ..

made concessions. .
TURKEY.-The leaven of democ.
racy showed signs of working even In
the European stronghold Of ~autocratic
Islam. The sultan of Turkey saw his
army turning from him under the In
fuence of the Young Turk party and
thus powerless, he put into effect the
hitherto dead letter constitution of
1875 and called into being a national
parliament at Constantinople. This
body met amid rejoicing Dec. II.
THE BALKANS. On Oct. s the
whole status of southeastern Europe
as fixed by the treaty Of Berlin (1S79
was suddenly altered. Bulgaria pro-
claimed its independence, with Prince
Ferdinand as its car and at the
same time by concerted arrangement
Austria announced to the powers that
she proposed to annex completely the
former Turkish provinces Of Here
govina and Bosnia, while the Turkish
island of Crete moved toward a union
with Greece. War seemed unavoid-
able then, and the clouds still lower
in the diplomatic sky as a gloomy
omen of what the new year may have
In store. The prompt action of the
powers on motion of Russia in agree
Ing to hold a conference to readiust
the balance in the Balkans, the open
Ing of negotiations between Bulgaria
and Turkey and the military impo-
tence of Servia and Montenegro CON-
bined to prevent an immediate out
break. Later Turkey began a boycott
OF Austrian goods, and all the Balkan
states prepared for war.
PORTUGAL.-The ferment of Re.
publicanism in the Portuguese mon
archy after long restraint found vent
In the assassination Of King Carlos and
Crown Prince Luiz Feb. 1 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
ded the country. Subsequent elections
showed the Conservatives still in a
large majority.
MOROCCO.-On Aug. "a the oft re-
peated story of the defeat of Sultan
Abdul Aziz by the forces Of the pre-
tender, Mulai Hafid, proved to be true,
and the latter demanded recognition
Of the powers as the sultan. That wa
where the German emperor made a
peck ct trouble by recognizing Hafid
without consulting the nations in the
Algeciras conference. France firmly OBJ.
tected, Spain seconded, and the kaiser
"came down." Then they all bowed
to Hafd together.
.PERSIA:--The Radical first parlia.
ment at ,Teheran under the constitu.
ton granted in 1907 was wiped out OF
existence. in a bloody battle with the
shah's soldiers June %, 400 persons be.
Ing killed in the streets, the parliament
buildings battered down and some OF
the Radical leaders executed. The rev.
olutionists 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. 80 On Nov. IL Emperor
Kwang Scu and the dowager empress,
who had been for a generation the
real ruler of China, died. PHI VI. tho
infant son Of Prince Chun. had been
designated as heir to the throne. and
the regency was seized by Prince Chm
CENTRAL AMERICA lowered on
the verge Of war, but finally the issues
were laid before the new Central
American court of justice. which was
set up May 20 at Carriage, Costa Rica.
with all the states represented.
VENEZUELA added Holland to the
list Of her don't speak" neighbors by
expelling the Dutch minister for some
indiscretion. and the Dutch We're hot
for, coercion. They began war Dec. 10
by capturing the Venezuelan coast
guard ship, Alix. Sleeper. the American
minister, finally broke off relations and
quit the country owing to the failure
Of the Castro government responding
to the overtures from Washington as
to a settlement Of claims. The Vene-
zuelan minister later was recalled
from Washington. President Castro
sailed for Europe the last Of November.
CUBA rose to her new opportunity
with orderly elections in December.
Jose Miguel Gomez, the Liberal leader,
being chosen president. ,
HA1TI was torn by two ~revolts, that
led by Juneau and Firmin in January
being crushed, but the second, under
Antoine Simon, resulting in the blood.
less capture Of Port au Prince and the
fall of the Nord Alexis government
Dec. 2. AS the forces OF Simon ap-
preached the capital the officers Of
Alexis deserted and the people turned
against him, SO that he was barely
able to escape with his life OF board
a French warship. Simon took posses.
sion. of the city and on Dec.s1 II was
elected president by the. Haitian con-
gress. a" =
E = . 49,. i. a 49,