Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-01-03

especially active in England, the suf-
fragettes attracting worldwide attention
because of their repeated attacks upon
the house of commons in their demand
for parliamentary suffrage. On July ~
monster demonstration was held. Five
thousand policemen were needed 10 guard
the house of parliament against the pc
sieging mob of suffragettes, headed py
Mrs. Pankhurst. The outburst had peeh
occasioned by the statement OF premier
AsGuith that the women had shown no
universal desire in England for suffrage
Some of the women stoned the "liiuows
of the premiers house. Twenty were ar
rested In Paris the suffragettes made
vigorous fight for the election OF Mile
Ialoi for member of the municipal coun-
ell Mile Laloi made her campaign cry,
Shorter hours and higher pay for wom-
en-" Her candidacy was declared Illegal
Not until the last weeks of the year did
any of the countries to the south of us
betray much turbulence.
Turbulent Then, late in November,
49,, several towns in Haiti
reyolted against Nord
Alexis, Gen. Simon became head of the
revolutionary movement, marched his
army up to the gates of Port au Prince,
and President Alexis fled with his treas
ure chest to a French warship in the har-
Dor A few days later Simon had HIM
self formally elected President of Haiti.
The year closes with Venezuela in a
state of turmoil The Dutch warships
are parading UP and down the Venezue-
Ian coast, Selling Venezuelan ships when
ever chance offers, and the country is
filled with revolutionary movements.
Meanwhile, Castro. President of VeneZue-
la, is sojourning in Germany, where he
went early in December presumably to
ton pafa
sailing for Europe he turned over the
reins of government temporarily to the
vice president, who swore fealty to him.
Holland seems bent on obtaining salts ac-
ton for the diplomatic insults heaped on
it by Castro, and there is no telling what
the new year may bring forth in this
quarter of the globe.
European policies were much compli-
Gated by the kaiser. He stirred up France
by announcing Germany's recognition OF
Mulai Hafid as Sultan of Morocco. Hahd
headed a revolution and devastated Mo
rocco with civil war. thereby greatly i'm
peding the reform plans of the French in
that country.
But the kaiser caused the greatest hub
bub by his interview in the London Daily
Telegraph. in which he
Kaiser avowed great friendship
u,h,.a TO England: told how he
had really won the Boer
war for England, and mentioned several
other instances In which he worked for
English success. This was published In
October. Later what purported to be a
synopsis Of an interview granted by the
kaiser to a representative of the Century
Magazine appeared In a New York paper
causing still more of an international up
roar In this the empe. or was made to
declare that England might lose her colo
MES through her treaty with Japan. which
practically countenanced the yellow peril;
Japan even now, he said, was fomenting
revolt in India: Germany and the United
States would solve the eastern question
by dividing the orient against itself
through becoming the recognized friends
Of China.
Such storm of indignation was aroused
by these utterances in the German press
and the reichstag that the kaiser at last
humbled himself enough to announce that
hereafter he would say nothing without
the advice of Chancellor Won Buelow.
Since the visit of King Edward to Rus
sia Europe has understood that England,
Russia and France will work more close.
together hereafter. This move has much
piqued Germany. The French English I'M
derstanding or entente cordiale. was
largely strengthened by the visit of Presi-
dent Fallieres to England and the Anglo
French fair in London.
China was much in the eye of the world
at several times throughout the year. but
at no other time so much
Chinese as when word was sent
out to the nations that
the Empress Dowager
Tsi-An. who had ruled automatically In
the empire since 1898, and the prisoner
hod a
day of each other According to official
palace statements, the deaths occurred
November IA and Is, the palace explana-
ton being that the death of the emperor
had caused the dowager empress to have
fatal apopleptic stroke. However that
may be. this much is certain. that with
the death of Tsi-An there passed from
the earthly stage one of the most remark
able characters of modern times. a slave
girl who rose to absolute power over 4O0,-
600 900 members of the human race.
According to decree that the dowager
empress is said to have promulgated a
few hours before her death, Prince Chun.
brother of the late emperor. is now re-
gent of the empire. while the new en-
peror is his three-year-old son Pu Ii.
Immediately after the empire had passed
| under new control there was much specu-
lation as to the palaces attitude toward
the constitutional reforms promulgated by
TSi-An short time before her death. 1t
seems now that these reforms will be
allowed to go through. and that. the new
regime will carry on the old ones task
of awakening China and endeavoring to
preserve 1t for the Chinese. According to
program. China will have provincial as
SemblieS in 1909 full constitution IN
1916 and parliament in full power the
following year.
Considerable friction in the relations of
Japan and China was caused by the SeiZ-
ure of the japanese ship Tatsu Maru OFF
Macao, on which were found arms and
ammunition intended. China said, for
Chinese revolutionfsts. Japan protested so
vigorously that China consented to pay
an indemnity. japanese encroachments
in Manchuria caused general boycott Of
Japanese goods throughout China. Toward
the United States. however. China has
evidenced the kindliest Of feeling For ex-
ample the $10S0O,OOO which the United
States RENTED Of the Boxer indemnity
China decided to spend for the education
of Chinese in this country. This feeling
of friendlinesS was intensified late in the
year, when it became known that this
government, under the able direction OF
Secretary of State Root, had induced ia
pan to agree that both countries would
stand for and respect the integrity OF
China and the open doc In the far east.
as we'll as to respect each others posses
sions in the Pacific and to consuit each
other if either is aggrieved Thus 1908
has doubtless proved to China that her
one best friend in the family of nations
is the United States.
AS usual. numerous advances were made
in science during the year, but none ap-