The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1909-01-02
Won BulOw to account, and William

TURkEY.-The leaven OF democ-
racy showed signs of wording 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
1876 and called into being a national
parliament at Constantinople. This
body met amid rejoicing Dec. IL.
THE BALKANS. - On Oct. . the
whole status of southeastern Europe
as fixed by the treaty of Berlin QSTS)
was suddenly altered. Bulgaria pro-
claimed its independence, with Prince
Ferdinand as its czar 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 Il 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 com.
bined to prevent an immediate out.
break. Later Turkey began a boycott
Of Austrian goods, and all the Balkan
states prepared for wal.
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 LUZ 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
fled 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 Hafd, proved to be true
and the latter demanded recognition
of the powers as the sultan. That wa,
where the German emperor made Z
peck Of trouble by recognizing Haft
without consulting the nations in thu
Algeciras conference. France firmly oh
jected, Spain seconded, and the kaiser
came down" Then they all bowed
to Hafd together.
PERSIA,-The Radical first parlla
ment at Teheran under the constitu
ton granted in 1907 was wiped out o
existence in a bloody battle with tn
shah's soldiers June %, 400 persons be
ing killed In the streets, the parliamen
buildings battered down and some o
the Radical leaders executed. The rev
o%lutionists captured and held Tabriz.
JAPAN.-The Japanese government
gave the american fleet a wonderful
reception, the mikado and the presi
dent exchanging most cordial greetings
CHINA. - On Nov. 10 Empero
Kwang Seu and the dowager empress
who had been for a generation tn
real ruler Of China. died. Pu VI, th
infant son Of Prince Chun, had bee
designated as heir to the throne, ant
the regency was seized by Prince Chun
CENTRAL AMERICA ed o.
the verge OF war, but finally the issue
were laid before the new Contra
American court OF justice, which wa.
set up May &c at Carriage, Costa Rica
with all the states represented.
VENEZUELA added Holland to tn
list Of her don't speak neighbors b!
expelling the Dutch minister for SOM
%indiscretion. and the Dutch were no
for coercion. They began war Dec. L
by capturing the Venezuelan coas
guard ship, Allx. Sleeper, the American
minister, finally broke off relations an,
quit the country owing TO the failure
Of the Castro government responding
to the overtures from Washington Al
to a settlement Of claims. The Vene
zuelan minister later was recalled
from Washington. President Castrl
sailed for Europe the last Of November
CUBA rose to her new op%portunit,
with orderly elections in December
Jose Miguel Gomez, the Liberal leader
being chosen president.
HAITI was torn by two revolts. tina
led by Juneau and Firmin in Januar,
being crushed, but the second, under
Antoine Simon, resulting In the blood
less capture Of Port au Prince and thu
fall Of the Nord Alexis government
Dec. 2. As the forces Of Simon ap
preached the capital the officers o
Alexis deserted and the people turned
against him, so that he was barely
able to escape with his life on boart
a French warshlp. Simon took posses
sion Of the city and on Dec. II wal
elected president by the Haitian con
gress. \