St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1909-01-06
Won Bulow to account, and William
10

Won Bulow to account, and William
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
1876 and called into being a national
parliament at CoHstantinople. This
body met amid rejoicing Dec. II.
THE BALKANS. - On Oct. the
whole status of southeastern Europe
as fixed, by the treaty Of Berlin Q978)
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 Herze-
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 readjust
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 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
Grown 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
fed 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 was
where the German emperor made
peck Of trouble by recognizing Hafid
without consulting the nations in the
Algeciras conference. France firmly OBJ
jected, Spain seconded, and the kaiser
"came down. Then they all bowed
to Hafd together.
PFRSIA.-The Radical first parlia-
ment at Teheran under the constitu-
ton granted in 1907 was wiped out of
existence in 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.
olutinniSts captured and held Tabriz.
JAPAN.-Thc Japanese government
gave the American feet wonderful
recention. the mikado and the presi-
dent EXCHANGING most cordial greetings.
CHINA. = On Nov. 10 Emperor
Kwang Seu and the dowager empress,
who had been for a generation the
real 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 on
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 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 were hot
for coercion. They began war Dec. 13
by capturing the Venezuelan coast
guard ship, Alx. Sleeper, the American
minister, finally broke off citations 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 hor new opportunity
with orderly elections in December.
Jose Miruel Gomez. the Liberal leader.
being chosen president
HAITI was torn by two revolts, that
led by Juneau ard 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 on board
French warship. Simon took posses
sion of the city and on Dec. II was