Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1912-03-09
Eclipse of n Napoleon.

tLR"t VI -
Yuan Shi Kai, the ''Napoieon Of China,
is not living up TO his advance notices.
His hand has lost It's cunning. or, more
akely, that historic game leg impedes his
movements while perniciously active enc
niles strike him fore and aft. The raw
aging and looting Of Peking. where his
supremacy was greatest and his power
hitherto nnquestioned. irreparably dam
ages the prestige OF the great Yuan and
puts him decissveiy in the lame duck"
class. In other times and other places
Yuan displayed such diplomatic tact and
deft penetration In putting obnoxious
Cinnamon to sleep that his proves OF
yesterday contrasts regrettably with the
ignominy of today. During the Boxer"
troubles of ten years ago, when Picking
was surrounded and foreigners in grave
ponents OF the rebels. not openly, but in
q quiet way. best suited for his plans,
He was then governor OF shantpng PROV
ince. outwardly on friendly terms with
the Boxers" A number OF the leaders
were invited to his yamen, where they
were dined and wined and gwen friendly
tips on the peril OF roasing foreign
devils" to the fighting pitch. The Boxer"
leaders laughed merriiy as the wine bub-
bled. boasting Of such magic power that
foreign swords nor bullets could harm
them or touch them. At the height Of the
hoasting Yuan asked them to prove their
miraculous power by standing In a row
against the wall They assented. Yuan
called his soldiers. ordered them to load
their rifles with ball cartridges and fire
point blank at his guests The massa-
ere left the Boxer" movement leaderless
In that locality and gave Yuan an op-
portunity to promote Celestial funerals
In other provinces. That was ten years
ago. and ten years puts many . strong
man down and out :.
p %.
Italian Finances.
Itaiy's financial resources aud its
ability TO prosecute. the war In Tripoli
without issuing war loan. are matters
OF concern to European finanelers Just
now. Slgnor Luzzati. ex-premier and
an authority on Italian finances. puts
out an encouraging statement OF his
country's resources. In 1885 there was o
treasury debt Of sS2.ooaoOo. In 1910 despite
the earthquake Of 1905, there was instead
q net surplus Of =. eoa,ooo. which increased
TO sio,fta.ooo by June 90. isil This was
the surplus available when the war be.
gan BY December this was exhausted
and the surplus for ls1t-12, estimated at
b.ooaooo. was drawn upon II the war
continues the government can under the
amount Of sse,oooeoo. and also ask the
banks OF issue Tor ss6.coooG0 at per cent.
resource not employed for. II years
past. The banks OF issue have also sew
erzl millions in pounds, sterling, invested
in British, French. German and Russian
banks which can be utilized 10 neces-
sary. JIG did not thiRk a war loan prob
able. but expressed the conviction that
10 Il were called for the small capitalists
shopkeepers, etc. of Italy would respond
with patriotic eagnerness. ~
sas
Advertising for q Mayor. iye .fr.
In many ways things are better or
dered sbrpad In spots than in, this coun-
Try and much may be learned across the
pond and profitsbly applied In this sloti.
GUS republic n we practice what we
preach. Recently Greater Berlin cast
about for a man for mayor competent
to direct the business affairs OF the city.
The municipal council, an elective body
Of 100 rnembers actually advertiser for
applicants and thirty candidates pre-
sented themselves. The council finally
picked upon DIR. stelniger city chamber.
lain OF Berlin. as the fittest man for the
position. Party spells ana party prefer
ence were ignored and no attempt at
councilmanic combination to boost IA
voHts into the job. Qualifications gov
erned the selection. DR.. steinIger was
more experienced in city affairs and Is
thoroughly versed In municipal business.
Consequently the Greater Berlin 10
launched under favorable auspices. No
other European capital has made such
progress In the last half century. II was
a provincial city eighty or 100 years ago.
Now II Is the second city Of Europe In
point OF population. through the recent
annexation Of it's suburbs. In 1896 1t had
a little over 25oeoo Of people. and It now
claims l.oeo.ooo In excess OF thai. which
leaves Paris nearly 7oo-ooo behind The
latter city. however, could probably over
take II In this respect. should II employ
to As large extent the annexation policy.
q
Noted Canadian Statesman.
A Canadian OF distinction. an Irishman