New-York tribune., 1912-01-01
THE YEAR ABROAD.

strongly of the year just ended, which
above most recent years has been marked
by disturbances and conflicts moving
toward but not yet reaching their ell
makes: though some of the fiux Of the
former year has indeed crystalized In
what may prove lasting settlement. THIS
last remark is applicable to our great
southern neighbor, Mexico, where the
year saw q violent revolution, culminat-
ing in the enforced resignation Of Presi-
dent Diaz and the popular election OF
Francisco Madero TO succeed him; and
where there is room for hoping that the
new order Will prove stable and M
cient. In our northern neighbor, Canada,
also. there was completed achievement In
an electoral campaign which rejected the
reciprocity with the United States for
which Canada once clamored so loudly
and which after many years expelled the
Liberal party from power and returned
an Overwhelming Conservative majority.
Three wars besides the Mexican revo-
luton loomed ominously in the vista OF
the year The first was the civil war In
Persia, which has been eclipsed by the
shadows OF Russian intervention and a
practical conquest of the ancient empire
by the omnivorous northern power The
second was that In China, which the
ranicstricken Manchu dynasty sought TO
duell by the most extraordinary acts OF
decentralization and abnegation. This
policy proved vain, and the year closes
with the great empire, which year ago
seemed to be moving in serene and or
derly fashion toward a complete coDsti-
tutional status, plunged into chaos, with
one faction proclaiming a republic and
another striving 10 sustain some simula-
crum Of monarchy, while the great out
lying domains are falling away from
the Middle Kingdom into the hands OF
other powers-M -Manchuria gravitating to
Japan, Mongolia and Turkestan to Rus
sia and Tibet TO Great Britain. Not In
our day, not even in the TAPPING re-
bellion. were Chinese interests IN so des-
perate plight. The third war was that
which Italy suddenly started for the
seizure OF Tripoli from Turkey, and
which threatens TO drag on in inconclu-
sive fashion far into the new year, IL
not beyond.
Political turmoil and industrial strife
made up the year in Great Britain. The
Liberals Of the Commons drove through
with whip and spur the bill lettering the
powers of the House Of Lords, thus ef-
fecting the greatest constitutional change
Of the generation a change which the
Unionists purpose to undo the moment
they have the power. The Home Rule
bill is still in hiding, but an insurance
bill, fathered by Mr.. Lloyd George, has
been enacted which has aroused the ami
mostly Of all classes and which threat
ems to cause the downfall Of the govern
ment. The Declaration of London was
defeated. the Conference Of Colonial
Prime Ministers effected little Of value,
Mr. Balfour retired from the Unionist
leadership and was succeeded by Mr..
Bonar Law, and the Anglo-Japanese al
| lance was renewed for ten years, with
very notable amendment made for the
sake Of facilitating the American policy
of general arbitration treaties. Colossal
strikes prevailed during most of the
year, marked by much violence end
by an organized effort to subvert the
government, or at least TO make II sub.
iect 10 trade union orders.
France was engaged In a renewal Of
the controversy with Germany over
Morocco, which was finally settled by
Frances taking practical possession Of
that country and giving Germany COM
pensation in the French Congo. That
compact greatly changed the map Of
Africa and ended one Of the most voxa-
tious problems on that continent. At
home France had great and costly cham
pagne riots and food riots, and suffered
bereavement In the appalling explosion
which destroyed her warship the Liberte
at Toulon In Germany political agita-
tion waxed high particularly over the
governments policy in Africa, and the
Reichstag was dissolved and general
election ordered for an early date In the
new year Portugal elected DR.. Manoel
Arriaga to be her President, and was
thereupon fully recognized as sover-
eign republic by the powers. and has
since been fighting against attempts at
royalist restoration. Italy has been cele-
brating the semi.centenary Of her unity.
Turkey has striven amid embarrassing
difficulties to confirm her constitutional
system. Russia enjoys the presence Of
reactionary Douma, and has been reas-
serting much Of the old spirit of aucoc-
racy. Finland has suffered further
spoliation and oppression at Russia's
hands. The remaining countries Of Eu-
rope have had enough blank pages In
their history books for this year to en-
title them to happiness.
The coronation of George as King Of
England was followed by the unprece-
dented performance Of royal visit to
India and the public crowning Of the
Emperor of India at durbar of extraor-
binary splendor at Delhi. The announce
ment of the transfer Of the imperial cap
| ital from Calcutta TO Delhi was an his
toric incident Of large Importance. The
tercentenary of the English Bible was
celebrated throughout the English-speak-
ing world with much interest. France
placed herself in line literally with
the rest Of the scientific world by adopt
ing the meridian of Greenwich instead
| OF that Of Paris as the basis Of reckon
ings of longitude and time. The paint
ing known as LA Gioconda,' "A master
piece of Leonardo da Vinci, was mystic
riously abstracted from the Louvre and
III aytf,.a paH hn % In,