Evening star., 1918-02-03

years ago regarding the state Of affairs
in Europe. owing to
Euronean War certain signs of in
tense war prepara-
lowing in The star of January 2s. 1868:
Notwithstanding the assurances
given out from every court in Europe
that peace is earnestly desired. yet
among the great powers preparations
for war were never SO active rs at
present Vast sums of money are being
expended in equipping armies and In
building fronclads. France. with 400.-
900 of her soldiers armed with the most
efficient weapons the world has ever
known. is reorganixing and enlarging
her army, subjecting every citizen to
military duty Chassepots and needle
guns are turned out of her factories by
thousands every week. and she has 500
warships. many of them of the most
formida Bile character. Russia builds an
other Sebastopol. menace to her late
conquerors, and has everything on
war footing. Austria is stolidly but
earnestly at work to repair her late
losses. while the work of German con-
solfdation under Bismarck goes steadily
forward to the formation of an over
Whelming and powerful confederation.
Even Spain. impotent as she Is. pledges
herself to the maintenance of the papai
territory and seems anxious to take
part in the turmoil. England. with her
troublesome and expensive Abyssinian
war, keeps anxious eye on all these
movements, but cannot calculate when
the storm will burst nor with what
consequences to herself The govern
mentS may be anxious for peace, but
their threatening attitude. each toward
the others. indicates a feeling of dis
trust and general uneasiness which
may culminare in open hostility at any
moment. 1t is possible. however, that
the extensive preparations for war may,
after all. be the surest means of pre-
serving the peace"
Propositions to remove the capital
westward from Washington had not
been advanced for a
Omaha Wants long time, and there is
the Capital. vival Of this project.
once favorite with western legislators
In The Star January 90. 1868. is the fol-
lowing on the subject of the latest cam
didate for the role of seat of govern
ment:
"At times various rising cities of the
west have aspired to become the fed
eral capital. but as the wave of western
growth and emigration rolled on each
successive candidate has been dis
placed by some rival locality yet nearer
the setting sun and the supposed new
geographical center of the Union Thus
Cincinnati. Buffalo, Chicago and St.
Louis have taken their turn as aspi-
rants for capitolian honors. Now. how
ever. the rising little settlement Of
Omaha, Neb.. puts in her claim to be-
come the capital Of the American Union.
and backs 1t up by petition. which, we
are told. has already received numer-
Gus signatures Omaha. therefore, is
the latest and most prominent candi-
date. but how long will she wear this
distinction? With the expansion of our
borders. now northward nearly to the
pole. now eastward to take in the
ready and willing subject of Great
Britain, now southwark, as is our mani
fest destiny. to include Mexico and the
West Indies Islands-with these
changes of boundary occurring year by
year. there will be an opening for hun
dreds of would-be capitals. north.
south. east and west. to put in their
claims. as the geographical center of
the Union oscillates with each terrific
rial expansion. In the meantime. the
owners of real estate in Washington
need not sell at sacrifice, until the
bounds of the American Union shall be