Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1918-12-21
EVENTS OF A WEEK

EVENTS UF a WEEK
AS the week opened the startling news came over the
wire that the president of Portugal had been assasAnated
while in the railway depot at Lisbon, and that the assas-
sin had Immediately been killed by the crowd. The
murderer appears to have been an obscure person, and
no cause for his act is given. From the known facts
however, it is assumed that the crime was in its motive
not unlike that of Guiteau in numbering Garfield, a
murder which, it will be recalled, was also committed
in the chief railway station Of Washington. The crime
of Guiteau was undoubtedly due to the spirit of disap-
pointment and revenge because of political sights, real
or fancied, and this spirit worked only too easily on a
mind readily responsive to criminal suggestion. Some.
thing of the sort, it may be supposed, prompted the MUIR
der Of the Portuguese president.
DR.. sidonio Paes, the murdered official, appears to
have been a man of strong personal character and
marked ability. Though not yet past middle life he had
distinguished himself as a college professor, had aban-
doned the quiet of college life for a military career, had
placed himself at the head of a revolutionary party
which, almost without bloodshed, overturned the exist
ing government had proclaimed himself president pro
tenn and taken charge of the government, and had given
such a satisfactory account of himself in the few months
preceding the general election which he called that he
was elected president by a vote that fell only a little short
of being unanimous. He was a man of liberal views
and progressive policies, and had won respect for his
country abroad and set in motion influences which would
have greatly benefited his people at home. 1t is a pity
that such a career of usefulness should be cut snort by
the hand of an assassin when there are plenty of other
rulers and ex-rulers who could just as we'll be spared
as not.
Americans are growing accustomed to the thought
Of the president of their country being abroad, and the
president himself has settled down to the work of fol-
lowing a fairly crowded program. Visits have been ex-
49, -:AL A. .-:S-- 49, 30
France, and also with King Victor Emmanuel of Italy.
who had a visit to Paris scheduled for this time, and who
took advantage of'the opportunity for a brief conference
with the head of the American nation.
There has been a change in the presidents program
in that he is to go to London on December 2s instead of
waiting until after the peace conference as was at first
intended. No reason for this change is advanced Off
cially, and there is more or less speculation concerning
it. One suggestion is that the president has decided that
for unnamed reasons it will be necessary for him to re-
turn home earlier than he had intended, hence his
European program is being speeded up. Another is that
complications in the peace program have arisen, and it
is desired that these be threshed out with the British
leaders before the conference opens.
The exact date for the opening Of the conference has
not been set, but it is expected that the preliminary gath
ering will be held about January 6. Interest continues
to center on the proposals for a league Of nations and
for freedom Of the seas, and speculation continues as to
the manner in which these will be treated by President
Wilson when his first announcement on the subject Is
made. 1t is conceded that he will open the discussion on
these subjects. and it is expected that the conferences
which he is now holding will enable him to reach plans
which will be presented in some detail Some of the
Paris dispatches say that Mr.. Wilson has practically
reached the conclusion that the league to be formed at
this time can be only a rather informal one, to be worked
into more complete shape later on; and that his pro-
posals on the freedom of the seas will not be calculated
In any way to interfere with the policy of Great Britain
in maintaining the most powerful navy atloat.
E =
It is difficult to form any opinion as to the progress
toward stable and representative government that is be-
Ing made in Germany. Apparently there is some real
progress, because at the meeting Of the congress of SOL
diers' and workers delegates in Berlin on Tuesday. a
general election was called for January 10. and
ldebknecht, leader Of the Spartacus, or Bolshevik ele-
ment, being denied a hearing on the floor of the conven-
ton, betook himself to the roof, where he haransued
the throng In the street. There is unrest, uncertainty
and disorder throughout Germany, but from all the in
formation obtainable it appears that the extreme ele-
ments are making little progress, and that there is at
least a fair prospect for the development Of real govern
ment out of the present chaotic conditions.