Current Mention

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Nov 12, 1908

— A report comes from London to the effect that the British government now contemplates sending a battle-ship fleet around the world.

— The trouble between France and Germany over an incident at Casablanca, Morocco, in which Germany’s consular agent was involved, and which threatened to involve the two countries in war a few days ago, has been settled peaceably, each country expressing its regrets for the incident. Germany regarded the treatment of her consular agent as a violation of her honor, and was quick to assume a threatening attitude. At the same time a portion of the French press was practically defying Germany to declare war.

— A report from Vienna states that the unsettled Balkan difficulty now contains an element of danger. Russia has suddenly abandoned her interest in a conference of the powers, has very coldly answered Austria’s note in reference to the annexation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the czar has kept the Austrian ambassador waiting a number of days for an interview until he could first have an interview with Crown Prince George, of Servia. The Russian government has even expressed its sympathy with Servia, and its willingness to give her moral support.

— The returns from the presidential election held on November 3 show that Judge William Howard Taft (Republican) was chosen for the office of President of the United States by a large majority. The electoral vote stands as follows: For Mr. Taft, 319; for Mr. Bryan, 153. The Republican majority in the House of Representatives, however, has been reduced from 57 to 41, and in many of the States which gave majorities for Mr. Taft, Democratic governors and congressmen have been elected. Each of the leading candidates carried his own State by a good majority.

— The Vatican is now discussing the probability of an American ambassador to the “holy see.” The Tribuna, immediately on the election of Mr. Taft, recalls his visit to Rome in 1902, and the excellent impression he made on Pope Leo XIII. To Mr. Taft, it states, Pope Leo expressed the hope that he would one day realize his dream of having an American diplomatic representative accredited to the Vatican. The Tribuna concludes by asking, “Now that Mr. Taft is President, can Leo’s successor entertain the same hope, which is against the spirit of the American Constitution?”

— A report from London dated October 31 states that England is just now enduring a “spasm” of social unrest, which, in the eyes of many observers, is distinctly alarming. Both in London and in other large centers there have been demonstrations of discontent of a serious nature. “The question of the unemployed,” says this report, “has assumed proportions which promise trouble before the winter is over.” In London alone, it is calculated that there are upward of two hundred fifty thousand paupers, while nearly ten per cent of the skilled workers of the metropolis are out of employment. In these conditions the Socialist propaganda is thriving.