European Powers Consider Alliance Against America
The idea of a combination of European countries against America is receiving considerable attention at the hands of European diplomats. Admiral Canevaro, who was at one time Italian foreign minister, has taken up the subject in a recent address upon the triple and dual alliances. He gives these alliances credit for the thirty years’ peace of Europe, and states that this fact should lead Europe to “consider the possibility and necessity of uniting against America, Africa, and Asia, as the future of civilization will require them to do.” The London Spectator, in referring to the Italian admiral’s speech, says that this statement is not to be considered as the rash outburst of the “man in the street;” but that it is fully in accord with the utterances of Count Golouchowski (Austro-Hungarian Foreign Minister), and “with all the recent trend of affairs.” The first reason for the positions taken by the count and the admiral is the fear that European countries will not be able to hold their own commercially with America unless they combine against her. The second reason is that America is “sadly in the way in Asia;” and the third reason for the proposed combination is that these nations wish to expand in South and Central America, and the United States is again in the way, being unwilling either to take these countries herself, or allow any one else to do so. The Spectator says: “The total result is a bitter dislike of America, mixed with dread. Our object is only to awaken the Americans from an illusion to induce them to increase their fleet, and to persuade them to think steadily about what they are doing. They may rely on it that the continent will lose nothing by want of planning, and when the alliance against America is transmuted into fact, it will be full-grown and full-armed.” Thus has America opened up for herself a path into the great battle of the nations which prophets have foretold, and which keen men of the world are certain is not far in the future. Wu Ting Fang, minister to the United States, has presented a long memorial to the Chinese empress, urging upon the government the necessity of reform along lines compatible with the character of the Chinese people. The palace of the empress, which was being occupied by the German field marshall, has been destroyed by fire, the field marshall barely escaping with his life. Chinese rebels are reported to be causing trouble in Manchuria, where they have destroyed a portion of the Russian railroad. The Germans and French are gathering large forces at Pao-ting Fu for the purpose of driving back a Chinese army which has invaded the territory under control of the allied troops. The indemnity-demands of the powers have not yet been determined. For some time a persistent effort has been put forth in Ontario to connect the religious, or voluntary, schools with the public-school system of that province. The object in view is to secure State aid for the religious schools, or reduce the burden of their support. The plan is to have religious instruction given in these schools, and have them subject to State inspection. The Congregational Association and the Educational Association are both opposing the measure on proper grounds, the separation of Church and State. Speculations in stocks in the great Wall Street Stock Exchange have reached unprecedented figures within the last few days. On April 22, the amount of stock sold reached 2,677,100 shares. The highest previous record for a day was 2,155,225 shares, which was made on April 19. Reports from Washington indicate that this unnatural activity in stocks is viewed with a feeling of alarm in official circles. It is believed that the present condition can not continue, and that a financial crash is possible. Trade statistics of the United Kingdom for the past year show a continued increase in the matter of imports, which is out of proportion to the amount of exports. The imports for the United Kingdom increased more than $150,000,000 over the imports for the last year, while the exports for the same period increased less than $126,000,000. These figures show that other countries are cutting into the manufacturing trade of England at home as well as abroad. Negotiations have been completed between the Canadian Government and Washington authorities for the re-marking of the entire boundary line. It has been more than fifty years since the boundary from Lake Superior to the Atlantic Coast was marked, and over forty years since the boundary from the Lakes to the Pacific Coast was fixed. The British Government has been compelled to borrow, and thus add to its debt, another 60,000,000 pounds ($292,200,000) on account of the great expenses incident to the South African war and expenses in connection with the military operations in China. On April 17, Mexico signed the Hague peace convention. There are now only three countries that have not signed it, China, Luxembourg, and Turkey. The Russian students concerned in the recent rioting have drawn up a conciliatory resolution and presented it to the government, asking for the reinstatement of their comrades who are under arrest for disturbances. It is expected that the government will now relax some of its harsher measures in the matter of student discipline. Administration officials at Washington are now conferring with leading senators with a view to arranging a Nicaragua Canal treaty which will be acceptable both to the Senate and to England. Prominent senators are said to take the position that no treaty is necessary, and that the Clayton-Bulwer treaty should be abrogated. The great expense which England’s military operations entail has caused a large deficit; and to meet the expenses of the coming year, the Chancellor of the Exchequer was forced to construct an enormous budget. This amounts to $913,621,740, and adds immensely to the present public debt. Probably the largest collection ever taken up in one church during one donation was that taken up on April 7 at the Grace church, New York, which amounted to $107,000. This collection followed an appeal by the pastor for funds to erect certain buildings in the rear of the church edifice. A gigantic trust of linen-spinning companies is reported from Europe, which includes all the principal linen-spinning companies of the principal European countries. The purpose of this international trust is to reduce the output of linen thread and increase the price. The great storms which recently occurred throughout the Middle West have resulted in the death of thousands of head of cattle and sheep. It is reported that some of the stockmen will be ruined financially on account of the large losses of stock during the storm. The Ordnance Board of the War Department has adopted a new magazine pistol for the army. This weapon is capable of discharging 116 shots per minute, as against 40 by the best Colt revolver, which has heretofore been the standard pistol in the army. The gross amount of gold in the United States Treasury at the present time is $500,552,526. This is the largest amount of gold ever held by this country, and is said to be the largest amount ever held under single control, with one possible exception. The new export duties imposed by the British Government for the purpose of raising revenue are causing much opposition and some consternation in manufacturing and industrial centers. The duties on coal and sugar seem to be particularly disliked. The agitation in Portugal against the religious orders continues to grow. The republican papers violently attack the pope because of the letter which he has written on the subject of the persecution of the religious orders in that country. Serious floods, due to the rise of the Ohio and its tributaries, have occurred during the week in Pennsylvania and Ohio. The amount of damages reported from the different flooded districts is thought to reach nearly $3,000,000. The campaign for a constitutional convention in Alabama closed on April 22. Reports from that State indicate that a new constitution will be adopted which will practically eliminate the negro vote by educational qualification. The Board of General Appraisers of the Treasury Department has decided that the duty recently placed on Russian sugar is legal, and must be collected. It seems probable that an appeal will be taken to the Supreme Court. The Federal authorities have taken up the matter of Chinese slavery in San Francisco, and have already rescued many of the slave girls from the dens in which they had been held by their purchasers. The arrest of Mrs. Carrie Nation in Kansas City, Mo., recently, has stirred up an anti-saloon crusade in that city, which temperance workers declare will result in the closing of the saloons there on Sunday. The fruit and cotton crops of Tennessee and Georgia have been seriously damaged by frosts. In some places replanting of the crops will be necessary, while in other places half crops are expected. The delegation appointed by the Cuban Constitutional Convention to confer with President McKinley and the Secretary of War arrived at Jacksonville, Florida, April 22, on their way to Washington. According to reports, another anarchist plot has been laid in Patterson, N. J., this time against the lives of the emperor of Germany, the czar of Russia, the king and queen of Italy, and Count Turin. A fast express train was held up and looted by masked bandits at Bridge Junction, Arkansas, on the night of April 22. The amount of money secured by the robbers is not known. Aguinaldo has signed a proclamation of peace designed to reach his former companions in arms, and declares that he now intends to work for the pacification of the Philippines. According to a report from Manila, Archbishop Chapelle has been summoned to Rome, where he will confer with the pope upon the conduct of Catholic affairs in the Philippines.