THE eyes of the world are now turned toward the China Sea, where the fleets of Russia and Japan are in close proximity. The Russian fleet is sailing toward the Island of Formosa, and the Japanese are keeping close watch on its every movement. The Japanese are considerably outnumbered by the Russians, and it is not thought that a general engagement will be hazarded by Admiral Togo until he has weakened the Russian fleet by torpedo-boat attacks at night. News of night attacks of this kind may be expected at any moment. Russia is risking her all, so far as sea-power is concerned, in the desperate endeavor to overwhelm the Japanese fleet and gain the mastery of the oriental waters. The Japanese realize the importance of the outcome, and are taking every precaution to insure victory. With Japan's fleet destroyed or seriously disabled, and her great army still in Manchuria, her plight would be a desperate one, and Russia would have an overwhelming advantage. It is reported that in case the Russian fleet is unsuccessful, the world may look for a great popular outbreak in Russia. Aggressive forces are concentrating for action. Demands for reform are coming from influential bodies as never before; workmen are more insistent in their demands; and the government feels under the necessity of taking greater precaution for the safety of the established order. In Manchuria there have been but slight skirmishes between outposts or small detachments, with little or no advantage to either. The Russians are concentrating, but the disposition of the Japanese forces is kept closely veiled. The lawyers of Russia have organized, and are holding meetings against the orders of the police. They are demanding greater freedom and the participation of the people in the affairs of the government. Every district in Russia save Siberia is represented in the lawyers' organization. In one of their published statements they declare that their country is on the verge of a precipice; that the poverty-stricken populace are driven by the malevolence of the government into agrarian and industrial revolt; that the social and economic questions can not be settled by the bureaucracy; that political reform is imperative; that each minute of delay increases the anarchy and revolt; that the representatives of the people should have the principal influence in the government; and that the bureaucracy should be relegated to a minor role; that all class privileges, political or religious, should be obliterated; that the principle of universal suffrage should be adopted; and that every restriction upon the liberties of the press and speech should be removed. The discussion of the details of the bill for the separation of church and state in France is giving rise to lively debates in the Chamber of Deputies. The government's supporters firmly uphold the contents of the committee's text, rejecting by large majorities numerous amendments to the first paragraph. The second section, containing the fundamental principles of the bill, "that the republic neither recognizes, provides stipends, nor subsidizes any religion," was adopted on April 13 by a vote of 337 against 233. The French Government in this is taking a stand on straight religious liberty principles. There is a large and growing element in our country that could profitably take lessons from the present action and course of the government of France. Some of New York's wealthiest men have recently had erected a palace of amusement called the Hippodrome, at the enormous cost of $3,500,000. On the first night of its opening the patronage was so large that it was decided by the backers of the enterprise to erect similar structures in each of the other large cities of the United States. The clamor of the people of this age for amusement, and the willingness of shrewd financiers to invest their wealth in such marvelous structures devoted to pleasure, show that this is an age of pleasure-seeking and wealth-seeking. "Lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God" is a most fitting designation of the mass of the people of this age. The governor of Wisconsin has signed a bill which outlaws the cigaret in that state. According to this bill, cigarets are not to be manufactured in that state for sale in the state, nor may they be handled by dealers or carried on the person. The penalties for the violation of the law range from $5.00 to $100 and six months in prison. It is to be hoped that the law may result in the eradication of the cigaret evil from that state, and that its influence may be felt in other states. There is no one thing that is doing more to undermine constitutions, and to debase young men's ideas of manhood, than is the cigaret. The sultan of Morocco continues to disregard the wishes of France and follows the advice of Germany. Germany is now negotiating a treaty with Morocco, without any regard to the claims of France as a directing factor in Moroccan affairs. This treaty embraces all the "most favored nation" features, and upon this treaty Germany will press her resistance to France's efforts to become the dominating power in Morocco. The great merger of the New York Central, the Union Pacific, and the Chicago and Northwestern Railroads will bring 36,000 miles of track under one management. Bonds to the amount of $790,000,000 will be put on the market at once. There will be above two billion dollars worth of stocks and bonds covering the system, which will be the most extensive and most valuable system in the world. Venezuela's president has conveyed his reply to the demands of the United States to the State Department at Washington. The language of the reply is said to be very vigorous. Some even regard it as being offensive and somewhat in the nature of an ultimatum. Another hurricane is reported from the South Sea Islands, and it is reported that much damage has been done. The body of John Paul Jones has been unearthed in Paris, and will soon be brought to this country for interment.