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About Lincoln County leader. (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 1, 1899)
isUPOp6 l90Slmj 1 1 f'ii7 vi j THE LATEST P0&THA5T CP 'lioa. MAJESTY TOE-QUjEN CTfO IIS war between Great Britain II iiii'l tiro two Koer republics in C South Africa may yet be the dc tvrniiniujs cauw for the long-expected, oft predicted conflict which is to involve all the greater and lesser powers of Europe. Already, says the Chicago Tribune, the attitude of Europe is sulllcieutly menac ing to impel Great Britain to take early steps not only to secure the fruits of the victory that nation expects to win in South Africa, but to defend its empire in sll parts of the k'.ouo iu the event that ft llnally rejects European interference in Its plan to make the southern half of the African continent all British. In every naval port in Enprland squad rons are beinij hurriedly fitted out for ten. A ttron,-; naval force is already as sembling at Gibraltar, and other battle ships and cruiwrs are adding their strength to it every day. Every prepara tion for calling out the naval reserves tas been mad, and at the signal England would be ready for all eventualities. The movements in European diplomatic irek's leave no room for doubt that at least France and Uussia are endeavoring to secure the assistance of other powers In joint representations to Groat Britain Before the clone of the present war. It Is regarded as certain that neither France nor Uussiu in acting from motives of lympathy with the Boers, for if so they would have entered their protests before Die negotiations between Kruger and Chamberlain reached the ultimatum stage. Therefore it is reasonable to in fer that if France and Uussia act at or lefore the close of the present war they will do so from purely selfish motives, nd with the expectation of compelling Um-it Britain to remain passive while Ihey seize some other parts of the globe lor their own. Russia's ambition iu the direction of the Indian ocean is well known, and France has designs in China ml Africa which it uever has taken the pains to conceal. Iutcreita Are Opoaed. Unfortunate,!- for n pacific outlook, the mbitious of both France and Itussia are dangerous to the British Empire. Eng land can neither permit France to secure preponderance iu the control of northern Africa nor allow ltussia to advance to the borders of India without practically destroying the British Empire. Conse quently, Great Britniu is aliuost certain o accept the alternative of war, even In its present "splendid isolation," for to so power can it turn, unless, perhaps, It may be to Germany, for assistance. If Great Britain is finally brought face to face with the alternative of submisson to the dictates of Euroe or a war which halt girt the globe with a belt of flame, H umi'.tionalkly will choose the dread Iternative of war. The attitude of the several European powers and of the United States, the probnble direction of such a war, and the changes it would ultimately make in the map of the old world nre subjects which re just now engrossing the attention of the diplomats of Europe. The crux of the situation will come when, after whipping the Boers of the Transvaal and the Orange Free State in to submission, Great Britain will make known Its plans for the future govern ment of those two republics. Russia Una Moat to Gain. In nny future demands on Great Brit ain Russia will necessarily take the lead, for the Cr.ar's empire has the most to gain. Although having the most subtle and secretive diplomnts in Europe, the ambition and inflexible purpose of Russia re well known. In a general statement Russia's ambition lies in the direction f an opcu sea, unfettered by the Ice hackles of winter. Until recently Rus sian forts faced the ice-clad Baltic, the Arctic ocean, and the northern l'nclfic. For six mouths of every year Russia's merchant steamers and Russia's war ships were locked in ice and it was not ntil the recent acquisition from China of Port Arthur that the Czar's naval base in the Pacific was rendered effective by open water the year around. For years Russia hoped to extend its empire southward to the Mediterranean, with Coiisstantinople as the objective point, but its nmbition, while perhaps not completely shattered, was indefinitely de layed by the Congress of Berlin in 1S78, when Europe erected the quasi indepen dent Balkan States as a buffer between the Czar's dominion and the sea. Since then Russia has been pushing steadily southward toward Persia and Afghanistan. All the intrigue of which Russian diplomacy is capable has been exerted in securing a preponderating in fluence in the semi-barbaric courts of the Ameer and the Shah. So successfully has this diplomatic intrigue been carried on that to-day it is generally believed that Russia has engaged by secret treaty to occupy Afghanistan with Russian troops in order to preserve order after the death of the pivseut Ameer and se cure the throne to his successor. And it is an open secret in European capitals that the Shah has agreed to give Russia the port of Bunder-Abbis, on the Persian gulf, whenever Russia chooses to occupy it, and has also granted conces sions to Russian syndicates for railways running from Russian soil to the Persian gulf. Russia's control of the Persian gulf would be dangerous to the British Indian empire. Russia's designs in China are equally understood. Already the Czar holds the Manchurian peninsula nnd is disputing with Great Britain at Peking the right to dictate terms and concessions to the Chinese Government. France the (zar'a Ally. As far ns territorial acquisition is con cerned, France has almost as much to gain as Russia. Then, too, France is still smarting under the chagrin of the Fashoda incident, when a year ago Maj. March and was unceremoniously bundled out of the Upper Nile country by Iord Kitchener. France has territorial ambitions in Af rica and China, and unfortunately in the present crisis these ambitions run counter to British interests. France would like to add Morocco to the western frontier of Algeria, and in a general European war undoubtedly would eudeavor to seize It. If united Europe should defeat Great Britain in war, the latter would be driven out of Egypt, and the British control pass to another power, aud France would again step in to demand the land of the Pharaohs as its share of the booty. With Egypt would go naturally the con trol of the Suez canal, this depriving Great Britain of its short road to India. In China France, too, would expect to gain In a war with Great Britain. France already has a strong foothold in the Ori ent. Added to nil this Is the feverish condi tion of France at home. The army is disaffected, conspiracies are rife and roy alist plotting is incessaut. The republic is torn by internal strife. Nothing would clear the French atmosphere more thor oughly than a war in which factional quarrela at homo would be forgotten nnd employment given to a great army that long has chafed under Idleness. Will Kalaer Aid Queen? The crux of the whole situation seems to rest with the German Emperor. If Germany casts its lot with Europe1;' Great Britain may as well call out It last avail able man, for the sea girt empire will Indeed be in dauger. But there is ap parent reason to believe that Germany will cast IU lot with Great Britain. Several months ago, before the Trans vaal negotiations assumed a dangerous phase, Ixrd Salisbury and the German ambassador to the court of St. James reached an agreement which to-day la the most mysterious diplomatic secret A6ai aWMi 5v 11 in. ''L1;'" all Europe. The mysterious agreement between Great Britain and Germany, which is exciting so much concern in Europe, is variously interpreted, the most probable explanation of its tenor being hazarded by an English statesman, who believes it gives Germany free hand in the Kaiser's pet project of establishing a great German colonial empire in Asia Minor. If Germany unites its fleet with Great Britain and holds its army ready to march against France and Russia the proposed European coalition will end in bluster. If, on the other hand, Germany shall finally decide to make terms with France uud Russia, trusting to an agree ment with those powers to give it what it wants in Asia Minor or any other quarter of the globe, the coalition U as good as formed. The SmaUer Powers, The attitude of the smaller powers Is worthy of consideration, for they could hardly escape being drawn into any con troversy which involves Great Britain, Russia, France and Germany. Take Italy first. Italy is almost the only exclusively Mediterranean power, and must, for its own protection, exercise a considerable voice in the control of that great inland ocean. It is a mem ber of the dreibund, that offensive and defensive alliance which calls Italy's army into the field whenever Germany or Austria, or both, are attacked. If Germany involves itself in war either for or against Great Britain, Italy, by the terms of the dreibund, is bound to assist. But aside from the dreibund, Italy has interests, mostly in the Mediterranean, and a mythical one in China, which al most compel it to nttach itself to the for tunes of Great Britain in the present crisis. Italy long has asserted its claim to Tripoli, and by allying itself with Great Britain Italy would be able to claim Tripoli when peace was once more restored. It may be set down as practically cer tniu that Austria, if it takes any hand nt all in the international quarrel, will do so most unwillingly, and on the side with which Germany allies itself. To many it might seem almost ridicu lous even for a moment to consider Spnin in connection with the word "war." But at the same time it must be remember ed that Spain easily can put from 100, 000 to 150,000 men in the field, providing the funds were forthcoming. A loan' from France In the emergency, together with the hope of securing the retrocession of Gibraltar from England, might induce Spain to forget the trouncing it received from the United States a year ago, and once more try its fortune at the game of war. The position of Turkey might bother the diplomats on both sides of the con troversy. It Is difficult to see how the Sultan could be drawn into the war, nnd equally difficult to understand how he could keep out of it. Abdul Ilamid is in the unfortunate position of being com pelled to choose sides in a possible con flict with the certain knowledge that he will lose with either. He is bound by the treaty of Berlin to guard the Dardanelles against the pns sage of the Russian Black Sea squadron. He has been enabled by judicious loans from England to fortify the Dardanelles so strongly with modern Krupp guns that he can, if he chooses, batter the Rus sian warships to pieces when they try to force their way through into the. Medit erranean. ' If he uses his Krupp guns against Russia he will have the Czar's armies knocking at his door to the north, and Bulgaria, Servia and Roumania ready to unite to liberate Macedonia, with Aus tria waiting for a convenient opportunity to seize Salonica Bay. If. on the other hand, the Sultan, even tacitly allies himself with Russia by permitting the Blnck Sea squadron to pass unscathed, he will have Germany and Great Britain on his back, with the certainty of losing Asia Minor, in addi tion to the Buignrian uprising and the loss of Salonica Bay. As to the little kingdoms of Europe, they undoubtedly will be permitted to remain passive spectators of the great international tragedy to preserve a stolid neutrality in the midst of the vor tex of war about them. War Around the Globe. It is almost impossible to appreciate the magnitude nnd the horror which must characterize a war involving Great Brit ain, Russia, Germany, Austria, Italy, France and Spnin in one general, wide spread conflict. It would mean a war oround the globe. All Europe, all Africa, most of Aaia, the islands of the South Pacific, the West Indies, nnd the north ern part of North America would be the scenes of conflict. Tho greatest norrors of such a war would only be realized If Germany and Its allies In the dreibund should decide to enter the field. Then France and Russia would be assailed from each side by the armies of Germany, Austria nnd Italy. With the greater powers engross ed In war, it is almost certain the conflicr would involve the Balkan States with Turkey, nnd the Sultan would be compell ed to make his last stand to retain his place on the map of Europe. The enormous sacrifice of life and pn- ralvsis of nil commerce wnn'd ho ha. yond computation. Hardly a nation en gaged m me contest nut would emerge from it as hopelessly bankrupt and pov erty stricken as is Spain to-day, and it is this aspect of the situation that fur nishes the surest guarantee for peace. Grent Britain's Defenae. It Is unoM its navv that "Grent Britain would depend largely for the defense of its seagirt empire. Iu India and Egypt, it is true. Grent Britain's soldiers u-nnl.l engage in land campaigns which would tax ineir courage ana endurance to the utmost. But in nil other respects the great battles of an international war would be fought upon the sea. But pow erful as Great Britain's now is. it- must be conceded at the outset thnt France and Russia united can put a navy to sea that would be terribly effective. The British navv has been hnilt nn to its present mammoth proportions cn the theory that some dnv it will h fend the empire against a possible coali tion or tne iMiropean powers. The fleets in active service are distributed in quar ters of the globe best situated to fight such a wf" Naval bases have been lo cated in view of such a contingency. In all the discussions leading up to a possible coalition against Great Britain the probable position to be Japan must not be lost sight of. If nec essary japan s new and powerful navy would unquestionably be thrown into the scales on the British side, nnd if so the issue would be quickly decided in favor of the alliance between Great Britain and the 'Oriental 'power. Wh-re Will America Stand? There can be no doubt thnt in snA combination of circumstances the sympa- uiy or uie great masses of the people of the United States Would tro out tn fim.t Britain. But when one goes beyond sym- puiuy ne win rencn a domain of discus sion in which it would be uot only dim cult but dangerous to enter. Unforeseen contingencies might arise which would make it difficult for the United States to hold aloof. It may be set down as certain that any attempt to break through the Monroe doctrine, say, by an invasion of Canada, or the seizure of the West India Islands, would arouse a dangerous sentiment in this country, and this sentiment, it may be remarked, is one of the strongest defenses Great Britain could have for the defense of her possessions on the North American continent. It must nlways be remembered that be fore any nation or combination of na tions would cVjre seek to attack the Unit ed btates, eiRier at home or In the far East, the British fleets must first be de stroyed, and after the destruction of a British fleet the enemy's squadron would be in poor condition for another battle. Changes In the Maps. And, finally, when the struggle was ended and the international congress met to arrange Its terms of peace, the geog raphers would have to prepare new maps of Europe, Asia and Africa. Money Found in Mall Bags. It seems almost Incredible that In the neighborhood of $10,000 In actual cash should have been confided to let ters during the lost year, and harder still to credit thnt the most exhaustive efforts failed to find the owners of one fourth of that amount. The envelopes which are addressed are kept on file for four years, blank ones not so long, but in either ease a liberal margin of time Is allowed for claimants to appear before the money la finally turned into the treasury to the credit of the Post office Department. In addition to the money contained In letters during the same period, something like $10,000 was found loose In the mails. It Is officially styled "loose money."-Ladies' Home Journal uuics Careful Inspectors. In Sweden yarn Is not allowed to be sold If It contains .0009 per cent, of ar senic. A carpet has been condemned by the Inspectors because It contained one thousandth part of a grain of ar senic in sixteen square inches-that is one grain In a piece of carpet tea feet square. Shoe for a Lifetime. A shoemaker says we wear awnv quite two Inches of shoe leather In a year. A pair of boots that would "last a lifetime" would consequently have to be provided with soles from eight' to nine feet thick. 0 A Musical King. King Oscar of Sweden In his younir days was regarded as the most accom pllshed tenor In Europe, and could have made a fortune cut of his voice on the stage. Teacher-Johnny, what is a thief?" Johnny IIardup-"Dunno." Teacher "Oh! yes you do. Now, what Zml be If I took money out of your pocket?" Johnny IIardun-"Wl,y, youse 'ud JVa pencli'-Ohlo State Journal. Enthusiasm ReoTe a IT"-- agent, who has been mot.n ?a( success in Whitnewilia i .."'M sadly dampened the other d io1 called at a house in town and tress being abaent, he pSf son to et bim uh ,lsuaCd b his machine in a nrncti,.i rits ol were no dirty clothes in ti, i "H Bequently the agent SSg enrmtr man t.- .V..,., i- . "aul the I j f, v, wu.uj;u Ills Shirt nnil I him the the cleansing power of his iT tion He inserted the shit ft washer and nlul U u "H crlnwintr hrt xvitVi A -j . 1 alternated hi Inline i :iDK9'. and rnvnlviii.T Ma ...i-: ? theEt0 T ; ' uiucinue, the la the house lmirln ha . marched straight to the oven m. flung it wide open. The smoke C ruined pot of beans fulled theroo suffocation The agent wasfoSJ make an ignominious retreat y he seeks permission to test the machi now he looks sort of scared as he 2 marks in a casual way: i pJ uu uoims in the nit. mdam T.Q,... T , W ............. uvnwiuu juurnai, The great linden in Wurtembnn , 800 years old. The city of KeS was for many years known as theCih near the Linden. " In 1408 a poem wai written about it. It was propped k 6? stone pillars; in 1604 these n-n. t. creased to 82; in 1832 to 106, li trunk then measured 87 feet. It mi wrecked in that year. ICA3ARRH COLDS fSGRIPPI COUGHS'MflCROUP SORE-MM I OENERAL JOE VWEELEff Says of Peruna : "I loin Sena tors Sullivan, Roach and Mc Enery In their good opinion ol Peruna as an effective catarrh remedy." PORTLAND DIRECTORS Fn iil Vlr Wrki- PORTLAND W1KK .t IKON WOKKSi and Iron iencliu;: office rHillnir. etc. iw; AlaohliiMry biiiI CA Cll WSTON it CO.: ESGISKS. HOILERS, lunery, supplies. 48-60 FlrsiSt., rortltfo- JOHN POOLE. PoRTtAKD, OMWJ can give you the best bursar. in gene machinery, engines, boilers, tanks, pump, plows, belts and windmills. Tb steel I X L windmill, sold by him, W equalled. Ruptu" tremed confide""; C. H. WOODAnu CO.. 108 SteoniSr. D 0 MrrIc IS now Luntorn Bargain inr uiw- flnri St... Sun Francisco. - LAOIESI ?.Iy "?nmLlTlU Blood. Aid location audPrevntBiliouii notOripeorSlcken. Toconrlnce V" iiE rnple free, or lull hox for 20c. DH. I"'' CO., PhtUdn., fcuua. Hold by Pruggj". 25c MT. ANGEL 25 Benedietine Salve. Experience of Many Years Clearly onatrates the Great Efficiency This Liniment. Posted. 85o a Box. Address Benedictine Priory, Mt. AogAJ Kew Orleans, 'idef! Rev. Father-Enclosed find money oru another box of your Salve. ' fl"d. 1 rK' , Indeed, and try not to be without ii. J PATRICK GARRY, ft!! ' Lovisvillk, Ky.. Jnbiu,,l R" , Fathers-I find your Salve w " BaU tnat I ever lined. n-.mnlB1 PU. SCHEUVERI, 72 B. 'B