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• 1 media/Thumb 135.png 2024-11-08T14:09:56-05:00 "Bulletin of Europe and America" 24 Highlights from Europe and America: Fall of Boulangism in France – Animosity and Deficit in Italy – Russia's friendship with France – Britain's ongoing colonial exploits – Germany swindled by Russia and its increased military capacity – Rumours of declining protectionism in the United States plain 2024-12-19T08:46:59-05:00 09-10-1890 Translation: France – The Chambers are still in recess. Meanwhile, the press and public opinion are interested in the latest incidents of Boulangism. Mr. Mermeix, former newspaper reporter and Boulangist deputy, published, in Le Figaro, under the significant title of "The Wings of Boulangism," little secrets of this political cabal, which, if it had triumphed, would certainly have brought about terrible misfortunes in France. As a result of these revelations, General Boulanger would truly have brought about the fall of the Republic with the Bonapartists and Monarchists from whom he was receiving money.
  
  The general opinion is that the Republic is getting stronger each day.
  
  The arming is continuing, in view of the next war; the French see this as the guarantee of the security and the tranquility of their country.
  
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  Italy – Mr. Crispi is still thrashing around in the gears of the Triple Alliance. He has derailed the attempts at a reconciliation between France and Italy, which many of his better intentioned and perspicacious compatriots are working for. Semi-official speeches have shown that Italy shares the sentiments of hostility of its minister, and that, commercially and militarily speaking, the best thing to do on both sides of the Alps is to keep arms at the ready and to stay alert.
  
  A Rome journal, L'Opinione, in an article about the review of Italian finances, declared that in the first two months of the financial year the receipts are more 10 million below the budgetary provisions. If this continues, the deficit will reach 60 million, which added to the 40 million of the existing deficit, predicts a deficit of one hundred million in the current year.
  
  As we see it, Italy is doing well.
  
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  Russia – Russia is still the counterweight of the Triple Alliance, the supreme dispenser of peace or war in Europe. From time to time nihilists, to affirm their existence, blow up something or someone. The links of friendship with France still reach out and strengthen themselves more and more.
  
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  England – Great Britain is more consistently than ever following its policy of conquests, or rather of colonial despoliations. Yesterday it was Portugal from whom England was taking possessions as its own domains; today it is Germany's flag in Africa. Queen Victoria must have a voracious appetite, to have such a need to expand her already immense empire.
  
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  Germany – Since Emperor Wilhelm's voyage to Russia, he has hardly produced news worth reporting. On this subject, in Berlin there is much talk about a sensational article in the newspaper Annales Prussiennes which said that the voyage was a deception, and that the Russian court entertained its imperial guest with a series of pointless theatrical parades, while the military administration had ordered very serious manoeuvres on the western borders, just as the parade was finishing. It even adds that the Prince of Bismarck is visibly the instigator of this failed voyage.
  
  The great manoeuvres and the inspection of the fleet at Kiel are currently demanding attention, with festivities and imperial receptions, all the subjects to keep up on.
  
  The principal interest of the manoeuvres that took place on 6 September was the infantries' shooting with smokeless powder. It seems that the results were excellent. We can only cry alas! thinking about the murderous goal of all these great discoveries.
  
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  United States – Economic questions must always come to mind when it comes to the United States. Europe worries or looks with confidence, whenever America, the world's breadbasket, leans more or less toward protectionism or free trade. 
  
  Currently, the unfavourable forecasts of the McKinley bill are being succeeded by a continuity that is allowing hope that ultra-protectionism will soon be on the decline in the United States. During the latest election in the state of Vermont, an important protest took place, which is a sign of the turning of public opinion. President Harrison persists in sustaining the ultras, but Mr. Blaine, although still far from wanting a return to free trade, is evolving toward a more liberal policy. The Wall of China that the Republicans want to set up between the United States and the European nations is threatening to become a Tower of Babel. The Americans, a practical people, seem to already be glimpsing the deplorable political and commercial consequences of the McKinley bill, and will know how to stop it in time.
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• 1 media/Thumb 166.png 2024-12-10T13:02:15-05:00 Bulletin of Europe and America 19 Highlights from international news: French president inspects the troops – England dealing with Irish separatists – Troubles in Germany, Meetings of German, Austrian and Saxon royals – Political changes in Spain and Italy – Tariffs in the United States plain 2024-12-19T13:29:27-05:00 09-30-1890

  France

  Here, regarding the large manoeuvres of this year, is a rather important fact and one that received much comment in the press and in the political or other circles:
  
  The President of the French Republic, to close the great manoeuvres in the north, personally went to review the two army corps near Cambrai.
  
  Instead of going up onto a platform and watching the troops file past, he took a seat in a carriage pulled by a military team of six horses mounted by artillerymen.
  
  At is right door and at its left rode a military general, the commanders of the army corps, swords unsheathed.
  
  Behind came foreign officers on horseback, and the whole procession was escorted by cuirassiers.
  
  It was in this company that Mr. Carnot passed in front of the troops, as they saluted their superior officers and saluting the flags that were inclined there, while the drummers battered in the field and the troops presented their arms.
  
  It was the first time that the President of the Republic acted as head of the army.
  
  Nothing like it has been seen before. The French army has been inspected by kings and emperors who, by fiction or by reality, belonged to him and who wore the uniform. The soldier, who does not understand abstract things, needs to have the concrete image of the fatherland in front of his eyes, incarnated in a man whom he can see and for whom he can be enthusiastic.
  
  And then, above the generals, there must be someone to fear enough that it forced them to forget their professional rivalries and to devote themselves to the common safety, that they may purchase this safety at the price of the glory of a comrade or even the price of their own erasure.
  
  An army thus needs a supreme chief, even when that chief is not able to personally direct its operations.
  
  That is why Mr. Carnot carried out this review.
  
  As a black suit cuts a miserable figure among the bright uniforms of the officers, the multicoloured ambassador's uniform of was proposed as the official outfit. Other ask why the President of the Republic would not be a lieutenant-colonel of one of the cavalry regiments of the territorial army, and they suggest the adoption of a uniform of this rank.
  
  ===

  England

  The parliamentary vacation is nearing its end, the ministers are returning to London, and will soon hold the first cabinet sessions.
  
  It is known that the bill for facilitating the purchase of landed property in Ireland and the draft bill on the payment of the tithe in the country will occupy the attention of the English parliament when it reconvenes.
  
  On a trip to Ireland, undertaken to make an inquiry of the plague that is currently desolating that poor country, Mr. Jackson, secretary of the treasury, declared that he was so profoundly struck by everything he had seen that he would do everything in his power to bring relief to the sufferings of the population.
  
  Mr. Balfour, the Chief Secretary for Ireland, ordered the arrest, on the 19th of this month, of Messrs. Dillon and O'Brien, Irish members of the English Parliament, on the accusation of having taken part in a conspiracy whose goal was to prevent tenants from paying their rent. The interest of this arrest, it is said, is the following: Messrs. Dillon and O'Brien were going to leave soon for the United States where they planned to launch a crusade in order to raise funds from the numerous Irish people residing in America to support their brothers in Europe. The well known oratory talent of the two deputies makes one believe that their mission would have met success, and the government wanted to prevent these adversaries from procuring the sinews of war.
  
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  Germany

  if it is to be judge by the terror that it has provoked in the German bourgeoisie, the socialist movement has gained immense ground since the fall of Mr. de Bismarck. The conservative press thinks and says that if the socialist propaganda is not energetically opposed by all legal and other means, it will become henceforth impossible to staunch the curb and all the more to stop it.
  
  The German leading classes would have to sustain a shock no less terrible than the cataclysm of 89 in France. The leaders of the disturbance will themselves be overwhelmed as soon as they try to moderate.
  
  Young emperor Wilhelm II, who remains dead calm in terror, will get more than he bargained for, as there will soon be a ruckus in his kingdom.
  
  The diplomatic corps accredited to Berlin can boast of General Caprivi and do not seem miss his predecessor particularly. It would be premature to pass a complete judgement on the statesman, since he has only just started, and he had probably not come close to reaching his full potential. But between his allure and that of Mr. de Bismarck, we confirm that there is an abyss. Bismarck only ever spoke in his own name, the words of the Emperor never came out of his mouth; everything emanated from the chancellor, everything returned to him.
  
  With General de Caprivi, it is quite different. He is nothing but the organ of the imperial will, and he has not other mission but to explain it, to make it respected and to execute it. He declares it, he proclaims it, for that matter, without embarrassment and without reservation.
  
  —The Emperor of Germany, the Emperor of Austria and the King of Saxony gathered on the 20th at Liegnitz.
  
  The three sovereigns, General de Caprivi and the Count of Kalnoki attended the military demonstrations.
  
  Wilhelm II expressed the hope that the emperor of Austria would be convinced that the German army has maintained under his direction the qualities that it had under Wilhelm I. He added that this was a guarantee of the solidity and the power of the alliance that existed between the armies of the two empires.
  
  The emperor of Austria replied that he was proud to have an ally who possessed such an army.
  
  And they drank a bock... to peace!
  
  ===

  Spain

  According to Mr. Sagasta, the former President of the Council, resigned for a few months, a change in the ministry in Spain will have no effect on its foreign policy, since the Spanish people will not allow it. All of the parties are unanimous in declaring that the only foreign policy to follow is: benevolent and friendly neutrality for all and affection for France.
  
  There was a question of the German emperor traveling to Madrid. All capitals (Paris itself, who knows?) can hope for a visit from the young and energetic sovereign. But whatever the ministry in power, Wilhelm II will be received with the same regard and the same reservation in Spain.
  
  The liberal party is reforming itself and fortifying as the opposition. It is confirmed that the queen, in the latest ministerial changes, was guided by totally political factors. She believed it was necessary to resuscitate the conservative party—to which, by the way, the monarchy owes its restoration—to give it a bit of vigour, to assure regular processes in maintaining constitutional institutions. The throne will be, indeed, less solid if the liberals had no other adversaries but the republicans.
  
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  Italy

  There is much talk about the possibility of a cabinet shuffle. Many towns not being in agreement with the royalties due to the excise office, the government proceeded for its part for the payment of these rights, which gave rise to much discontent.
  
  The republican idea is gaining ground day by day, and socialism is extending the reach of its agitation. Lombardy, Piedmont, Veneto and Tuscany have been won over to the cause; Rome is getting closer and closer, particularly since the municipal affair, Sicily is being worked on. There is hardly anything but the former kingdom of Naples that to impose a force of inertia on the propaganda of the socialist campaign. Under this clear sky, the populations remain indifferent to politics.
  
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  United States

  The Senate of the United States definitively voted for the McKinley Tariff, after having added ultra-protectionist amendments to the text adopted by Congress.
  
  Already the effects of the coming tariff are being felt in the financial and commercial world of New York, one counts on the effect of the withdrawal of money that will operate to acquit the rights on commodities imported in bulk or pulled from the custom duty depots before the application of the new tariff.
  
  The customs collector in New York estimate the necessary sums at 45 million francs, and that only to acquit the rights on merchandise stored before the first days of September.
  
  The banks in which the cash reserves are quite low, find themselves in a difficult position. The discount is up to 6% plus 1/2% commission. The overdraft loans are made at the usurious rate of 25 to 30%. The titles having been thrown en masse into the market, their prices fell prodigiously.
  
  The Secretary of the Treasury is preoccupied with this situation.