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About Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 20, 1887)
THE OMAHA SIXTEENTH YEAE. OMAHA. SUNDAY MORNING , .FEBRUARY 20 , 1SS7. TWELVE PAGES. NUMBER 24T | ON THE BORDER LAND The Entire French-German Frontier Care- fally Inspected By a Correspondent. NO UNUSUAL SIGNS OF WAR. Begems Out For Instruction and Troops Preventing the Escape of Deserters. NO OTHER BELLICOSE MOVES. Germans Consider a Conflict Inevitable If the Septennate is Defeated. TALKS ON JACOBINI'S LETTERS. Interviews With a Roman Prelate and an Italian Government Official. LONDON'S LENTEN LITERATURE. lilch Fcnst * Prepared For the -Minds of Headers by Publishers to Take the Place of Evening Festivities. Inspecting the Frontier. J&S7 t/i/ James Gordon HenwtLl MBTZ , Feb. 19. [ New York Herald Cable Sj > eclal to the BEK. ] During the past live clajs I Inxve made n tour partly by rail , partly In hired carrlages-of the 250 miles of Franco-German frontier , extending from Mulhaufien to Onvllle , near Luxemburg. 1 have also paid llylnir visits to Neu Breisach. btrassburg , Metz , Trevcs and Koblentz. Judging of Uie situation strictly from a mil itary point of view , 1 have seen nothing what ever to Indicate an Impending war. Every where 1 have seen reservists joining their colors to tike part In the annual period of In struction , which this year Is more important than heretofore owing to the necessity of their learning the use of the new repeating rifle. It is true that owing to warlike rumors this movement of reservists Is attended with more popular excitement than usual , and that largo consignments of new repeating rltles arrive almost dally at Metz , Stress- burp , Neu liresach and Mulhausen. At the same time , vast quantities of old rifles stored at these points are being returned to Berlin. MANY UESKKTEI1S. 1 found that amonz the reservists from nearly all the towns near the frontier Hue there were many attempts made to desert , nnil at least 200 men have succeeded In reachIng - Ing French territory , notably at Clrcy Averl- court , Pout-a-Mousson and Bufort. The great mass of the rural population of Alsace- Lorraine Is still as French In feeling us the people of Burgundy or Normandy , and as the Alsace-Lorraine reservists are sent to join the garde-corps at Berlin and the fifth and sixth corps In I'russlan-Polaud , they to * their best to desert. It is solely to prevent these desertions that villages and cross roads contiguous to the frontier weie occupied by squads ot German Infantry and by patrols of the sixth Uhlans and ninth dragoons , four squadrons of these regiments being detached for that purpose from Mulhausen and Metz , while the fifth cavalry , cbevauvlegers from Sarrbourg , watched the frontier at Aven- court. so HEAI. WATI rr.urArtATioNS. With the exception of calling out the reserves tor instruction , the movements of a few hundred infantry and cavalry to prevent deserters crossing the frontier , ttie arrival of large supplies of new repeating rifles and ammunition , and a few carloads ot steel plates for the forts around Metz , I can safely say that neither men , stores , nor fortifications ate being added to. And these four exceptions were decided upon long before the present war scare came into ex istence , and are regarded by military men hero as merely routine incidents of the main- talnanco on an cllleient footing of sixty battalions of Infantry , fifty-five squadrons of cavalry , thirty-two batteries of field artillery , and twenty-eight companies of siege artillery , that Germany , as a guarantee of peace , feels obliged to keep on a war foot ing In Elsass-Lothringen , the German relch- etand. lu reference to the report that Frenchmen were prevented from entering Germany , I can only say that I ctossed the frontier three times during the past few days at Avericourt and Pagnysur-Moselle. Dozens of French men were on board the trains , and be ) end the usual custom house examination , no passenger was questioned or Interfered with Dy the German authorities. A LIVELY INCIDENT. On Thursday , as 1 was driving in an open Victoria on a cold but fine sunny wintry day , along the road from Gravclotte to Chateau- de-VcrkevlIIc , I happened to notice quite a lively Incident. About Uvo hundred yards ahead of ma I noticed a small donkey cart that seemed to bo making very rapidly for the French tronniT about half a mlie distant , Looking behind me , 1 saw several horsemen galloping along at full speed. As they approached preached I saw a mounted police corporal of dngoous and three troopers evidently in chase of deserters , Telling my coachman to whip up his hordes in order that wo might see the fnn , I watched the dragoons maku a M'.ortcut across a field in the middle of which aji5t\i hu e cross in memory of the soldiers of the Third army corps who fell in the battle of the ttth of August , 170. The little donkey cart was nearly overtaken by the dragoons , when suddenly the driver of It sprang from his seat At the fame tlmn a Ions-legged young fellow emerged from the body of the can , where he had been concealed beneath a heap of cabbages , onions and pota toes , and both ran like deer toward the fron tier on the read , now only a few yards dis tant They readied the posts about two minutes before the dragoons , and were soon safely and comfortably seated befoie a Move in the wlno shop of the little French village of Jonullle. The dragoons drew up their brown hordes , captured the donkey and donkey cart , and rode slowly back toward the village of Gravellette. HOW TIIK LINE IS JIAHKF.P. It Is curious to note that the frontier be tween Germany and France U more dl tlnctly marked than that of any other two countries. The frontier line Is so arranged that It crosses nvcry road at right angles. On the German side Is a large post , twelve feet high. painted like n barber pole red , black and nhite with a cross piece at the top , with the word , In black letters on a white ground , "Greuror" ( boundary ) , with an exclama tion mark. Diagonally opposite is a cast iron pot , twelve feet hUh , whereon is painted ia gray , on an iron crossplecc , the , word , "Fjouuere. ' These posts a.ro ouly placed on toads and railways. - "across country1. ' by The line indicated . stone blocks pro ) tincsbcut a loot ape * > e thecround at intervals of fifty yards. On the JVeucU aids of Uie block Is cuf with a chisel the letter "F , " on the German side is the letter "D1' for "DeuUchland. " A COLONEL' * OPINION. Upon returning to Metz I met at dinner a colonel ot artillery who had greatly dls- tlnEtilshed himself at Sedan and Paris. 1 ukeil what he thought of the fortifications lie French had constructed for the defense of trie frontlerc. He said : "Thev are admirably chosen , and when they rrcelve their armor of steel plate , will bo the most perfect system of fortifica tions that could ha\e been devised. Verdun , Toul , Eplnal , Uelfort are each the center of four systems that altogether number not less than seventy-fire detached forts and batteries. The spaces between Verdun and Toul , and between Kplnal and Belfort are utterly Impregnable , every square foot of the soil txjing commanded and enfiladed by artillery tire that no troops could withstand. No modern general would think of sacrificing Ills troops by attaching them. " 1 asked : "Then , In the event of war , the German armies would have to bo directed north of Verdun , between \erdunaudthe Belgian frontier , or else between Toul and Eplnal. " The colonel renlled : "Certainly : any other course would bo ten-told greater madness than wpre the Russian attacks upon Plevna , " ltl.cn said : "It Is well Known to all military nun that the French have , since ISO , constructed no new fortifications in the long in terra ! of thirty-eight kilometres that extend ifrom Verdun to the Belgian frontier. How do you account for that fact ? " The colonel replied : "Ills believed that in the event of hostilities France will con centrate nearly all her available forces along this interval , where her railway system enables her to mobilize her armies quicker than at any other point of her frontier and make a lightning like blow through Luxem burg and Belgium uuon Tre\es and the valley of the Moselle , irr the hope of reach ing Koblentz , " I said : "Oh ! But the French accuse you of Intending to violate Belgium neutrality , and expect to see the German army come swarming from Cologne straight across Bel- glum , thereby turning all their magnificent defenses of the Mouse and the Vosges. " The colonel replied , evasively : "I'm afraid we are getting to talk politics , which Is some thing 1 know nothing about" I asked : "When the 'Inevitable' war breaks out , where do you think the first great dlcisive battle will be fought ? " The colonel said : "In the department of the Ardennes , not far from Mezlerts. " ELECTION DEFEAT MEANS WAB. And here our conversation ended. I may add that trie feeling in official and military circles here and in Strassbers is that if the government is defeated in the coming elec tions , war between France and Germany will be almost inevitable. THE JACOBIN ! tiCTTEUS. Their Meaning nml Effect Discussed byn Homan Prelate. [ ropl/fffl'it ' iSSTbyJamcn Gordon Bennett. ] ROME , Feb. 19.-New [ York Herald Cable- Special to the BEE. ] The Jacobin ! letters have caused fully as much excitement in Italy this week as the news from Massawah , exciting though that is , or the ministerial crisis. The ministerialists at first affected to treat these sensational documents with dis- taln. but , < * > -taln passajes In the letters made such polnu "reference to the relations of the ratican'and qulrinal that they verysoon grew alarmed and rather late In the day awoke to the fact that the letters might be worth dis cussing. What induced the Vatican to issue these letters ? What did they mean ? What- effect will they have ? These questions are now exercising all thinking politicians in Europe and doubtless many more In America. The letters were , so to speak , sprung upon the world outside the innermost Vatican circle1. No one knew anything about them here until they were published , and one at least the earliest , probably was not meant for publication. The pope did not even dis cuss them with his most trusted counsellor * This fact partly explains the almost unani mous dissatisfaction with which they harp been read In the sacred college. For once liberal and ultramontane cardinals are of the same opinion. Five , or almost perhaps , six persons could tell the whole story of the letters , and from evident rea sons of the state they are pretented from tolling all there is to tell. One l.s the holy father , without whose absolute approval the etters could not have been issued. Another. Is the Baron Von Schloezer. Prussian minis ter plenlnotentiary at the Vatican , but for whom they would hardly have been written. The third is Cardinal Jacobinl who signed them. The fourth Is Bismarck , and one of the two others is a distinguished prelate , with whom 1 have Just had a long and most interesting talk at the Vatican. TALK WITH A PKELATC. I began the conversation by mentioning that I had just arrived from Berlin. "Ah , indeed , " said the prelate , "Berlin Is a political center nowadays. " "People were beginning to discuss the e remarkable letters of Cardinal Jacobin ! when I left , " said I. "We hope they will bear good fruit" re plied the prelate. "They were not In any way an attack on the center party , which has done the church such great service in the past during the kutteikampf. But we have good reason to hope that the time of the kuttcrkampf is now over. Within three or four weeks proposals will be laid before the Prussian landtag practically abolishing all that remains of the May laws and restoring to thy church nearly all iu essential liber ties. " "Will the monastic orders get the benefit of the new management ? " said I. "Three catagortes of monastic orders will , " replied the prelate. "First , all who may be called contemplative orders ; second , all thee which specially devote themselves to the training of candidates for the priest hood ; third , all charitableorders. . " . " 1 may assume of course , " said I , "that BUmarcK took the initiative in the negotia tions whl ch preceded the issue of the let- ten. ? " "Well , yes ; but quite unanlclally , " said the prelate. "After some hesitation Bismarck said something like this : 'If the pope will speaK the word now In favor of the wpten- nato , he will bo helping to keep the peace. ' and with purely peaceful views the holy father thought It right to speak. Von Moltke and Bismarck had made It clear that the re jection of the scptennate meant war. Why should it be said that the pope attacked the center when he merely expressed hU earnest wish that the center would rote the scpten- iiRte ? We must make the concession now. Then , you know , csptxially In a protestant country , it U always a ] gouJ thing to have a friend " "True , " said I , "but in maknz | ono frlo nd ia there not denser of losing the friendship of France ? " "Why bliould France object , seeing that she wUlits to have peace and that the letters may .secure peace1 "Yet I Duties that Bl&hoo Koppe has just oeen EUprxirting a defender of the trien- nlum , " I continued. ' ; Ah ; yes , yes ; .very jelever of him , very1 'said the prelate , withqut particularly explain ing hlsjmeanln ; . Then , resulolDi the thread ) f his discussion , lie added : "The Vatican liad serious reason to believe its Intervention would Improve the position of the holy see , especially In Us relations with Italy. ' "That's the great point , " 1 remarked. "Every one looks beyond the present mo ment" "What will be the estimated result of these wonderfully clever letters ? In a word , do you foresee or hope for anything like a re turn to the old state of things in Homo in the future ? * ' But here 1 found I was on delicate ground. The prelate , who la an accomplished diplo mat at once grew rapue. "I foresee no near concrete result of the kind you mean , " said he. "Did you not read that article In the Cologne Gazette the other day referring to a possible amelioration of the position of the holy see , and pointing out that there could be no thought of an armed Intervention , or even of ordinary diplomatic action In behalf of the Vatican ? Then , remember Uie papal arbitration in the dispute about the Care lines , " "les. " 1 continued : "But what meaning save ono can be attached to this amelioration' ' " "As one cannot foretell all eventualities , " replied the prelate. "Wars , for instance , or European congresses , at which a friendly word might be uttered tending to peacefully bring about a better understanding with Italy. The Homan question must always beef of deep importance , and it Is certain that the present state of things Is intolerable. " A MlNtSTEUtAL OPINION . On leaving the Vatican I drove to the ministry of foreign affairs , hoping to have a chat with the Count di Kobilant He was up to his eyes In business , so I fell back on the Count dl Colliblana , his private secretary , whoso views may bo fairly accepted as a re flection of the minister's. "What does the Italian government think of the Jacobin ! letters ? " said I/ "For some reasons , " said the Count "there Is reason to be glad they were written. The fact that the pope has been able to make so Important a manifestation proves that lie Is perfectly free , and since the law of guarantees was passed it has always been the policy of the Italian government not to interfere in the pope's relations with foreign pow ers. Speak ing unofficially , I don't mind saying that we do not regret the issue of the letters , for they will weaken the German centre and the centre is hostile to us. " "What do you tike to be the real meaning of the passage with regard to a possible amelioration of the relations with Italy. " i asked , "which most people suppose refers tea a restoration of the temporal power ? " "The significance of the passage has been much toned down by the explanations of the Vatican's organs , " replied the count "Our relations with Prussia are of such a nature as absolutely to preclude the idea of our attaching this meaning to it tnou h some party organs have done so. 1 am rather inclined to ; think myself the passage referred to is a possible restoration of ecclesiastical property , but , as you know , with the exception of a few Insti tutions like the American college , the gov ernment regards all such matters as being purely ot a domestic character , and will allow ot no foreign interference. " "Is there no prospect of Italy voluntarily ameliorating Uie position of the Vatican or changing ? " "If you prefer the ohaso I see none. " re plied the count. No one has any particular interest in changing things at present , " "And will Italy make no protest orcounter manifestation in answer to the letters1 " .None , whatever ; ' ' said the Count dt Colli- biani. THE AMERICAN CARDINAL" . Although Cardinals Gibbons andTashereau have been here a week , many matters sup posed to have occasioned their journey have hardly been discussed. Yet Cardinal Gibbons bens had a long interview withCardina : Simeon ! and Archbishop Jarobini at the propaganda yesterday. Nothing definite is known as to what took place but it is ascer tained not only that nothing has yet taken place In regard to the American Knights of Labor , but that no decision may be expected for at least some weeks , this question , with several others , having been held over until the opportunity has occurred to fully ascer tain the views of Cardinal Gibbons. Father McGlynn's case excites great inter est hfreand even his defiance has not lost him the personal sympathy of his Itoman friends. I have discussed his case with many ec- cleslasts here and there Is only one opinion as to the mistake that has oeen made. It is universally thought In Home that the matters for which he has been removed from his charge went beyond the limits of social or political economy , r.nd his coming is confi dently expected. If he comes he will have a fair hearing. Near.'y all the ecclesiastical au thorities are quits'Imposed to treat him not only with justice but with indulgent kind ness. _ A UTEICAKY FEAST Prepared For English Renders During the Lenten Season. ! fY > j > u vjM ISs ; by Jainti GonJjii lltnnett. ] LONDON. Feb. 19. [ New York Herald CableSpta ial to the BEE. I On the eve of Urn forty days of Lenten fast the London publisher * , as csual , prepare a literary least for their le-idtrs , as the church debars from evening joys many \otarlcsof the opera , of cards and soirees. The coming month Is therefore sure to bring a wealth of new publications. Ash Wednesday will see the publication by Mr , Vnvrln , who is the publisher of Kn-'hsh editions of the Century and St Nicholas , of De Lavely's "The Balkan Peninsula , " a book bringing its events down to date. Advance sheets furnished to your correspondent show a beautifully printed volume In picturesque style , yet accurate , bristling with facts , sta tistics and Incidents. The Intioductlon isby Mr. Gladstone , who , in the course of It , re marks : "The well-being , tranqulllty and liberty of the Balkans have now come to be ot more critical Importance than ever to the interests of F.urope , It is , therefore , most material that the public mind of Uie various countries should bo Impartially and thoroughly in- formed. " ' TWO IJOYAL LIVES. The same publisher issues , on March 1 , Dorothwi Roberts' "Two Hoyal Lives. " These are the lives ot the crown prince and Queen Victoria's daughter , tba future em press of Germany. The advance sheets of this \olutne evidence graphic gleanings from Berlin Hie , not only in royal circles , but of Uio German masses. It is filled with new in cidents and fresh views of society In the Prussian capital. THE COWNO WAR. Messrs. Ward & Downey announce to day "The Comln : Franco German War , " by that well kpown German , Colonel Koett- schaw , and translated and edited by Mr. John Ilill , the English military writer. It is a significant work , one to delight the heart of the Ku.vsiau bear and the Wall htreet or the produce exchange bulls. It might be profit ably read besides Mt.IIeara's papers hi the coming March Harper on. "The P.ussla of To-day , " or with Sir Charl ? ? Dllke's article on the Bime subject in tia ! corclng number of. the 1'ortnlg.hUr UeVitc , vrl.eitta alia the Marquis of Lome has a short conciliating paper about the Canadian fisheries. ONLY A STOIIY. By the way , there has been a hearty laugh here at the sensational paragraph recently sent to a New York newspaper by cable hence , to the effect that Uie marquis Is to be the respondent In a divorce suit brought by the Princess Louise. Perhaps the report was started by Brother Colin Campbell , who relics on an old maxim about misery , love and company. company.A A EVLOOY TO LEE. A warlike monogram on General Leo by Lord Wolsely Is In type for the March Mac- mlllan'-j Majarlne The Egyptian hero eulo gizes his Virginia conferee to the music , doubtless , of "Hobcrt Tel quo j'Alme , " wince suggests a reference to Mr. Bcatty Kingston's two volumes Issued yesterday on "Music ana Manners , with Delightful Per sonal Reminiscences. " He Is the foreign editor of the Dally Telegraph , plays on fine Instruments , Is a composerlibrettist on dinner - , ner table art and literary wise , an admirable Christian , as New Yorkers will find when ho visits them this coming summer. K01IK11T tlUOWNlNO.'S POEMS. Robert Browning , for his" new poems , re ceived some hard kicks from critics who demand a glossary. For Instance , the An- thena'um this afternoon remarks that Mr. Browning's irlends have of late rendered It extremely dllllcult for calm criticism that re spects lt < elf and art to deal with him , aud of course there are these who will angrily icply that It Is because ho uses poetic art to ex press his own Idiosyncracy and be cause he tramples under foot those laws of poetic art which Homer bnws to as reverently as Sophocles or Dante that his appeal to them Is so strong. Mr. .Brow u- Ing this morning got nettled and thus wrote to a correspondent touching an Ill-natured criticism in the Birmingham Mall a corre spondent had enclosed : 'I am sure you mean very kindly , but i have had too long an experience of the ina bility of the human race to do other than cackle when benevolent and hiss when ma licious , aud no amount of goose criticism shall make me lift a heel against what wad dles behind it. " This seems to prove that the author of the "King aud Book" can also write vigorous prose. All Americans doubtless know about Sir Wilfred Law son , M. P. He oflsets his rigor ous proe In the house of commons last night VIth verse In this morning's Liverpool Post on the recent mixtures of parties in the divi sion lobbies. It begins thus : How strangely are parties at present allied ; No skill the anamolles can smother. When the liberal-unionists sit on one swe And steadily vote on the other. A I'OltTIiAlT OF FKANCES. The Court Society Review , a London weekly , announces that its next week's Issue will contain an especially prepared portrait of the yoiini and beautiful wife of the presi dent of Uie United States. This portrait of the head of American society will be the first of a aeries of portraits of trans-Atlantic celebrities. Some \vag suggests that on this announce ment the editor of the Court Review must look out for his trans-Atlantic mail bringing applications fora pl > ice in his gallery. A QUELS AUTHOKESf. . "I give you on g M authority , and am as sured that it is an authentic anecdote , some- Uilngabout the head of Italian society. It is well known that Queen Margaret Is an authoress. She was rallied at a recent court ball by the French ambassador about having written a novel which was after long delay to be published In London. She listened as he gallantly expressed regret at the delay. Then said the queen : "Believe me your regret would hare beeu greater If It had appeared. " Next he went to tell the diplomat : "Long ago I sent a story In manu script to a Homan periodical under an as sumed name. It was soon returned curtly .marked "rejected. " Since then I shall re'maln satisfied with a real crown and not strive after imaginary laurels. " LOUD nANDOLi'ii CIHT.CHILL. To-day , through the firm ol Sonnenschein & Co. , that Or. Crozler , who wrote "Civiliza tion and Progress" has published a book en titled , "Lord Randolph Churchill , a Study of English Democracy. " The author Is an autl- bourbon , a disbeliever in the rack and thumb screw of the Salisbury DOlicy. The book comes apropos to a current hoax some London correspondents have originated to the effect tnat Lord Churchill is to return to the cabinet as Indian secretary , vice Lord Cross. SOCIALISTIC LITEKATfKE. The socialist invokes literature with Karl Marx's book on "Capital , " translated by Mr. Avellng , who , with his wife , has prepared a paper for the March number of the Contem porary Review on the same subject OTIIEU INTEltESTINO PUHLICATION = . Murray's Masazine , No. 3 , comes up on library tables on Slmne Tuesday with more unpublished scraps from Lord Byron. A nairatlve , "Lostin the Backwoods , " by ex- Police Commissioner Sir Edmund Hender son , and a jolly essay by Grant Allenon , "The Joy of Living , " Scotchmen mar be glad to know that the tirni of Macmillan & Co. hare In the press a memoir , the poems and letters of that delight ful dirlne of Irvine , Dr.Villlani \ B. Robert son , and everybody is glad to hear that the same house will in a few days bring out , "Tom Brown. " Bishop Potter , whose echoes yet linger in Lambeth chapel , doubtless arrived to-day , bringing with him on early copy of two vol umes from the long mines of history most valuable to church men , being sketches of the fcngllsh church and its bishops through the eighteenth eentwy. Dr. A. E. MacDonald - Donald , who Is now enjoying London , will of course , take Home a new anonymous book entitled "The Healing Art , or Chap ters ITpon Medicine , Diseases , Remedies and Physicians. " It Is an historical biography and descriptive , being an attempt to popular ize the history of Uie healing art It particu larly abounds with anecdotes of court phy sicians , quacks , mesmerists , etc. Lawyers are informed that a new volume on the law about betting , from a barrister at CanileU , has just beau issued. Many Amer ican barristers doubtless may ay that tun law about betting exists with them only In a pro hibitory sense , Chas Reade's memoirs will appear nn March 1 , a book for both the cloister and the * hearth , no doubt Among new novels ls"ln the Rice Fields , " by the matchless Colouibi , translated by Mr. Astor Wlllmott , and issued by Chapman & Hall ; also a second edition within a fortnight only after the tirst one of Joseph llatton'a "Old llousa at Sandwich , " while the day on which it was puolished he tat down to begin a new serial novel called "The Great "World" tor an American newspaper. Mr. Lawrence Ollphant is quitting fiction for the present. He will publish on Mon day , throuih the Blackwoods , "Haina , or Life in Modern Palestine. " On the same day the same publishers issue "The Life of Agnes Strickland , " by Jer : sister. "Our Own Pompeii. " a satiri cal story in two volumrts , from the same press , with som ? of Its characters New ' York ers , U largely attributed' to Mr.-'Louis J. Jennings. A. Oqbk ranch d.i'tranded f w Uie libraries U.ues from Uie CaaseU pcesi It is en- titled "Celebrities of thn Ace , " being a dictionary ot the men and women of this century. It contains contributions Jy eminent authorities and Is edited by Dr. Lloyd C. Sanders , an Oxford scholar. It will undoubtedly take the place of "Men of the Time , " publishea by Kutledro , a volume mercilessly reviewed hero for IU omissions and Its pufferies of those In whom the editor Is evidently Interested. To-day's Spectator tater instances nineteen sharing omis sions , ana refers to the paces as presenting "nn Instructive study of the grotesque forms which self-assertion and van ity may assume , " and cites examples which , in a compendium of autobiographical sketches , jar upon the sensibilities of even the least fastidious readers. But even authoritative reviews make slips. For Instance , this week's Academy , in a long notice of "She Stoops to Conquer , ' ' now running with a success that would warm the cockles of Lester Wallack's heart , says that "Miss Kate Vnuslmn played Lydia Languish to Lionel Brough's Tony Lumpkln , which was a highly colored performance , " quite so in such a connection. GEUMAN POLITICS. .V Momentary l.iill In the Great Ulcc- tornl Conflict. BERLIN , Feb. 19. There is a paue In the Intensity of the electoral coutllct pending Monday's polling. Committees everywhere continue active , but there Is a momentary lull In public agitation. There Is also a sig nificant subsidence lin war rumors. This the opposition say Is because the govern ment no longer considers such ailment necessary to excite electorates. Though offi cial circles are sure of a vlctorj'i they are much less confident that their majority will be large. The r most sanguine estimates in crease the number of conservatl\e from TS to H > , and national liberals from 50 to GO , and reduces the Frelslnnigen fromCT to 50 , leav ing other sections about the same as before. The septcnnate majority Is dependent upon a split in the centre party , in which It is cal culated there are Blxty-nlne triennlsts against thirty seotennists. If this estimate is realized rind the government falls to ob tain a submissive majority for ail Its pur poses the now reichstag will vote for the mllirary bill , but will be equally ready , as was the last reichstag , to resist BismarcK's project for securing permanent supplies. The socialists hope to return three candi dates , an increase of ten over their last num ber in Uie last reichstag. The progressists are the only party with modeiate expecta tions. They will be gratified It they retain their former force. The results of the elec tions will be known defiltely Tuesday night. it I reported that Prince Bismarck desires to convoke the reichstag for February 2 * , and will demand the urgency of the military bill. The ministerial order issued to-day relative to the calling out of the army recruits for lbS7 and Ibsb provides that men who receive permission'to discontinue active service and enter the reserves will be dismis-eu at the latest on September GO , while betw een the 1st and Sin of November new Infantry re cruits will enter the ranks for the arms drill. Confeience of the railway military com- mls'-ioii on mobilization has been held at Weisbaden , which was attended by delegates from all the German railways and numerous army atllcers. Exhaustive aarangemeuts for a "scheme of transit vero com pleted. Absolute secrecy it main tained regarding the plans formed Russia's Eyes on the Ithlisc. [ Cojii/rto/it / ISST ty Jamti Cardan Rtnnctf. | BRUSSELS , Feb. 19. I New York Herald Cable Special to the -BEE.J The Rus sian organ , Lo Nerd , printed here , pub lished this morning an article on the general situation , alleging that the insurmountable national aversion and recollection of the Berlin treat } | forbids any lasting and serious misunderstanding between Russia and Ger many. Neither will Russia engage in war against Austria or England. For the pres ent the Bulgarian question recedes in the background and the possi bility of a Franco - German war becomes the paramount question. Russia wishes to remain tree in order that If a Franco-German war should break out , to pre vent Germany from annihilating France , and upsetting the European equilibrium. Thus , without concluding any alliance with France , Russia will arrange so that the events of IbTO shall not recur. This time Germany will be obliged to guard her eastern frontier with troops and will not be allpwed to-destroy France. Russia's eyes are hved on the Rhine. This article , and the last sen timent creates a great sensation. Voted the Extra Credit. PE TH , Feb. IS. The lower house of the Hungarian diet , by a unanimous vote , to-day passed the extra credit of S3.110.000 for the equipment of the Hungarian landwebr. French Troops llecallcd. PARIS , Feb. in. All the French troops have been recalled from Madagascar except four companies which are to remain at Dleio Suaiez. Horrible Murder in Cincinnati. CINCINNATI , Feb. 19. A horrible murder was committed on Mount Adams , this city , between 9 and 10 o'clock to-night It was that of Mrs Matilda Warren , by Edward Jordan , a drunken desperado. Mrs. War ren's daughter was trundling her Infant daughter In a baby wagon on the sidewalK in trent of the houre. Jordan came along , reeling drunk , and upset the babv wagon In tJiu gutter , anil pushed the tt-rritieri little girl Into the street Mrs , Warren rushed out In defence of her babe , protesting as she went against Jordan's brutality. The villain waited till she sot within a few feet of him and then shot her through the lungs. She is not dead , but the wound Is mortal. Jordon escaped. If found In Mount Adams to-night he will never see daylight. Settled the Suit. NEW YORK , Feb. 19. The suit of the Ka sas iV Texas Income script holders against the Missouri , Kansas it Texas railroad was set tled to-day by the agreement of the company to buy the script. The terms aie 00 percent In Kansas & Texas 5 per cent bonds and 40 percent in Galveston , Haril buig i : Houston bonds for the face of the script , and S'JOO.QiJO to be distributed among the coupon holders as interest By private arrangement Jay Gould agrees to buy SiOO,000 of ( inhesion , HarrUbiirt. it Houston bonds at SO , making the script net about Wj. A ni nnrllncton Victory. Ci.EVFL.4ND , O . Feb. 19. The suit of the Chicago , Burlington i Qtiincy railroad com pany against the stockholders of the Kansas rolling mill company was decided to-day by Judge Helsley in the common pleas court The suit Involved 8 000. The main issue was a test of individual liability of trio stock holders. D. P , Eels , W. 11. Harris , Ira Har ris , T. P. Handy aud John Hay , and Samuel Mather , executors of the estat of Amasa Stone. The decision was a complete victory for the Chicago , Burlington t Quiney and other creditors who entered suit on cross peti tions. AVorkinc Over Kates. NEW YORK. Feb. 19. The sub-committee appointed at the convention of railroad men on Friday met to-day In Commissioner Fink's oitlce. The -work of this commlttf e Is "to formulate and commend such amended rules aud regulations as may bo found re quisite to secure a uniform application of the Uw to the subjects referrea to them resue-c lively. " The report of the committee will be submitted to the joint committee as soou m possible , A Police Justice Reported Shot. NEW YORK , Feb. 19. A rumor re-ached ' thb city late'to-night that Policfl Justice Murray had been shot in Brooklyn. The ruuioi haa not been > eriued' IT" . Reckless Raid on the Nebraska State Treasury , SOME UNHOLY COMBINATIONS. nxtrnrncnnt Appropriation Hills Tied to the Tail or the Hnllroad Kite Some Prlvnto Measures. Jlcrclloss Taxation. LINCOLN , Neb. , Feb. 19. The legislature ot Iteo w as generally retarded as reckless , wasteful ard extravagant They piled up a mountain of taxes upon the people , without actually knowing or caring where the mofcey was to come from. But 1 fear that the tax- pajers will fare much worse at the hands of the present legislature. The prlx-ate claims , enormous estimates for running state Instl- tutlous , projected normal schools asylums , homes for e\ cry class of mendicants , Indus trial schools , new penitentiaries , pleuro- pneumonia and health board * , with their hordes of employes , officials and tax-eaters" , leaving out thelncreaM > in district Judges , stenogiaphers , etc. . will run uo a tax-bill of over S4.0uOOuo within the next two jeats. It Is simply monstrous to contemplate. With nine-tenths of the farms of this state mort gaged for nearly what they are worth , with state railway , county precinct ami city mortgages plastered on top of the private mortgages , the legislature , heedless of the situation , is grinding out tax bills that mint prove ruinous. Governor Thayer him self has become alarmed o\er this reckless plunging Into debt and burdensome taxa tion. Two days ago he went before the ju diciary committee of the house to proiest against Uie creation of needless district fudges He called attention to the fact that Judges Broady and Morris both assured him that they wanted no additional judges In their districts. The tact that Judge Hamer has been hanging around the state capital al most the entire session Indicates that he is not o\ercrowded with work , and there is no need ol another judge in his district. The mania for new state institutions which our limited wealth and the condition of the pro ducers do not warrant , seems to have seized the representatives from every town and vil lage. These members are bent only on getting what they can out of the general grab-big. In their anxiety to come homo with a new- state institution in their grip-sacks they for get everything el-e and stand readv to barter their votes for all kinds of job * , claims and swindles. The railroad lobby , which Is only repeating its well-known tactics , lias taken all these conflicting projects and interests under its paternal wingaud with this combi nation will be iu position to defeat all rail way legislation and pull tluough all the steals which its allies , the jobbers , have un dertaken. It would be utterlv out of ques tion to present the people of Nebraska with a full inventory of all the schemes to raid aud bankrupt the treasury. My limited space enables me only to call attuut.on to a few of the monstrosities. The general appropriation bill provides for a levy of Sl/J'vi.TrJ. This is simply the ex- pensH bill for two rears for existing state institutions. Then there is a salary ap propriation bill of * .B7OUiJ ; the legislative appropriation of $93,000 , the state house tax , w ill swell Uie aggregate to Si.000,000. On the top of these necessary appropriations come various bills which will more than double that amount Among these are a 3-mill tax for penitentiary construction. The graud as sessment roll for 1S5G was SH3 , .t32 , . * > 70. As suming the increase for 1SS7 and ISsS to bo In the same ratio as lbi and l&rf , which was 15 per cent this little 3-mill joker would yield a revenue of over SL,000OOU. Of this amount Sioo 000 is asked for Bo-s Stout's projected Louhville or Weeping Water pen. 1 must not omit to mention that a slight change in the plans of the new cnpitol. suggested by the architect in the interest of the contractor , will add a fraction of over 50,000 to the bur den of the taxpayers , 'ihen comes the blind bsylum at Nebr.iska City , with a requisition for a SoO.OOO winjr. The proposed ineur.ible Insane asylum at Hastings , S7."iUOO ; idiot hos pital. Beatrice , SsoWi : ( ; enlarging and com pleting the Norfolk insane asylum , SUo.OOO ; soldiers' home. Grand Island , SJO.OOO ; de- pend"iit children's home. Omaha or else where , Si'i.OOO ; Grant memorial hall. L-n- coln. S20M ( ) ; industrial school , Lincoln , SW.OOO ; medial college , Lincoln , S35.003 , and about hall a million dollar- , ' worth ot normal * schools scattered in every section of the state. Now , suppose all or eren a small frac tion of all these new Institutions should be established , how Is Nebraska to maintain them on her limited revenue , and ttie out rageously extravagant appropriations asked for existing concerns ? Take for in-tance the insane hospital at Lincoln , which had a surplus to its credit November 30 , IS : * ) , of nearly STO.OOO , and which will transfer tully one-third of its inmates to Norfolk this spring , and if the Hastings asylum Is erected will part with ) > erhaps one-fifth more of its Inmates. And yet the appropriation bill calls for a larger amount to run the Institu tion for Uie next two yeais than the last two. Among the extravagancies is a proposed barn to cost S12.000 , for which S2.WX ) would be ample ; pain Us and oils 82,000 : two years ago 51,000 was squandered on paints ; furni- tuieand bedding , 1,000 ; two years ago Uie same amount was appropriated , and in view er the coming exodus a requisition for ad ditional furnltuie Is preposterous. Music and musical Instruments , Sl.rxw. We know the Insane appreciate music , but t > > e state , the past ten years , has paid out enough to supply every lunatic In the hospital with a snare drum , or even a piano. The bill for fuel and lights Is estlmatatcd at S'20,000 for two years. The last legislature appioplated S17.000 for two years , and that included an electric light plant complete. This reminds us Uiat the home for fecbltvmlnded people at Beatrlceo modestly asks lor a S3..WJ electric light plant and a S.VX ) scale. ( The best scales can be boujht for S 5. ! It will take feeble-minded people to countenance such wastefulness. The reform school at Kearney wantsonly$103.0 for the next two years.ln- deicnik-nt of all Improvements , Compared with the runulng evj > cnses of other institu tions and UIH appropriations of IsW. the bill of particulars is terriblv Inflated. A SJ3.MW appropriation is asked for wages ol emplojex Wh.U employes does the ruturm school need'Tuo t/o > > and zlrls do must of the hard work outdoors anil In doors , nnil tliuy are ail in a condition to take care of themselves. Then wv Ime living ex penses , estimated at & : MiO ! ! for two years , whlsh is about double what they can be fed for In any rcspt'clable common jiUce boarding - ing house. Besides tiiat , the reform school pays for a fanner , rakes Its own vegetables , poultry , and ought to produce enough bread , meat and inllic for everybody on the faim. Passing from this to tiie Peru normal school , we nnd what It co w to instruct "school inarms" how to teaili. The normal school comes to the front with Increased estimates for everything. For the past three years they got alona com fortably on 51,000a year for llsrht and fuel ; now they want S'-V 0 a year. The last legis lature gave them Sl.'JO'J ' for apparatus nnd laboratory , and 57W ) for furniture : now they want 51,410 for furniture and Sl.MXHor lab oratory apparatus. The salaries for prlncl- piU and teachers the pait two years were g,000 ; now thev want $ yiaotai the next two yenrs. If all the normal schools pro jected are to be run on tin ; lutlatlou plan , the raising of home-made teachers will become an ei [ ; usl\rt luxurr. Now a glance at a few privtte bills : The .Simmons iamlly wants relief for sl,417..Vj ; Charlhs A.Johnson , S4.2S7 ; Kobert W. Fur- nas. i-5.0iW : Pat O , Hawes .ft-0 ; Maggie Prlmble , S'iOOO ; K. It. Hoar , S1.W.M. etc. . etc. The inir.it.on of thu talary list in the state house is on a par with all this reckless raiding of the taxpayers. I cannot now go Into detail , but must content myself by simply calling a halt , and admonishing the legislature tliattliu people of Vebmska are Jiot all Jay Goulds and Van- derbilts. They have endured patiently the merciless taxation by public carriers on their producU , and they muy have to continue to endure those impositions. But ttioy are. not in condition to put second aud third mort gages on their homes to meet the heavy tux IcYy which the present le Islatuio is trying to iinposu upon t..em. K , UOSEWATKU , "Worklnir Over the Charter. LI.XCOJN. Nt-U , Keb. IV. Social to the BLL.i The j.ijiclary cjiuuutlcti Into the provisions of the charter at length last evening , but refused lodcfitr decide upon any ot the sectloni. Thooi ee * ncnts to the charter are represented In tee1 committee by Messrs. Agce ami Bowmaa. * * Mr. Atee Is "loaded for bear'1 with legal Mh thorltles and was able to find an opposing et unfavorable reference to any section tfce committee were anxious to find last evening before the other members could find the sec tion Itself In the printed bill. In fact m member of the committee Intimated thai Mr. , ABPO had erldenUy prepared Jilmsclf tot Me Rumo In the hou e the same attitude toward , the charter which Mr. Colby did In the sen- \ ate. Another meeting of Uie committee Win- > , bo held on Wednesday evening next , and.It * Is hoped that at that time some definite acUoak may bo taken. t - ' Almost before the speaker had announce * * the vote on the Vnndemark bill fora recounJ of the vote on the legislative constltntloi amendment this mortnng telegrams w Hashing to county clerks of counties adjacent , to this one ami to others farther awav the elf- \ , culnrs wcrn Lmmedlatelv mailed calling Ok V county clerks to send In the ballot boxe * anV M toll book < > of last November as * eon as pofsH1 ule. The recount of the vote will commence on Monday at the secretary of state' * ofUa and nearly e\ery committee clerk of bet ! houses will be f mployi-d during that day Tuesday In assisting the board In rocan/ _ . _ ing. It is the cener.il Impression that IB- abundance of votes w III bo found to not hare been returned to swell the recorded vote to' more than the constitutional majority. Still , thl impression mav tie one cunningly tnan- factured by those who desire to MO some needetl legislation "dlo itbornln' , " and think , to bo able to produce procrastination by the ] Ignis fatus of twenty days more session after 1 the present forty davs are gone. * A SIXTY DAY SESSION. The Legislature Prolongs Ita I.lfo , Twenty Jnys. LINCOLN , Neb. , Feb. 1 ! tSpecIal Tele- : pram to the BEE. ] The attendance In the ' house was unexpectedly large this morning as It was understood that little was to bo done. Mr. Vandemark's bill , passed by the senate , ' was passed under suspension of rules , 6 to4. j It was opposed by Mr. Watson , who allege * that the people elected this Icglslatuio fo j forty days and not for sixty. The expense ! to the state would b3 large for a recount an4l if It should demonstrate that Uie amendment carried , the twenty days additional session would cost more money than It would be worth. " ' Mr. Helper said the people favored Uie TO count because they had honestly voted ia favor of the amendment Mr. Agpe said that in Hamilton county the count was 200 sotes short ot the ballots cast tj and In a number of counties no returns of ' * " the vote had been made at all , while the republican tickets had the words , "For the amendment' ' printed on them. The bill provides that the county clerks are required , to forward to the secretary of stale \ before March 1 all the ballots 4 and poll book * returned to Uiem by the ,1 judces of election on Novembers , ISbC. The ? A secretary , auditor , two senators and throes * f representatives are constituted as a board to t B recount the votes and transmit their report * f- to the formerbefnro March 10. The house adjourned until 'Wednesday J 4 morning. ' Mr. Russell ottered to introduce a memorial I , and resolution for the appointment of acorn-I n , | missioner from Nebraska under the Inter'i state commerce bill , but it was too late. i ; | Lcl Vccnkcr Respond. GUAND ISLAND , Neb. , Feb. 18. To the Editor of the BEK : The Grand Island Inc * * pendent received a letter from 1L O. Veen- kcr a few days since , In regard to his leaving his wife and family , and &at a that If any one wished to correspond with hlui could dose so through the Omaha BEI : . Ills wire Is not able to d any w ork. and has no rueai.e oi.-sfc providing for herself and children , live ID number , the- oldest ten. the eldest two years old. Mrs. Yeenker desires , to sell her lot and house and go to her relatives In Canada , It will bo the best thing possible for her to do. If Mr. Venker will consent to sien the deed that will tix the mattei UD. At present ' the family is supported by the county. Mr. ' Veenker will please reply , either thioiub the BEU or by letter , or Grand Island Independent - / dent MONIJOE TAYLOR , ( Chairman Committee on Paupers , Hall t County Board of Supervi sors. | Only One Attempted Burglary. * CoLUMiiL'.s , Neb. , Feb. 19. [ Special Telozralj j , to the BEK. ] This city has been rerorted f overrun with thieves and thugs , but such Is j not the case. There was an attempted burgt lary Thursihy ni-'ht at tno residence of 8. S. a Klckly. but that is the only one that has occurred - ! curred recently , and nottilng .was secured , t Mr. Rickley had received about ? COO after > banking hours , and was discovered In his- * ] office bv some tramps counting ItVlinn he - . reached homo the fellows had preceded hlrru ; with the evident intention of committing'a robbery during the night They were frlirlit- ened away , however , and no clue has beerj obtained to their Identity. The only damage done was ill frightened Mrs. Rickley. An Eloping Couple Arrested. SYUACUSI : , Neb. , Feb. 19. [ Special Tele gram to the BISE.J Ed Speratt a tin peddler of Auburn , ran away from Uiat place with the wife of John Ham to get oven with him , on an old score. The couple arrived- hare from Nebraska tity ! and were arrested to-day on the chargr of adultery on a warraBtj sworn out by the woman's husband. They ; had n preliminary examination this evening , and the case was continued. ' * * Arrested Eor Fdrcerjr. NnniiASK.v CITY , Neb. , Ken. 19. fSi scial Telegram to the BEK.J Fred Norseman , wasp arrested this mornlii ! , ' by Deputy Sherlfl ( Huber six miles north of Syracuse for fen Ing a note of 83.W on Fred It Nmv , Th note was purchased by the Farmers bank' this city about a week ago. Hea wlU tl forgery. " Vahoo's Electric Llghf. \ WAIIOO , Neb. , Feb. 19. [ Special to'truy BKE. ] The dynamo for thu"Wectrlo Ihrht ha arrived , and the fixture ? are now In neort all tne stores and on the lamp posts ; Tll light N to be put in operation Monday njgln Nehrahkn and Iowa We ihBr , For Nebraska and Ion a : Fair weath followed by local snows , higher temperature. IVrm-ciitln : * 31orrnnnIn Wyoming. " 1 CHKYCNMi. Wyo. . Feb. 13. ISpeclal Tel. egrani to the BEK. ! The tint suit ever lurtffc tilted a.-alnst pilygtmou * Mormons In thi * ' | territory Ixvun yesterday jit Eranstoe by' < t United States Attorney Campbell , George j H. Patterson and George Taylor , one vrJtk three. , the other with two wives. They wete ' bound over to answer at Uie April term of < court. The arrest cauMs great cxciteuitM anion. the Mormons , of whom tare * Munjj j berf have drifted into Western Wyoming I because of pro ecut.on In Idalia , i'tah aa4 i Nevada. Older suits will rapidly folluwr.- , , f . , , * " * JK ' A Chinaman Suicides. 1 CuEVKNNii , Wyo. , Feb. 19. [ SpeciRl Tel * . ' gram to the BEK.- ) Lee Lone , a Chinamaii , bound from Milwaukee to Uau FrancUce. was found dead , hanging by the neck in % ward at the county hospital to-day. He arrived - rived here yesterday on the train , Neat1 hwe he attacked a lellow passenger with a dlrfc , and slashed through h & derby hat , and after , wards tore up. 31'Oh : irieenbacks. JJo probably demented Jl j will be buried It.ilii HoUliiTy ' - . } Tramp * . C'EnAiiBi-UFrs. Mb. , Feb. ! ! > . 1u evwJ5 lay C. F , Walter. HMII& t o mile * fre hero , was attacked by two tramps and robb < * f , ot SsCO. Walker was overpowered Ly robbers , thrown tu the ground an4 hi * lt n < j and feet firmly tied. The robbers are nosed to tiave taken Uie tvaln for ti Ifel.md. 'lliey are deniaoi , one forty the other about w i u eight years uf / I Mr. Walker .oilers a reward oUiou ! * . .
