uring the last three years she has sent out expeditious from St.
Louis and Dahomey, and gained a great deal of territory which England
believes _she_ ought to control.

So that is the way the matter is at present. France has the possession
of countries for which England can show her treaties.

For the benefit of commerce, it would be well that victory should lie
with England, for she would open the country to the commerce of the
world, while France alone would benefit should she control this rich
land.

* * * * *

We told you two weeks ago of the change of Presidents in the Republic of
Venezuela.

The new President, Gen. Ignacio Andrade, starts his administration with
the prospect of serious trouble in his country.

The State Department at Washington was notified, shortly after General
Andrade's election, that a revolution had broken out at Valencia. This
is a town two hundred miles west of Caracas, and situated in the
mountains, which, starting here, extend down the whole western coast of
South America.

The cause of the revolution is not known, but it is supposed to be on
account of the succession of General Andrade.

* * * * *

The Chinese puzzle still remains unsolved.

Mr. Labouchere, the editor of London _Truth_, has some very good ideas
to offer; he says: "What, in the name of goodness, have we got to
quarrel about in China? Russia is striving to get an access to the
Pacific which will not be ice-bound in winter. It is a reasonable
desire, and will not hurt us. Russia is not our commercial rival, and is
not likely to be. Germany has obtained a _pied-a-terre_ (foothold) in
China. On the part of a great commercial power this, also, is not
unreasonable. It may not suit us, but it is considerably less than we
have got, and we have no right to object. Considering the position which
we have so long occupied, and still occupy, in China, this snarling and
blustering at the first appearance of a stranger on the scene is more
offensive and contemptible than the conduct of the dog in the manger."

Commenting on what Sir Michael Hicks-Beach said in reference to keeping
treaty ports open in case of war, Labouchere says: "Having heard a cock
crow on a neighboring dunghill, he thought it necessary that the
majestic voice of Britain should be heard also."

It was reported in our last number that England and Germany have agreed
to combine and lend China