Our Paris Letter.

Manawatu Herald, 6 October 1894, Page 2

Our Paris Letter.

(from our own correspondent.) Paris, 2nd August, 1894. The Italians in East Africa hare strengthened theirposition at Kassala, and it would not be at all surprising"if they followed np their success by a march on Khartoum, where General Gordon lost his life, and which hag' now been in the hands of the; Mahdirts for many years. If the Italians should decide- to march onKhartoum, they are not likely Jfcq meet with much opposition, as it: is evident that the power of Mahdiam has been completely broken by the 7 death of Mahdi. His succession, of course, claims to be the Mahdi, but the power ot a Mahdi, is personal and is not transmissable. According to the Koran, a Mahdi, that is to say, a Messiah, may come at the beginning of every century, but tie can delegate his power to no one. : ■'■■

file ease with which the Italians Bbtained possession of Kassala shows, ihatMahdism lost its vitality with ijie death of. the., late Mahdi, and ,Hat tile entire Soudan will prove an easy conquest to a small, well lad European force, now that the religicraß fervour is over. The Corean difficulty has reached ttn acute stage and war has been ! declared between China and Japan, and no one can foresee the outcome bf the singular position in which the belligerent parties are placed. Seoul the Capital of Corea has jaeeii ruled by the looal mandarins iti th« name ot the King of Corea, who seexft* to be a great dunce after &!b Etiiid; This Ring la an art collector in the Eastern fashion, but instead of collecting pictures and works of art in the Western fashion, he collects wives. Of course the ladles Are Very, extravagant, and their exigencies in the way. of gold brocade " cbßfctiines '' alia jewellery are outrageous, so much so, that the tioor King of Corea, in order to Satisfy them I ,. baa been compelled to sell public oMcea at auction to the highest bidder. The purchasers of offices, having to recoup their expenditure and make a trifle besides, squeeze the Coreans — a process which the Coreans resent. They have formed an association called the Tong-Hah, which is an open rebellion against the Government. The Japanese say that the King must govern his country better, and intimate, that he ought to accept Japanese protection ; while the Chinese declare that they do not care how the country is governed, as long as the King pays bis tribute to China, and the Tong-Hah heartily wishes, that it could get rid of them all.