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SIR JOSEPH LISTER, BART., M.B., F.R.C.S., LL.D., D.C.L., F.R.S.,

PRESIDENT OF THE BRITISH ASSOCIATION.

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The Death of Prince

THE PROGRESS OF THE WORLD.

LONDON, September 1, 1896.

Europe once more stands in the presence of the Unknown. For the last two years there has dimly outlined itself in the fog Lobanoff. which lies over the Russian steppe the image of a man. At first the features were nebulous enough. But as the days passed the outline became clearer, and the sovereigns and statesmen and the peoples of Europe felt that they could at any rate recognise some living ruler, could realise some actual personality of whom they could think, and with whom they could deal when they had to do with Russia and the Russians. Now, the sudden death of Prince Lobanoff dissolves the stately figure which loomed so large through the gloom, and all is bewilderment once more. The young Tsar is almost as much of an unknown quantity as his unborn child. And in place of Lobanoff, who is there, of all the millions of Muscovites, whose name would be a key to his policy? Saving General Ignatieff alone, there is no one; nor can even the best-informed say who will take the vacant chair. De Witte some time ago said he had a man ready for every portfolio in the Ministry excepting Prince Lobanoff's, and lo! it is Prince Lobanoff's which is now vacant.

The sudden death of the Prince is a The Prince's reminder of the perils which old men Achievement. must face when, after a long period of leisure and inaction, they are suddenly summoned to strenuous exertion. Old men who stand the strain are men who, like the Pope, Mr. Gladstone, and Prince Bismarck, have never let the chain get slack. Prince Lobanoff pursued the other course. He

conserved his energies by a persistent restfulness which earned him, perhaps unfairly, a first-class reputation for indolence. But no sooner was he established at the Foreign Office than he became a very demon for work. Not even De Witte himself worked harder. Responsibility for the great Empire stimulated him to unremitting exertion. Success after success lured him on, and now that he has fallen dead in her tracks just after arranging the rapprochement with Austria, every one marvels that he lasted so long. He lived long enough to establish a record. which his successor will find it hard to beat. He re-established Russia's ascendency over the Slavs of the Balkan at the very moment that he succeeded in making the Sultan the grateful protégé of St. Petersburg. He ripened the French entente into an alliance, at the same time that he made alliance with Germany and China, opened up a way to friendship with Austria, and even arranged good relations with Italy. At the time of his death he had steadied Russia on the pinnacle of power where she had been established by the late Tsar. Russia at this moment is virtually over-lord of China and of Turkey, the sovereign of France and the suzerain of Montenegro, Servia and Bulgaria. Yesterday Russia was Prince Lobanoff. To-day

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