Dictionary of Historical AllusionsHarbottle, Thomas Benfield
History
Dictionary of Historical Allusions
Harbottle, Thomas Benfield
History -- Dictionaries
General Zachary Taylor, President of the United States in 1849, was so
called by his soldiers during the Mexican war.
Old Rowley.
A nickname of Charles II.
Old Style.
The old or Julian Calendar, superseded in England by the Gregorian in
1751, but still in use in Russia.
Oleron, Laws of.
A code of commercial and maritime laws founded on the Consolato del
Mare, issued in the reign of Louis IX of France.
Olive Branch Petition.
An appeal to the King by the Second American Congress, 1775, expressing
a desire for reconciliation, but offering no concessions. The King,
however, refused to receive it, on the ground that it was issued by an
unauthorized assembly.
Olmütz, Convention of.
Also called the Humiliation of Olmütz. A convention signed in 1850
between Prussia and Austria, by which the former Power renounced all her
projects of union, and recognized the restoration of the old Germanic
Diet, under the presidency of Austria.
Olney Doctrine.
An extension of the Monroe Doctrine put forward by Mr. Olney, President
Cleveland’s Secretary of State, in a despatch on the Venezuela boundary
question in July, 1895. He claimed that Great Britain had no right to
interfere on the American Continent, and that, if force was necessary,
British Guiana must rely on her own resources, without calling in aid
from Great Britain. He further maintained that the United States had a
right to insist upon all claims concerning questions of territory being
submitted to arbitration unreservedly, and was justified in taking steps
to satisfy herself that no territory had been or was being unwarrantably
annexed. Lord Salisbury absolutely repudiated this doctrine, and refused
in any sense to accept it as binding on Great Britain.
Omladina.
A secret society having its headquarters in Servia, whose object is the
establishment of a Pan-Slavic confederation on a republican basis. It
has from time to time caused Austria some trouble in Bohemia.
Open Door.
The declared English policy in China, as opposed to the policy of
“Spheres of Influence.” It is defined in the Anglo-German agreement of
1900 as the free access, under equal conditions, of all nations to the
ports, rivers and littorals of China.
Opium Commission.
A commission appointed in 1893 to inquire into the opium question in
India. The commission reported in 1895, eight out of nine members
signing the report, to the effect that the use of opium in India was
strictly moderate, that native opinion made no demand for restriction,
that any interference with the growing of opium in the native states
would be unjustifiable, and that the Government of China was perfectly
satisfied with the existing arrangements as to the opium trade. There
was, therefore, in the opinion of the commissioners, absolutely no
ground for legislative interference.
Opium War.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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