If France has invaded this kingdom they have broken the treaty, and they are in the wrong. On the other bank of the Niger, England, through the Royal Niger Company, has made treaties with the native chiefs, and thus gained a good foothold. In 1893, France conquered and annexed Dahomey, which is on the coast; but England controlled the hinterland of Dahomey through the treaties her company had made with the chiefs. France chose to set aside these treaties, and said that, having been made with savages, they were not valid. During 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."