1890 - Political Events

Political Events

Kaiser Wilhelm forces Prince von Bismarck to resign as prime minister March 18; he is caricatured for having "dropped the pilot" who united the German states and inaugurated signal reforms in German society.

The Influence of Sea Power Upon History, 1660-1783 by former Naval War College president Alfred T. Mahan, now 50, demonstrates the decisive role of naval strength and will have enormous influence in encouraging the world powers to develop powerful navies. Mahan's objective is to have Congress strengthen the U.S. Navy, which last year launched its first battleship but depends chiefly on its White Squadron of three small cruisers and a dispatch boat. His book is eagerly read in Britain, whose Royal Navy has long controlled the seas, as well as in Russia, Japan, and Germany, where Kaiser Wilhelm II orders a copy placed in the library of every warship and pushes for a strong German Navy (see 1898).

Charles Stewart Parnell denies Captain William O'Shea's charges of adultery (see 1889). Katherine O'Shea files charges of neglect and crulety against her husband in June, claiming that he had an affair with her sister Anna and that he encouraged her to have an affair with Parnell. Katherine's beloved Aunt Ben (Anna Maria Wood) died last year at age 95, leaving a substantial estate to her favorite niece, who has been trying to avoid a scandal that might jeopardize her inheritance; Katherine's siblings are contesting the will. Irish Nationalist Party leaders William O'Brien, 38, and John Dillon, 39, initially expressed support for Parnell (Dillon was Parnell's prison mate at Dublin's Kilmainham Gaol from May 1881 to May 1882) but now decide that he will be a political liability. The case of O'Shea v. O'Shea and Parnell goes to trial November 15. It is grist for the mills of music-hall comedians and cartoonists as well as newspaper reporters worldwide, a special jury finds in the plaintiff's favor, Parnell loses his leadership of the Irish Nationalist Party December 2, and Katie O'Shea comes under attack as "the Political Princess—O'Shea Who Must Be Obeyed," "the were-wolf woman of Irish politics," and the evil genius who has set back the cause of Irish home rule. Newspapers publish letters referring to Mrs. O'Shea as "the Uncrowned Queen of Ireland" (see 1891).

Willem III of the Netherlands dies at Apeldoorn November 23 at age 73 after a 34-year reign in which he has been unable to block Liberal Party control of the government. His second wife, Emma of Waldeck-Pyrmont, has served as regent during his final illness and continues in that role as Willem is succeeded by his 10-year-old daughter, who will rule in her own right from 1898 until 1948 as Wilhelmina I.

The Grand Duchy of Luxembourg splits from the Netherlands upon the death of Willem III (see 1867). The Luxembourg crown passes to the elder branch of the house of Nassau, whose family will rule into the 21st century.

Britain challenges Portuguese claims to territory in southeastern Africa, issuing an ultimatum January 11 that demands immediate withdrawal of Lisbon's forces from disputed regions, implicitly threatening the use of naval power and, ultimately, an end to the Anglo-Portuguese alliance that has existed since 1386 (see 1885). Lisbon yields, and the backdown produces outrage by imperialists throughout Portugal, strengthening the hand of the republican opposition (see 1891).

An Anglo-German agreement resolves disputes in East Africa July 1: the Germans give up all claims to Uganda and receive the little island of Heligoland in the North Sea, obtained by Britain from Denmark in 1815 (see 1886). Berlin recognizes the protectorate over Zanzibar established by Britain June 14; the pact excludes Lake Albert from German influence, ending the expedition undertaken by former Equatoria governor Mehmed Emin (see 1889; 1891).

Cecil Rhodes becomes prime minister of Africa's Cape Colony July 17 and adds the political post to his position as head of De Beers Mining, Consolidated Gold Fields, and British South African Railway.

Berlin recognizes all the country north of latitude 1° South to be a British sphere of influence, the Imperial East Africa Company agrees to administer the territory on behalf of the British government, and Buganda's deposed ruler Mwanga is restored to power. The company's agent Captain F. D. (Frederick John Dealtry) Lugard, 32, selects the hill town of Kampala (elevation: 3,900 feet) as headquarters and leaves Mombasa in August with a caravan that will take 5 months to cross 800 miles of rough country to Buganda, where Lugard will make a treaty with Mwanga placing the country under the company's protection (see 1892; Mwanga, 1897). The German East Africa Company cedes all of its territorial rights to the German government October 28.

The Sikkim-Tibet Convention concluded between Britain and China redefines China's nominal sovereignty over Tibet and recognizes British rights in Sikkim following clashes in 1888 with British troops in Sikkim. The Tibetans have reportedly displayed a persistently hostile attitude toward their neighbors (see trade agreement, 1893).

Japan holds her first political elections July 11, but suffrage is limited to males over 25 who pay taxes of at least 15 yen per year (1.1 percent of the population), so only 453,474 drop their ballots in the small black lacquer ballot boxes (see 1929). The first Japanese Diet opens November 29 as members elected in July take their seats.

Argentina's president Miguel Juárez Celman resigns under pressure in July following a revolt that has support from the military. Inflation has led to widespread dissatisfaction, the president has been reluctant to take the necessary steps to restore the value of the peso, and he is succeeded by his vice president Carlos Pellegrini, who has the support of former president Roca.

Former California provincial governor Mariano Guadalupe Vallejo dies at his Sonoma farm January 18 at age 81, having lost all his property except 225 acres; soldier and Indian fighter General George Crook dies at Chicago March 21 at age 60; former explorer, soldier, and political leader John C. Frémont on a visit to New York July 13 at age 77; former Union Army general and onetime secretary of war William W. Belknap at St. Louis October 13 at age 61; former Union Army general and Indian fighter Alfred H. Terry at New Haven, Connecticut, December 16 at age 63.

Idaho is admitted to the Union July 3 as the 43rd state, Wyoming July 10 as the 44th. Wyoming has insisted on retaining woman suffrage as a condition of joining.