Today -100: September 30, 1911: Of dying nations and living nations

Italy declares war on Turkey, which looks like it plans to roll over and not resist the occupation of Libya. Italian troops have landed, and Italian cruisers fired on Turkish transports.

The rest of Europe is mostly concerned with keeping the fighting localized, which may be difficult as other Ottoman provinces, including Albania and Crete, are showing signs of unrest.

The NYT notes that no one believes Italy’s pretext of disorder in Libya and danger to Italian subjects and businesses there, and says that Italy is without justification, but “The dying nations must yield as the living nations press forward, just as savage tribes in all history have been forced back or annihilated by the advance of civilization. ... If any race could set up a claim to be the Tripolitans by indigenous right it would be the Arabs” but “There is nothing national about Tripoli. She is and has been a possession, and, like a negotiable instrument, passes from hand to hand.”

In Mexico’s presidential elections tomorrow -100, men can vote at 18 if married and 21 if unmarried. Madero is for all intents and purposes unopposed.

Headline of the Day -100: “Taft in Circus Tent Ends Tour of Iowa.” Sometimes he just liked to feel pretty.