BRITISH AND FOREIGN NEWS. SPECTATOR'S SUMMARY.

Evening Post, Volume LVII, Issue 32, 8 February 1899, Page 2

BRITISH AND FOREIGN NEWS. SPECTATOR'S SUMMARY.

PRINCE GEORGE'S TASK IN CRETE. London, 24th Deoember. Prince George of Greece, "High Commissioner for Europe " in Crete, arrived at Canea on Wednesday, and was received by the Christians with enthusiasm, and by the Mussulmans with dejected resignation. As he landed the Cretan flag was displayed and the Turkish flag was carried awayto the little Island of Suda. He made a speech to the Cretans, and has since issued an address, both of them quite conventional ; but he is said to have some ability, and to be disposed to make his government a success. His real difficulties will be to reduce a people made fierce by ages of Turkish oppression to civilised order, and to raise a revenue, which, as uncivilised government is cheap, they will probably be reluctant to pay. The Prince, however, will have absolute power, the island is fertile, and if he will only insisb at any hazard that indifferent justice shall be done to all men without bribes, there will soon be quiet. The difficulty of governing Mahommedans is exaggerated. Mahommedans, like all other people, ask for " justice and bread " first of all, and when they get them, live quietly enough under Austrians in Bosnia, under Russians in the Khanates, and under Englishmen in India. THE TSAR'S SCHEME. A peace meeting in support of the Tsar's proposal, called by Mr. Stead, was held in St. James's Hall on Sunday, and though not very largely attended, except by ladies, many letters of sympathy from eminent persons were received and read. Lord Salisbury did not send one, and Lord Rosebery was very, curt, but Mr. Balfour expressed his sense that if even a fraction of Mr. Stead's hopes were realised, they were " worthy of universal sympathy. The Marquis of Ripon, though sensible of difficulties, entertained no doubts of the Tsar's sincerity. Sir H. Campbell-Ban-nerman affirmed the " essential solidarity of the interests of Europe " (which is like affirming the " essential solidarity " of debtor and creditor), and Mr. Bryce declared that preparations for war turned men's thoughts to- war, and away from the higher ideals of 40 years ago ; Sir H. Fowler regarded the Russian proposal as the commencement of a higher chapter in the history of-- Europe; Mr. Courtney thought the end glorious ; Lord G. Hamilton pointed out that a lesser naval expenditure all round would leave England as secure as before (which is just the reason why the world will not agree to it) ; and Mr. Morley thought the time singularly opportune. None of these statesmen, or of the many eloquent clergymen who addressed the meeting, offered one single suggestion as to any practical method of carrying out the programme. WHAT MAY BE DONE. It is becoming evident, however, from all that Mr. Stead publishes and his informants say, that a definite scheme underlies all the vague talk. This is to arrest the further development of fleets, and thereby to save the great expenditure already sanctioned or proposed in all the great countries for that purpose. This, it is argued, will leave British ascendency at sea untouched. We do not believe that the proposal will be accepted, but if it is it wall need a corollary. Alliances of maritime Powers must be forbidden, for otherwise any one naval Power might at once double its sea-strength. Suppose Russia, for example, when at war with Germany about Shantung, makes a treaty with Japan. The certain refusal of America, too, would make her arbitress in almost any naval war. The project seems to us impracticable, but we must give Mr. Stead the credit of having reduced a vaguely philanthropic aspiration to a measure which can be discussed, and accepted or rejected. THE ROTHSCHILD GIFT TO THE . BRITISH MUSEUM. The reports of their enormous wealth, continued for two generations, have invested the Rothschild family with a curious kind of public interest, which is only extended in part tp other great millionaires. Otherwise v« do not see why the death of Baron Ferdinand Rothschild, which occurred on Saturday last, should be treated as a public event. Though a member of Parliament, he had made no mark in public life, and his residence at Waddesdon, in Buckinghamshire, is notable among great country houses only for the immense sums he spent in creating a park, huge trees being transported to it and replanted, and the unusual value of the pictures and bric-a-brac it contains. The Baron was a beau ideal collector, possessing great knowledge, and being almost recklessly indifferent to price. Though not an Englishman by birth, ho was as kindly as the rich English gentleman usually is to his tenants and labourers, and being personally genial, his seat for Buckinghamshire was unusually secure. He is said to have left his collections of the Renaissance period, and alllxis jewellery of the fourteenth century, to the British Museum, a graceful acknowledgment of the hospitality which this country has for many years extended to his family and his race* It is curious to contrast the position of the Rothschilds here with that of their cousins in Paris, who may yet be among the victims of a St. Bartholomew. THE GUINNESS GIFTS TO DUBLIN. Lord Iveagh (head of the Guinness business) has presented the nation this week with half a million sterling. Half this money is promised to the Corporation of Dublin for the improvement of the most insanitary district of their" city, the one nearest to St. Patrick's Cathedral, and half to the Jenner Institute to endow research in bacteriology and other forms of biology which may help to prevent disease. Though Lord Iveagh is one of the richest men in Europe, his porter- vats pouring out for him "wealth beyond the dreams of avarice," as Dr. Johnson thought Mr. Thrale's vats might do, this is a very noble gift. Money beyond a certain amount yields to its owner nothing for himself, but very ttch men care about" close relatives, and Lord Iveagh's gift would have founded a cadet branch of his house. The half which goes to Dublin can do nothing but good, and so will the Jenner half, if h is not wasted in making professors too,comfortable. It is a most unpopular doctrine, but we have always an uneasy suspicion that to make investigators toil they should be kept poor. Napoleon's Marshals admitted that after their piles were made they hated the thought of war. A DEATH AT GREAT AGE. The Times of Tuesday records the death of Mr. Thomas Young, of Watford, who had reached the great age of 106. A correspondent reports that at the age of 105 he was capable of recalling the oattle of Trafalgar, and of relating how "we (i.e.. the blue-coat boys) lit up fireworks for the victory, and then drank a small glass of sherry for Lord* Nelson in solemn silence." As a draper's assistant he saw the Watson Riots in 1814. 31st December. A LESSOR OF THE PLAGTIW, Tho Plague appears really to h^ve made ."»ome impression upon Hindoo minds. A jjreafc meeting was held at Bombay on Wednesday, at which some 5000 "Bohras" were present with their high priest, together with Professor Haffkine, who has discovered a very promising form of inoculation. The high priest made a speech, in which he declared that there was nothing opposed to religion in the Professor's system, and then and there consented to be inoculated, and what was a stronger indication of his faith, to suffer his son to be inoculated also. " A large portion of those present followed his example." Thure it is. The Hindoos will not endure segregation, which involves the removal of vomen from their homes, nor will they hep; domiciliary visits by soldiers ; but if

tho white doctors can suggest remedies or preventives which do not menace their honour, they will follow them readily enough. The point is to convince their own ecclesiastical leaders first of all that no oppression is intended. It is natural enough that doctors and magistrates, who know that they only intend to benefit the people, should be impatient of a foolish resistance ; but a little more persuasion and coaxing done through the right agents would smooth the path of science very greatly. To the cleansing of the drains, to the slaughter of the rats, to the burning of infected houses— with compensation — and to taking medicine there is no resistance whatever. THE IMPERIAL PENNY. On Christmas Day the Imperial penny postago came into operation — i.e., it is now possible to send for a penny a letter not above half an ounce in weight to all places in the British Empire, except the Australasian Colonies and the Cape. It is hoped, however, that they also will soon agree to the reduction. That the good effects will be quite as great as have been anticipated is not likely, for increased facilities of intercourse do not in reality make men love each other or desire a reign of peace and goodwill. Still, judged on a lower plane and as a matter of convenience, we have little doubt that Imperial penny postage will be a great success. Thousands of small orders and business transactions and million of questions and answers will fly round the world at a penny, which were too heavily weighted at twopence halfpenny. The political effect of the fact that it will not now be necessary to think whether an address is outside the United Kingdom, but only whether it is inside the British Empire, will be by no means insignificant.- If people will only let the Empire alone we shall ultimately weave out of many varied strands — some thick, some thin — a rope to join the Motherland and the Daughter States which none will be able to break. Not an unimportant thread in the hawser will be for a penny wherever the Union Jack is flown. THE SHIPBUILDING BOOM. We wish that the anxious and timid people who are always worrying about our commercial and industrial decadence because we are " flooded " with cheap German cutlery and cheap German lamps, would look at a very striking article in The Times entitled " The Shipbuilding Boom." Half England has never heard of this boom ; for though all England rings with an " ominous shrinkage in the tin-pot trade," nobody troubles to advertise an increase in a great and a profitable industry. Our shipbuilders will close the year with about two million tons of work on hand. That is nearly four times as much .'is ll c total amount of tonnage built in all foreign countries in 1897, and half a million tons more than that of the shipping under construction this time last year. Tho tolol value of the mercantile shipbuilding completed during the year is £20,000.000. But of course the benefit has not been solely to the shipping industry. All the allied industries — engineering, electrical engineering, iron ana steel manufactures, and a hundred other industries — have been helped and stimulated. In fact, the ball sot rolling has run through innumerable trades. And yet there are people who think that we ought to abandon Freelrade and adopt a policy of Protection! The shipbuilding trade, remember, is the direct offspring of Freetrade. CONCILIATION AND ARBITRATION. A discussion of some moment is gqing on in the Times as to the best method of preventing the industrial wars which every now and then break out in our manufacturing and mining districts, and inflict untold misery, besides threatening the prosperity of the State. The principal disputants are the Bishop of Hereford and Sir Edward Fry. The Bishop, who would not, we fancy, reject a description of himself as a Christian Socialist, maintains that there should be a Court of Arbitration, with power to compel both employers and men to accept its award, while the (retired) Judge .prefers a Court of Conciliation which can only advise, pointing out that a Court with compulsory powers would be a Court for fixing the rate of wages, and therefore a most objectionable interference with human freedom. To this it is retorted that such a Court exists in New Zealand, and has worked very well for four years. More evidence is wanted on that point, the New Zealanders believing in themselves to an appalling extent ; but, granting the truth of the statement, the answer to it is clear. Any people may believe in slavery without slavery being either right or beneficial. If wages are fixed by the external authority of a Court, the individual workman must accept them — that is, must become practically a slave for the benefit of the community. The community has no more right to make him a slave, except as n punishment for crime, than a private employer has. We do not believe that in England either side would respect any law of the kind. The extraordinary thing in these discussions is the assumption that trade should always go on without interruption and without producing suffering. Why should it any more than any other occupation of mankind — agriculture, for example? IMPERIALISM OR JINGOISM. The Times of Tuesday publishes a manifesto from the American Anti-Imperialist League. The object of the organisation is, if possible, to prevent the ratification of the treaty of peace with Spain. The " signers " protest against any " expansion uf the sovereignty of the United States over the Philippines in any event," and over any foreign territory without the consent of the inhabitants, as they believe such action would be " dangerous to the Republic, wasteful of its resoivrces, in violation of constitutional principles, and fraught with moral and physical evils to our people." Branch Leagues have been formed in more than thirty of the States, and an enormous number of " signers " has been obtained, among whom are ex-Presi-dent Cleveland, Mr. Sherman, Bishop Potter, of New York, Mr. Gompers, the labour leader, Mr. Andrew Carnegie, the Hon. Charles Francis Adams, the Hon. Carl Schurz, and the Hon. Edward Atkinson. In spite of the fact that we disagree absolutely with the contentions of the signers, we are heartily glad that the movement has taken place. Every coach wants a drag, and most of all " the Imperial Rocket." The Anti-Imperialist League will not stop the expansion of America, but it may, and we believe will, force the Imperialists to be on their mettle and not to jerrybuild. In a word, the Anti-Imperialist League will do excellent sorvice by preventing Imperialism degenerating into Jingoism. There is no necessary connection between the two, bur if he walks carelessly the Imperialist soon falls into the slough of Jingoism. THE POPE AND THE ITALIAN GOVERNMENT. On Friday, tho 23rd December, the Pope received the Cardinals, who came to offer him their Christmas congratulations. In answer to the address read by Curdina 1 Parocchi, the Pope assured the Sacred College " that though the weight of Apostolic cares increased with years, he was consoled by the thought that, though he uns nothing, God was everything, and that the fragility of an old man could be as good an instrument in His hands as the vigour of youth." The Pope went on to use language of a distinctly threatening character in regard to the Italian Government. He foresaw unhappy indications as to the liberty of the Church in Italy. "The hard situation," he continued, " imposed upon the Pope, hurtful to his dignity and sacred rights, does riot suffice. That part of the press which defends religion and morals is made the mark of hateful suspicions, and, more significant still, the clergy, already harried in countless ways, are threatened with more rigorous treatment. The clergy, by their natural dis-

position and their official duty, are the society most opposed to any seditious attempt, and on recent occasions this has been demonstrated by irrefragable proofs. But no matter — the fact of their obedience to the Apostolic See, their support of its rights, and their seconding of its intentions will be counted as a political crime." The Pope, as usual, spoke with dignity and doubtless in entire good faith, but thero is another side to the question. If the Vatican, instead of using eveiy means to injure Italy, were to accept the alleged invasion of her just rights in a different spirit, we believe that her position would now not be Weaker, but infinitely stronger, for the service' of God. The energy of the Roman Church has been turned to wrecking the Italian Kingdom, instead of being used to fight materialism and evil — her -proper work. ILL-GOVERNED SPAIN. The Spanish Premier, Senor Sagasta, has been very ill with pneumonia, but is reported recovering. He had, he told an interviewer, resolved to recommend a great many reforms to the Queen-Re-gent, and especially to correct the grand abuse of Spain, the evasion of the taxes by the rich, who, to speak plainly, bribe the taxgatherers to shut their eyes. It is not probable that he would have effected much and he will now probably resign upon the plea of ill-health, leaving the Queen to pick and choose among Conservatives who are no stronger than he is. It is a great pity that the Regent has no personal following, for if she had she might suspend the Constitution, govern absolutely for six years, and, with her energy and sense, lay the foundations of a strong throne for her son to ascend. As it is, government in Spain is a game , of blindman's buff, which must end iD somt sort of overturn. THE ABORTIVE CHINESE REFORMS. The Daily News of Wednesday republishes from the China Mail an account of an interview with the reformer, Yang-su-wei, which is well worth reading. The reformer was admitted to intimate conversation with the Emperor, and found him, though much afraid of the EmpressDowager, perfectly convinced that the only hope for China was the adoption of Western methods, the removal of all conservative Mandarins, and the appointment of young Ministers and Governors in their place. The reformer laid before His Majesty — always, be it remembered, kneeling at some distance on the cushions "not" reserved for the great — a definite plan for superseding the Tsung-li-Yamen and great officials by twelve Ministers, and controlling the Governors by appointing in each two Governments a Legislative Council, with powers over finance and other subjects. The Emperor, apparently, neither accepted nor rejected this proposal, but he strongly favoured the total abolition of the examinations in Chinese classics, and, as will be remembered, actually issued a decree to that effect, which was obeyed, the students immediately proceeding to purchase the liecessary books. This decree was the first one cancelled by the Dowager-Em-press. A puzzle remains to be explained. Whence did this weak lad, shut up in his Palace, and watched even while he gave audience, derive the revolutionary ideas which, it is clear, governed him "before" he talked with Yang-su-weiV Was it from Japanese acquaintance, or one of the doctors, or is there some enlightened woman in the Palace? THE TROUBLE IN THE TRANSVAAL The public will be well advised to rtgard with great caution the sensational and inflammatory telegrams that are pouring in from Johannesburg. All that seems certain is that the very natural discontent of the OutlandeV population against the corrupt and inefficient administration of the Boers has been raised to an unusual height owing to the killing of an Englishman by a Boer policeman, whp was attempting to effect his arrest. This led to a demonstration of British subjects on Christmas Eve, which had to be conducted in silence owing to the monstrous Transvaal laws against public meetings. The demonstrators, some three thousand strong, presented to the British Vice-Consul a petition to the Queen, asking for the impartial trial of the police man. During these proceedings there was a certain amount of rioting, but no bloodshed. Meantime, the violent part of the Boer press is writing insanely savage articles as to the destruction of Johannesburg. There is, however, every reason to oelieve that Mr. Kruger is anxious to prevent a collision. Our own desire is, if possible, to leave the Transvaal alone, in spite of its absurdly unjust system of government, for time must settle things in our favour. If it should be foq'nd that a policy of provocation is be ; ng adopted by Mr. Rhodes and his friends, their responsibility will be a heavy one. Not that but for the raid we might now with a clear conscience insist that the Boers-should give the franchise to the Outlanders. That act of folly and misdoing still paralyses our action. .We cannot now move unless we have the clearest possible proof that the Transvaal Executive is making life absolutely unbearable for the Outlanders, and such proof has not yet been produced. ANTI-SEMITISM. There was a remarkable debate in the French Chamber on Friday week. The motley crowd of Frenchmen, Spaniards, and Italians, who make up the Christian population of Algeria, have been imitating towards the Jews the conduct of Irish nationalists towards the loyalists. They have been assaulting them, threatening them, boycotting them, and refusing to give verdicts in their favour. The Anti Semite leader, one Max Regis, was even elected Mayor of Algiers ; uufc this was too much for the central Government, and he was suspended by order from Paris. M. Drumonfc demanded to know why this order had been issued, and made a speech against the Jews, which, however, metwith little acceptance except from the Right M Rouanet, a Socialist leader, in a most able speech denounced Anti-Semitism as "a return to barbarism ;'* and finally M. Dupuy, in a moderate and sensible speech, maintained the, Jewish 4 en^ency to usury must be restrained, and men of that nationality in Algeria — they were there before the conquest — must, like the Spanish and Italian emigrants be brought more thoroughly into the French system, but that Anti-Semitism was "a mockery of civilisation and humanity." He concluded by an eloquent appeal to the electors of Algeria to promote the sentiments of justice, humanity, and liberty, which would draw them closer together. The Chamber supported him by a vote of 406 to 10, and ordered his speech to be placarded. We fear the Deputies, under the influence of eloquence, are rather in advance of their countrymen. , "A SECOND-CLASS DUEL." The tension in the Hungarian Chamber has produced a bewildering crop of duels. \f, Horansky, leader 4 of the Nationalists, began it by accusing Baron Banff y, the Premier, of bad faith. Baron Banff y, >n a severe letter, gave him the he, and M. Htoransky challenged him to "a secondclass duel," which means in Hungary, that ihe challenger will fight, but does not acknowledge that his opponent is a gentleman. Baron 'Banffy, of course, considered this merely a fresh insult, and re fused to accept such a challenge ; and in the quarrels about the irtcident which arose among the seconds eight more duels were arranged. Three of them were fought out on Wednesday, but though two of the combatants were wounded, ncbody was killed, it is believed that a whole" series Mill be fought, headed by one between M. Horansky and Baron Banffy, the former agreeing, it may be presumed, to give a challenge to a duel

of the first-class kind ; but it is not probable that there Avill be any fatal result. The whole business seems very silly and wicked lo Englishmen, but the Continent is all of one mind on the subject, and the Kings, who do not fight duels, appear rather to approve them. The oddest fact in the whole business is that the Church of Rome condemns duelling as severely as Freemasonry, and that none of these Catholic gentlemen attend for one moment to her teaching. If they do, all other Catholic gentlemen boycott them. FAITHFUL BUT STIFF-NECKED. The Rome correspondent of The Times sends a curious telegram, which hereafter may prove of importance. The most orthodox party in the Vatican has watched for some years with growing dismay the increasing liberalism of the Catholics in America, especially with reference to education. The Pope, who is a great diplomatist, has hitherto held them in check, but has at length been persuaded to address a letter to Cardinal Gibbons, gently warning him not to let his subordinates overstep the limits of Roman Catholic dogma and discipline. If the word "dogma" is really used, that letter is serious, and we shall see how His received. The Catholics in the States, being Americans, cannot help being a little impatient of the Italian dictation, and may express that feeling in a way that may give the Vatican cause for careful reflection. They are very "faithful," but all who speak English are apt to be "stiff-necked."