POLITICAL POINTS.

Evening Post, Volume LXIX, Issue 59, 11 March 1905, Page 12

POLITICAL POINTS.

Commenting on the objection raised by the Tot on to (Hobo to Canada contributing her share to tho defence of tho Umpire, on the ground thitt it I J rent liiiuiu went to war the United States would bo compelled to protect Canada under the Mom 00 Doctrine, the Cmiscivativo Citizen asks : "What a nation of motinspiritod graftfcis people must think the Canadians are if they accept the Toronto Globe's contention as rcpieseiitalivu of Canadian sentiment !" Tho Citizen proceeds: "Hut ha* this sturdy and wealthy young nation of nearly six million people no honour, no cuuiage, no sense of moral obligation? Are wo siuiplv a lot of cringing grafters, content to sl\cller ourselves behind tho skirts of Dritiinmc or Columbian power us the caso may requite, when trouble arises? This may bo the ({lobe's view of it, but tlmt \iew does not icpreM'iit 1 per cent, of Canadian sentiment." Tammany has been in .power in Now York for a year, and all that time a silent but bitter conflict has been going on between tho Mayor and tho Comniiftsioner of Polico oil the ono side, and tbc old, conscienceless, brutal ".walem" on the other. Mr. M'Clellan, the Mayor, and Mr. M'Adoo, the Commissioner of Polico, havo undoubtedly done their best lo give the city an efficient and honest administration, but it looks as I hough tho "system" had at length proved too powerful for them. Certainly (says Tho Times correspondent) tho conditions hero uro now deplorablo; never before has the polico department been confronted with bo long a list- of undetected crimes, and criminals aro working with an cffrouteiy which is causing intense alarm. The infamous "cadet" system is again in full operation, especially in tho, )c wish quarter, and several Jewish philanthropists lmvo combinod to do privately what llio polico nro unable or unwilling to do, and to suppress this white slave tnillic by means of private detectives. Says tho military correspondent of The Times: "Tlio House of Romanoff, in tho persons of the Grand Dukes, bus steadily evaded the calls of duty during tho war. 'LhcHO titled magnates, adorned with resplendent uniforms nblazo with decorations won on the soft carpets of St. Petersburg salons, havo incurred— doubtlesn without thoir knowledge-— the derision of soldiers of all tho armies of the world. His Imperial Majesty, and all his House save two young cadets who paid a flying visit to Manchuria and speedily returned, have not led their people in this war, and by their abstention havo forfeited all claim to consideration as soldiers. While soven Princes of tho Imperial House of Japan have slmrrd the dangeia nnd hardships of tho war by land and sea, tho much larger number of Grand Dukes have stayed in their palaces uml have only distinguished tlwiusolvjMt by tho zeal they havo shown to despatch ikon-laden peasants to fight their battles and by the precipitate manner in which they havo hastened to ruin the reputations of those who havo borno tho burden and heal of the day. Aristocracy, forsooth! Mny the fates save us fiom such decadents!" Tho New York Tribune referred littlo time ago lo tho impending retirement of Lord Mi'.ner, and laid: "Incidentally it servos to call attention to a career which, though noteworthy and supremely creditable, is yet by no meaim singular in Hritish public life. Tho tooeasy sneer in America at one of the characteristic fcatuics in the British political and social system loses its force when wo sec tho son of im olw-curo pedagnguo winning hi.s way into tho hereditary peorago, and iulo 0110 of the most exalted and powerful oflices ill the Stute. Such an example, and there arc many like it, emphasises Iho esfcenlial democracy which prevails within tho mobt venerable and flccuro of tho grco.t monarchies of Em ope, and reminds us that it is not alone in America that eimplo merit without extraneous and artifjcjal nidi: makes its way lo the head of atfnjhs. In such TCbpects the example of Lord Milner i« an inspiring one to Iho public of all the world. " Tit- London Telegraph, commenting on the Combos regime in France, says : Al. Combes has by degrees estranged many of his old supporter, and, as 1 have 111010 than onco pointed out, iio had the great majority of Aho members of M. WuldeckRoiuocau's Ministry, including their departed chief, iigainst him. lie has been about two years and a. half in power, and tho only subject of marvel is that he kept tho "bloc" together so long, 110 completely altered, his predeemor's policy, but ho contrived to frnpeso hi.s will, despito ' many more or less overt protests, timo aft or time. It should, however, bo remarked, in common fairness, that the countless moderate politicians who lay all the blame for what has oc- • currod during hia tenure in office on M. Combos, should boar in mind (hat he carried Parliament with him all along. Tho remedy lay, not only with the Chamber of Doputies, but with tho Senate; but tho Upper House backed him, like the Lower. An agitation in favour of peace was started by a number of eminent citizefis of St. Petersburg early in Jaiiuary. They had drawn up an address to the Tsar, represent ing the iiselessiicss of the war and the enorinoiu* sacrifices which it is imposing upon the country, and urging that "n« tho Government has pioved incompetent to cany tho war to a successful i*«uo, it shou'd not be allowed to continue to provo its incapacity at the cost of the blood and tears .of the nation." This address wns being largely signed by people of all classes both in tho capital and in tho principal towns of Russia. Tho Times correspondent interestingly describes the way an election is managed in Hungary. He says: "Tho electoral campaign in Hungary is duily ussuming a more violent character. Number/i of Liberal candidates have been stoned or thrashed, and pome dangerously wounded. The agl.sreM.ors belonged principally to the adherents of the Clerical People's Party, whom iho pcttv clergy havo worked up into «, fury against tlio supporters of the Premier. At Jiudapest the rival puilii-« «ro exclintiging iiccusulions of bi ibery and attempted bribery, but no serioiLs dislurbaiK.cn of public ordor havo yet taken place. The weather i» bitterly cold, and ill tho country districts canvupftitig is dillicult. Nevertheless, feeling ih running dangerously high, and before the chief polling day several constituencies will bo militarily occupied"." M. Christeuson, tho now Danish Premier, mado a statement of policy in the Folkething recently. 110 began by baying that tho Ministry wished to co-oper-ato with all those who desired the wclfaro of tho people and the counUy. He named as tho throe most important points of tho Ministerial programme : (1) the en act incut of a Government Bill giving universal sutfrago in communal elections; (2) the settlement of tho question of national dofoneo on tho busn nf the neutrality of tlm country, which, in tho view of the Premier, could bo carried out without essential changes in the Milit.uy Hudgel ; (3) a rearrangement of the electoral districts in elections to the Folkething, which in the opinion of tho Cabinet could only bo effected by a chaugc 111 the Constitution. The St. Petersburg correspondent of tho Echo de Paris telegraphed in January: "It is rumouicd persistently tlmt Russia has just purchaser! v «imill* island in the Indian Ocean destined to serve «s a point d'apptu for Admiral Rozlidestveu«ky, where he could find shelter while awaiticjt the third sauudiou."