POLITICAL POINTS.

Evening Post, Volume LXX, Issue 79, 30 September 1905, Page 12

POLITICAL POINTS.

The persistent report that Great Britain, France, Spain, Portugal, and Ameri. ca are about to close the Atlantic Ocean tq foreign war-vessels should (according to Mr. Punch) bo accepted with some reserve, pending official confirmation. If the Libeial Unionist Party is ever again to take its true position in our public life (writes the Spectator) it must reject the intoxicating draughts offered from Birmingham, and reorganise itself on a freetrade basis. In the generation when the career open to talent did not mean an opening into a boss's back room (writes the Now York Nation) men of mark were in the habit of notifying a given constituency that they were prepared to "stand" for the honour of representing it in Legislature or Congress. But of recent years candidates have not stood; they have crawled. They have gone on their bellies and eaten dirt. I see little national spirit in the youth of England (writes George Egerton in the Daily Mail). They aro more interested in sport, the sport of watching others strive at football and cricket, than in the army and navy of their country. On all questions affecting the ultimate fat© of the nation they are as ignorant as Kaffirs. In them is no salvation. It must come, if it is to come, from the women of England, tho mothers of the English race. If these would only realise and use intelligently the power they already possess, they could play as big a part as, if not bigger than, man in national affairs. M. Jules Huret gives an account in the Figaro of an interview which he has had with Admiral Caillard, in which the Admiral expressed his unqualified satisfaction with the reception of the French fleet in England and the British demonstrations of goodwill. "Satisfied," Admiral Caillard 6aid in conclusion, "is not saying euougb I urn glad for the sake of France, glad for the sake of the Government of France, glad for the sake of the French navy." There is no denying (writes the Westminster Gazette) that the proceedings of the German Emperor and the uncertainty of his intentions are still a boniewhat disturbing factor in Europe. For our own part we do not believe for a moment that Germany has any'surions intention of disturbing the peace, but the comparative isolation in which France is left by the disasters of Russia are a temptation to her" to obtain every possible diplomatic advantage while the present situation lasts. We are afraid that no permanent relief from this situation can be expected until 'peace is restored and Russia is on the road to recovery in Europe. It may fairly' be expected of Russian statesmen that in deciding for war or peace they will to '-some extent bear in mind tha interests of their ally France, which must be prejudiced by any further drain on Russian resources in the far Eaat. The whole newspaper press of the colony (says the'Lvttelton Times) seems to be in danger of being arraigned at tlie bar of tiro House on breach-of-privilc^e charges. It appears to be a rulo with the Premier that whenever mention is made in the House- of a newspaper paragraph, even remotely suggesting a knowledge of Committee proceedings, the unfortunate newspaper must be given an advertisement which it neither needs nor desires. The House is keener in search of breaches of privilege than an old-fash-ioned piesbytcry which would be in pursuit of a heresy. The presbytery at .least argues the issue, but the House proceeds at once to a declaration of guilt. ' Four British f Army Commissions (an Australian contemporary writes) have been granted to Indians, ye.low-skinned aliens ! The recipients are the nephew of his llighneDi-Agha Khan of Pothi.in the Punjab, and three young nobles Iron) the couics of the Bhaunagar of Gohchvad in Kathiawar, of the Nizam of Hyderabad, and of the Rajah of Jaipur. Now, suppoao they are sent to Australia, with the British Army, or, go to Australia as visitors, what will Australia do with theiu? It is a bit of » pioblem. They are British subjects, army officers, and — aliens I They were tiained in liord Cuizon's Imperial Cadet Corps. Three of them are Aides-de-Camp, to Lieut enant-Uenerals in India. What would Australia do with tLun? The new Ministry in Holland (says the Westminster. Gazette) is at last complete. Tlie difficulties in its construction are referable partly to the difference between the Liberal and Socia.ist groups composing the majority in the Lower House, and in much greater degree to the expressed desire of the Queen that its n-.einbiirs should not be specially obnoxious to the present Opposition— a condition which excludes the maker of the Cabinet — M. Goeman Borgesius, from holding office in it himsolf. The fact is that the Ministerial majority is too small and too deeply divided to be able to work without the acquiescence of the Opposition, and that the bitter feelings excited by the electioneering methods of the exPremier will need careful treatment for some time. Having claimed that they represent Christianity and their opponents Satan, they can hardly be expected to tolerate those opponents in office, and so their violence has actually lessened the reverso they have experienced. Indeed, a Coalition Ministry was expected at first, but the four or five members of Dr. Kuyper's Government who might have formed part of it would not desert their fallen Chief. So five weeks have been 6pont in finding nine Ministers, , of whom, moreover, only fop.r have had experience in party politics. The new Minister of Justice, it may be noted, is a Jew ; the Foreign Minister has represented liis country at Constantinople, and, what is more important, nt Berlin. The long-pending Bonmartini murder trial has at last closed at Turin, jthe offenders being sentenced to terms of imprisonment'varying from thirty years to seven. The Times correspondent bays: — The trial which has just ended was of littlo interest except as an illustration of the faulty methods of administering justice in Italy. Tho murder of Count Bonmartini was discovered in Bo.ogna, the residence of the victim, 2nd September, 1902. Four arrests were made within that month. The guilt of the actual murderers of the Count was clear from • the outset ; tho only questions really to be solved were the complicity of the Countess and the degree of premeditation in the crime. Every effort -\vas made by the press and the advocates to make tho trial us sensational as possible. The details of the murder were disgusting ; tho character of the accused — without exception dctraques of a pronounced kind — unedifying ; and no pain 6 were spared for the unnecessary enlightenment of the public with regard to both. Witnesses we're called by the hundred — to give evidencewhich was often of an entirely irrelevant character — and interminable speeches were made for the advertisement of the individuul orators and the confusion of justice. • There was also the inevitable intrusion of the political question. The Muiri family represented Liberalism ■ and Freemasonry ; tho BnnmaTfrini were Clericals. Party feeling ran so high at Bologna that the trial had l to bo transferred to the Courts of Turin. A strong Judge would have brought the trial to an end in as many months as it hns taken years. U.ntil home means are found to strengthen tlie hands of the Italian Bench, justice in Italy will continue to afford a spectacle of which the country has little reason to be proud,.