The Star. (PUBLISHED DAILY.) FRIDAY, JANUARY 27. 1893. THE WEEK.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XX, Issue 2337, 27 January 1893, Page 2

The Star. (PUBLISHED DAILY.) FRIDAY, JANUARY 27. 1893. THE WEEK.

The Egyptian difficulty has occupied a considerable space in the cable messages this week, and it will be fortunate for the world if the incidttat tptediiy comes to an end. It il evident enough tbat the firmness of Lord Bosebery put a sudden check to a vary dangerous movement^ but that he has done more than check it is not yet quite certain. The unrest caused by tbe attempted coup of the young Khedive has not subsided. Native feeling has been inflamed, the European officials recognise that their mana, as it would here be called, has been interfered with, and European residents not satisfied with the extent of British force are fearful lest there may be a rising. In a word, confidence has been shaken, and underlying that, maybe causing it, is tae fret tut England has with-

drawn too many of her troops. The British Government has been anxious to show that it has no other desire than to merely maintain order, no intention to orerawe, certainly no purpose of annexing the country, and it haß reduced ita military strength in Egypt to an extent which disables it from becoming aggressive. In case of a pinch it could do no more than hold vital points until reinforcements arrived. The events of the past week or two have exposed its weakness, and necessarily one of the first steps ia to increase the effective strength of the forces. Hence the orders for reinforcements. Aud here there evidently cornea in a fresh complication, and one which if not satisfactorily settled may lead to trouble. It was easy to reduce forces in Egypt. No objection from any source arose. But the increase of forces is another question, and gives au excuse for otker powtw to raise the old question. France we find objects, and Russia makes the incident the occasion for raising a I question as to limiting the term of occupation. Such a question would be an awkward one if all were quiet, but just now it is most embarrassing, and it will be a relief to find the matte; accommodated. Meantime it is something like the irony of fate that a party which clamoured for the evacuation of Egypt should have to propose and defend an increase in the strength of the army of occupation. A tebt uncomfortable feeling will be occasioned by the release at the present juncture of certain dynamic ards. It is an evidence of weakness. There is, or at anyrate ought, to be no connection between a political agitation and the resort to crime by a section of the more hot-headed advocates of a particular policy. A man who uses dynamite as an argument has no right to consideration, even if it be granted that his political aims be just and patrotic. Political agitation is one thing ; crime is another, and the man whe resorts to crime on political grounds should be treated not less severely than the man who commits it for personal reasons, simply because he not only injures those who are the victims of his murderous intentions, but embarrasses and hinders those with whom he professes to be working. The murder of Lord Cavendish, and the dynamite outrages which, have occurred from time to time since, have done more to impede a settlement of the Irish question than all the arguments of those opposed to any reform, and to show any desire at the present juncture to condone crime is to revive into action new forces against a settlement. " What will he do with it ?" seems to be the question of the day in the United States in respect of President Cleveland's majority. A short time ago we had reports of protests by influential bodies against any radical change in the fiscal arrangements now in force, and there need be little doubt that the sections of the community already interested in a high protective tarij||£ill fij&t against any serious changes. ' ysßcy&^K>[a. we are inclinScT to " tne oeliet that the changes will not be extreme. According to a cable message this week, President Cleveland declares that he has been placed in power to repeal the McKinlev. That may be done without giving colonial woolgrowers much satisfaction. Before Me Kinley's Act was passed, the tariff was high enough to place a graat barrier m the way of the importation of colonial wools, and if the reform go no further than the repeal of that Act it will not practically go very far as regards the desire of the colonies. The same cable gave some curious figures in regard to American trade last year. The imports increased by nine and a-half millions, and the exports decreased by about Bix and a-half millions. Now this is exactly the*opposite of what ought to have occurred, according to* the protectionist theory. America ought to have supplied more of her own wants, and to have had more to export to other nations, but it seems, despite the ring fence she put around her to keep the foreigner out, she imported more and exported less. Of course, it cuts the other way. Some economists will Bay that when a nation is importing more than she is exporting she is growing rich. It is very difficult to generalise accurately from such returns, but all tne same the figures are striking.

If the precis of his speech doeß Mr. Rolleßton justice, the only conclusion is that Mr. Rolleston did not do justice to his position. Judged by tho precis hia speech was lamentably weak. There was neither light nor leading about it. Yet we cannot say we are surprised. As an earnest straightforward public man, with excellent general principles — considerable experience in administrative matters, liberal views on the land question, Mr. Rolieston will always be respected by all who know him, but he lacks many of the qualities necessary for a leader. He has no " go," little of the magnetic influence which draws men to a party, little ability to raise a party standard, and he lacks facility of speech. That he is a thinking critic may be granted, and we dare say much of his criticism is sound enough, but something more than mere criticism is required of a leader. The best point be has made duriDg his leadership has been the need of action in reference to native land questions, and this he appears to have dropped. It seems to us that the time bas nearly arrived when there should be a bold effort at further colonisation of this North Island, especially in the way of acquiring native land, and when public men should not hesitate to say they will advocate borrowing for the purpose, if necessary. The question of further borrowing has to be faced unless land acquisition and roading is to be stopped or at least reduced to the verge of stoppage, and we should like to hear what the leaders have to say on the subject.

Ahd that raises a question as to where the leaders are to be found. With Mr. Ballance unfortunately so ill

that he practically cannot lead opinion, there is left on the Government side no one who stands head and shoulders above his fellows. Messrs. Seddon and Beeves are, of course, the foremost. On the Opposition side Sir John Hall, who has been a successful leader, is now retiring from political strife, and Mr. Bolleston does not satisfy. Captain Eusaell would probably, if he cared to take the trouble, develope into a leader, but has not yet sufficient hold on the country to be one ; and Mr. Bryce gives no sign except that of content ment at being out of Parliament. Where are the leaders to come from ? The present Government party could no doubt rely on Sir Eobert Stout in an emergency, but the Opposition are less fortunately placed in not having a man to fall back upon.

The Stratford County Council is to be congratulated on the action it has taken in asking for an enquiry with reference to the collapse of the butter market, and we have no doubt that the member for the district will qp«operate. The Agent-General has hitherto shown himself to be alive to the practical side of his duties, and we may hope that he will set on foot an enquiry which will go to the root of matters. He should be empowered to secure any expert evidence necessary. Everyone recognises that the events of the past few weeks threaten disaster to Taranaki, and it is essentially necessary that the cause of the trouble should be ascertained, and wherever the fault be it should be located and guarded against for the future. So far as can be judged, it would appear that badness of quality | is mainly responsible for the collapse. The cable quotations show that, though the prices are lower than they were expected to be, butter of good quality is still realising fairly payable rates. It is the inferior sorts which have hurt the markets. If the evil has arisen in transit, by defective packing, by improper mixing, or from any other preventible cause, this should be discovered. It is, somewhat galling to learn that Auckland butter has arrived in splendid condition, but on the other hand it can hardly be supposed that there is any essential difference between Auckland and Taranaki. If the one can be sent to market in good condition the other ought to be — nay, must be. But the first thing is to localise the fault.