The Star. [published daily] FRIDAY, JUNE 29, 1894. THE WEEK.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XXVII, Issue 2758, 29 June 1894, Page 2

The Star. [published daily] FRIDAY, JUNE 29, 1894. THE WEEK.

Tm murder of the unfortunate President Carnot has set the world aghast at the daring desperateness of the anarchists. For the cables have made it all too clear that the assassin was not a mere madman, but a deliberate conspirator, whose movements had excited suspicion, and of whose purpose indeed the French police authorities had been warned. In tbe face ot this fact it is a matter for surprise that he should have obtained his opportunity so soon.

These teems to be no doubt that the President wan murdered in revenge for the execution of the Henrio and the

and other dynamiters ; and the terrible affair must hasten on the organisation of society against the Anarchist*. An English paper, discussing the whole question recently, thus put the position : — " There is a species of human wild beast which must be put out of the world whenever discovered without hesitation or delay, in the interests of the com- ! mnnity. That eleasgntary law of self-preservation W^". always been both just and expedient, but its justice and expediency have never in the history of the world been so apparent and so unquestionable as they are in an age when science has placed unprecedented facilities for wholesale murder within the reach of those who are cruel and cowardiy enough to use them. The duel between eocietv and its foea mmt be fought out to the death." In this case dynamite has given way to the knife, the moral being that the 11 human wild beast " changes its methods to make opportunities.

A question which seems to give concern is how far the taking off of Carnot may unsettle political matters in Eranco. He was a success as President because he kept tbe machinery of Government going smoothly, and the most valuable man at the head of French affairs i« be who bas tbe necessary influence to moderate party heat and national effervescence. How far tbe new President will meet the required condition remains to be seen.

;The tragic death of President Carnot serves to remind us of his grandfather, who took so active a part in the great revolution in the closing days of last century ; the " organiser of victory," as his sobriquet became. But despite his services he has come under the .ban. Robesoierre had him on a " little list," and Carlyle graphically describes how slipping out from dinner one evening and searching the coat pockets Carnot found this list, and that night did not linger over the wine, but made himself scarce by fight.

While Europe has been ablaze with the fall of one man, another dreadful affair, the mining explosion in Wales, has been somewhat overlooked. Over three hundred men cut off in the prime of life, and many of them, pathetically the story read, lost their lives in a gallant attempt to rescue their comrades. All the restrictions ot legislation, all the applications of science have failed to prevent these mining explosions, which how and then plunge half a country-side in mourning.

A more joyous incident ia the birth of an heir to the Duke and Duchess of York, this presumably securing the b accession to the Crown in the direct line. There has been some little anxiety lest the direct line should fail, the Duke of York, owing to the death of his only brother, having been the last life, and in the event of his having no heir the crown would have gone to the Duchess of Fife.

The news that the meat trade is not likely to make much headway on the continent, owing to the protectionist sentiment, is not unexpected, and though we have no desire to revive the somewhat long discussion which has been proceeding in our columns on the subject of protection, it is worth while quoting a few figures to show how the system works in France as regards the consumer of meat. The Parii correspondent of the Daily News, the leading British Liberal paper, telegraphed the figures to show how all but the rich are being starved : " The poor, however," he says, " are the worse off, both relatively and absolutely. The tough meat sold at Clignan-court is actually dearer than the better kind sold in the quarter of the Champs-Elsyees. With veal at from Is 6d to Is 8d Ib, mutton at Is sd, and beef at la 7|d or Is B|d in a poor neighborhood, there are absolutely no more errors to commit. Bread is just as ruinously high. * What wine pays in passing the gate ' has long been a fiscal scandal of the first order. The result is that the petit bleu sold to the Parisian workman is the vilest compound known to the pharmacopoeia of the wine trade. The butchers, oddly enough, have been among the first to protest. They find that they cannot sell their wares, and they are going into bankruptcy. The drought of last year has proved the breakdown of the system. The tariffs have shut out the foreign meat that should naturally have supplemented the deficiencies of native produce, and the unhappy consumer has to pay the exorbitant prices of a limited supply. The only relief offered from beyond the sea comes from Algeria. Algeria is a French colony, and a patriotic Frenchman ought to eat its mutton. But unfortunately they cannot ; it is too tough. Yet the French Government ersist in the insane project of encouraging Algeria to grow supplies for which she is not fitted, simply because she happens to fly the flag." And meanwhile prime colonial meat in stores across tne Channel has been plentiful and cheap.

Evbots in Parliament during the first week of the session have shown that as anticipated Sir Robert Stout means to play the part of the " candid friend " to the Government. His criticism in connection with alleged irregularity m the issue of certain writs, tnd his denunciation o£ the Eraser appointment, and the pressing of his motion for the appointment of some fit and proper person, even though that was taken as a noconfidence motion, shows his temper. The event also shows that so far he has practically no following, for he made out a pretty strong case in regard to the Sergeant-at-Arms. Apart from questions affecting the fitness of Colonel Eraser, the ooint [ seems to he that the Government have no power to appoint him owing to the provisions of the law, which set out that no person shall be appointed to any office in the civil service within twelve months of his ceasing to be a member of the House. The Government seek to get over this difficulty by paying nothing until Colonel Fraser has been twelve months clear of the House, say next December. In the meantime he is discharging the duties and keeping the place warm for himself. This at any rate is wide of the intention of the Legislature, which obviously was to put

such a term between tbe rendering of |i political service and its reward by .appointment to an office tbat no man should be able to count on such a reward, and a Government should not be able to offer it. But if by an expedient of this sort tbe law is to be I evaded, then it is not of much use.