NEWS AND VIEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVII, Issue 11365, 7 May 1900, Page 3

NEWS AND VIEWS.

AUSTRALIAN RAILWAYS.

Less than 100 years ago there) was only a single obscure settlement on the shores ; . of Port Jackson, New South Wales. To-day the greatisland continent is divided between five strong and prosperous self-governing States, each with it own Legislature and capital city, and possessing an aggregate population of over, four million*). Each State controls the education of tho people, and owns the water supply, tho telegraph linos, and tho railways, constituting a splendid national asset, without including other sources of income. Whilst most of tho groat railway lines of Great Britain, America, and other countries owe their origin to private enterprise, and are tho property of public companies, the policy of the various Australian Governments has boon steadfastly directed towards the ownership and control of all railways by tho State. In pursuance of this policy, a largo proportion of tho money borrowed by the colonics lias been devoted to railway construe tion, and out of a total of 13,500 miles at present open for traffic in Australia, 13,000 miles arc State property. Those railways have opened up and developed enormous tracts of country, have promoted settlements, and as nearly all tho land required for their construction was actually Government property, they represent a value far beyond their actual cost. Bailways are essential to tho progress of every country, but especially is this the case with record to Australia, which possesses the magnificent area of threo million square miles of territory, richly endowed with a fcrtilo soil, and teeming with mineral wealth of every description. It has inexhaustible resources, and its potentialities are practically im-

bounded.— Railway. LOUD ROSEBERTS CREED. Lord Roscbory has formally, terminated Ins connection with tho Midlothian Liberal Association—" a society with which," bo rays, " I am linked by lifo-loup ties and stirring memories"—and the Scottish Liberal Association. To the former association Lord Kosobery wrote:— " But though I now resume absolute independence unfettered oven by the slight bonds of nominal office, it is, I beg you to behove, in no way inconsistent with the principles which have guided my past life from its commencement : -Liberalism at homo ana the maintenance, of our free, unaggressive, tolerant Empire abroad ; in a word the large and efficient development of our nation on liberal lines, both within and outside these islands. This always has been and always must bo my creed, whether in political or private lifo: whether or no it consist with the framework of any actual political party. " It is a matter of no moment except to myself. I only mention it lost my own friends should imagine that I contemplate anything but personal enfranchisement. In closing his connection with the Scottish Liberal Association, over which lie has lons presided, Lord Rosebery expresses tlio following sentiments:— "This severance represents no now departure on mv part, but is tho natural corollary of mv resignation in October, 1896. Since then I have only been a sleeping partner in the association, with political liabilities beyond ray control. A relation which is purely formal/but which involves apparent responsibility, is a falso position, and should not °" But though I resume my entire independence as a just and logical consequence of v ovkms action, I retain all tho friendship and gratitude which I must always feel for my old political associates. PHILOSOPHER OF ST. HELENA. Hero ho (Napoleon) spoke anew about escaping, and said that if ho was inclined to try it, which lie was not, there were .95 chances in 100 against Ins effecting it "but," caul he, "this gaoler every weekimposes new and vexatious restrictions upon me, just as if I was in a place where I had nothing to do but to stop into a boat and "When I was in Elba it was different. It is true that while one lives there is a dianco of escape; although ironed and chained down, enclosed in a cell of stone, and every human precaution taken against a possibility of it, still there is a chanco of escape and tho only way to prevent it is to put mo to death. Let him put me to death, and all uneasiness on tho part of tho European Powers. Lord Castlcrcagh himself, and his Government, will cease 1 No more expenso i then, no more squadrons to watch mo, or poor soldiers, fatigued to death with pickoti and guards, or harassed with carrying burdens lip thoso precipices. "I am sure thoso poor devils have reason to halo mo and wish my death. They must, however, bo conscious that the fatiguing duties imposed upon them are unnecessary and vexatious, as the sight of the island must convince overyonc but a suspicious _ cogHone' that escape from it was nearly impossible, unless, as I have said before, that while there is lifo there is a chance, if attempted. "Where could I go to, allowing that I got out of tho island Every place I could arrive at I would find enemies to seize me. This governor's conduct will soon be known in Eneland, and will not procure him any credit there. Those officers all will writo 'an account of the unnecessary rigour with which I am treated, and their opinion of it. The newspapers will be full of it."—From Dr. O'Meara Diary—published in the Century -of his Talks with Napoleon whilo at St. Helena,

A STUDY IN GRATITUDE. HOW BRITAIN HAS BEFRIENDED THE ORLEANS FAMILY. A French black-and-white artist, Willetto by name, recently indulged in an ignoblo caricature of Queen Victoria. Seeking to flatter the Anglophobia of tlio French, tho Duke of Orleans wrote a letter of congratulation to the artist. , . , . His cousin, Prince Honri. has made it his practice to writo in La Matin childish articles, in which he preaches war against En?: land. These bellicose appeals linn* hira applause from all parties, which in Franco is not an easy matter to obtain. The Orleans family is really a curious one. During tho minority of Louis XV. the Regency was in tho hands of Philippe, Duke of Orleans. Ho paved the way for the scandals of the reign of Louis XV., and throuch dissipation contributed towards inspiring Franco with the distrust of Royalty. His son, tho famous Duko of Orleans, is one of tho most repulsive figures of tho French Revolution. As dissipated as tho Regent, he was, moreover, profoundly ambitious. In lovo with Queen Mario Antoinette, his suit rejected by that unfortunate princess, lie immediately became her most bitter enemy, and spread about her—notably at the time" of the celebrated affair of the diamond necklncc-tho most outrageous calumnies. As bo was immensely rich, the traces of bis work were met with in all the risings of tho populace which constituted the prelude to the French Revolution. The part ho played therein was revolting, and in order to do homage to the canaille, he went to tho length of repudiating his own name and having himself styled Philippe Egalito. This abject conduct did not save him, for not only did the Revolution not stive him the crown to which lie had aspired, hut it cent him to the scaffold. The Duke of Orleans had a son who embraced with fervour the ideas of his father, and served with the armies of the Republic. This was Louis Philippe d'Orlean.-. who was to reign under tho name of Louis Philippe I. In spite of his Republicanism, he was compelled to fly from the guillotine, and sought an asylum in England, eking out his livelihood in London by giving drawing lessons. At tho Restoration, he returned to Franco together with Louis XVIII. The Bourbon! of the elder branch made pretence of forgetting the nauseating infamy of Philippe Egalile's acts towards them, and loaded his son with benefactions. Tie took advantage thereof to imitate his father, and, like him, conspired against his blood relations. His underhand intrigues had much to do with the Revolution of 1830, and at th? time when, with the old King Charles X., the elder branch of the House of France was flying into exile, tho younger branch ascended the throne in the person of Louis Philippe I. When the revolution of February, 1843, burst forth, and the old King was compelled to fly into exile, he took refugo for the second time in England. Ho was received here by the Royal Family in a kindly and courteous fashion—an act which his heir should not forget. It was in England that tho Comto do Paris, father of the present Duko of Orleans!, was brought up, and that all tho Princes of Orleans found an asylum during 22 years. After tho war of 1870-71 they returned to Franco, in tho hope that Thiers, a former Minister of Louis Philippe, could havo no other plan but to restore the crown to them. But Thiers held tho family in very meagre esteem. It is he, who, speaking of the Comto do Paris, tho father of our present hero, said: " From afar he looks like a Gorman, but, when you look closely at him, like a fool." Failing in their endeavour to secure tho crown, they demanded from France, whoso resources were then all but exhausted by tho war, the reimbursement of enormous sums which they claimed to have lost during the revolution of 1848. This act did not increaso their popularity in Franco. The Duke has a right to keep in thepublio eyo of France, but it is unkind of him, to j say the least, to insult tho country that baa skeltered hid family for 59 years.-DaiftMail,.