NOTES ON THE NEWS OF THE WEEK.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1354, 10 February 1898, Page 31

NOTES ON THE NEWS OF THE WEEK.

THE CONDITION OF CUBA. Since General Blanco has arrived in Cuba, as successor to General Weyler (“The Butcher”) and possible peacemaker, he has had many opportunities of observing the iniquitous results of the “ policy ” ■which has decimated whole provinces of the fair island. The church registers alone show over 400,000 deaths in Western Cuba for fourteen months! Most of these were from starvation and its accompanying pestilence, thousands more have died in small country towns, or have sought refuge from the ravaging troops in the woods, and died there. In Santa Clara province alone 71,847 deaths are officially recorded. In the great reconcentration district at Santa Clara city 5000 of these people have perished of hunger;.in Sagua la Grand 12,441. In Matanzas and Havana provinces things have been very much worse, for at least 80 per cent, of the concentrated population has disappeared, and once crowded settlements are now silent and deserted. Photographs have recently been taken which show pictures far worse in comparison to those sent from faminestricken India, and unless substantial aid is at once forthcoming the rural population will be entirely wiped out. One hundred thousand dollars has been appropriated by the authorities to combat the evil; but this tardy help, though a good deal for Spain, will not provide three days’ bread at the present price of provisions in the island. Spain can : never undo the evil she has deliberately countenanced, and an alarming increases.of berri-berri —a misnomer for a vile plague which is no respecter of persons, is obtaining a great hold on the wretched country. A “GOLD BUG” FEAST. A day or two since the cable informed us . that President McKinley had been entertained by a number of plutocrats whose aggregate- wealth totalled one billion ster 7 ling ! That the possession of such enormous wealth by a few individuals can prove otherwise than a menace to any country will not be contended, we should say, by the thoughtful among men. The aggregation of wealth, under ordinary circumstances, is not in itself an evil; but when its possessors use the power that wealth gives to dominate a whole nation and to lead still further to the aggrandisement of particular families and monopolistic rings, the evil can no longer be hidden away from the sight and sense of the masses of the people. The dominion of money can only last so long as the nation remains deaf and blind; " but so soon as the really great men of a country sound the alarm, and it is taken up and echoed far and wide, the effect produced will be startling. It was Mr W. T. Stead who, some years ago, pleaded with the millionaires of Britain to “flee from the wrath” which their selfishness and soullessness would assuredly create for them. And now Lord Charles Beresford has taken up the parable. At a Christmas gathering of the New Vagabonds’ Club at the Holborn Restaurant, Lord Charles, by the startling nature of his remarks, created a sensation. Money, he declared, was now everything among the British people; money would buy access to what was known as the very best society; andlet anybody go to England with enough money, no matter whether it had been gained honourably or disgracefully, there was no door which he could not hope to enter. In old days, he averred, it was not so, but money was destroying the old pride and the old chivalry. When a man in the “ best society ” committed a dishonourable act-—indeed, a crime—that society banded itself together to screen . him, instead of hanging him to a tree and casting his body into a ditch. And Lord Charles prophesied the ruin of the Empire unless the dominion of money could be made to cease. The Vagabonds were almost aghast at first, but their subsequent cheers showed tKe reception such outspoken truths are likely to get. MR JOHN HOLMES’ MISSION. If the visit of Mr John Holmes to Man- ' Chester has. done nothing else it has gained for him some idea of the potentialities of direct trade with the great manufacturing centre of Lancashire, which he may be depended upon to turn to account for New Zealand. It appears from jthe contents of a private letter which we have been privileged to see that Mr Holmes has learned of the anxiety of the large importers of Manchester to get direct | connection with New Zealand, if possible via the Canal.. There is, however, a great deal of opposition to this course owing to the vested interests in London and Liverpool. Mr Holmes thinks, however, that by combination of the Bradford wool importers and dairy produce and frozen meat purchasers in Manchester there should be no difficulty in establishing direct communication from New Zealaud to Lancashire, where, as we ail know, there is an enormous population. It is estimated that with direct communication to Manchester the population of nine to ten million people could be more advantageously served and the very heavy transhipping and railway charges from London would be avoided. The frozen meat trade at present in Manchester seems to be in the hands of South America, which country supplies a light merino sheep, which is more suitable for the district than our half-bred or crossbred mutton. Thousands of operatives in the Manchester cotton mills prefer very . lean meat, and Mr Holmes sees no reason why an increased export of merino should not be made from New Zealand for the Lancashire market. It is believed that there are many runs in this colony friw(?b would largely benefit by such an

outlet and it cannot fail to be of great interest at anyrate for them to know that the establishment of direct shipping via the Manchester Canal would open an outlet, not only for our merino mutton, but also for our butter and cheese. The latter trade is at present largely in the hands of the Canadian people, who are making special efforts to extend the trade which is done via Liverpool at present. A DISPUTE IN THE W.W.C.T.U. To those who are unaware of the causes which have led to the resignation of Mrs Josephine Butler, of the office of Superintendent of the Purity Department of the World’s Women’s Christian Temperance Union, it will be interesting to recount the details as they have been placed before us by the executive officers. It appears that Lady Henry Somerset —consequent upon the revelations made by the commission appointed to enquire into the health of the Army in India—wrote to the London Times and made a proposal for regulation in the cantonments. The proposal caused much indignation in certain quarters, especially by the members of the British Women’s Temperance Association, and matters, subsequently came to such a head that Lady Henry Somerset resigned her position as President. At a meeting held subsequently by the executive, Lady Somerset furnished a paper in justification of her proposals and the following resolution was passed : “ That the National Executive adheres to the principle re-affirmed by the Council at its last meeting, namely, that of uncompromising hostility to the whole system of the State regulation of vice, by whomsoever suggested, but inasmuch as temperance reform is the primary question affecting the constitution and membership of the Association, this executive expresses its continued confidence in Lady Henry Somerset as the President of the National British Women’s Temperance Association, and earnestly hopes that she will continue to hold that office.” In October last the World’s Women’s Christian Temperance Union, to which the British organisation is affiliated, held its biennial convention in Toronto. Of this more comprehensive body Lady Henry Somei'set has been Vice-President. Mrs Josephine Butler, who has been for nearly 30 years leader of the anti-regulation movement, alike in England and on the Continent of Europe, accepted a few years ago the position of Superintendent of the Purity Department of this world-wide organisation. In that capacity she wrote to the Toronto Convention an important letter, saying: “ If there is any spirit of compromise in that great Association, or if the election is in the hands of any perverted or even undecided leaders of committees, then I feel I must at once sever any connection with them and you.” The assembled delegates passed a resolution supporting Mrs Butler, but neutralised its effect by re-electing Lady Henry Somerset as Vice-President. As soon as she became seized of the facts Mrs Butler resigned the position of Superintendent, and the following resolution was subsequently passed unanimously at a meeting of the British Committee of the Federation for the Abolition of the State Regulation of Vice: —“That this committee respectfully offers to its leader, Mrs Josephine Butler, its cordial thanks for and appreciation of the prompt and consistent manner in which, at a critical time in the history of our abolition movement, she has resigned her connection with the World’s Women’s Christian Temperance Union as World’s Superintendent of its Purity Department. This committee recognises with gratitude the loyalty to our cause expressed in the resolutions unanimously passed by the members of the W.W.C.T.U. at Toronto, but it regards the action of the Executive Committee of that body (which has for one of its objects the promotion of social purity) in re-appoint-ing Lady Henry Somerset, a pronounced regulationist, to the office of Vice-President as undoing the value of these resolutions, as confusing the public sentiment, and as injurious to the progress of the great principles of this committee, of which principles Mrs Butler has for nearly 30 years been the chief exponent and defender all over the world. And this committee expresses its determination to continue the most uncompromising warfare against regulation in all forms and under every name and by whomsoever maintained.” THE VAINGLORIOUS KAISER. Prior to the departure of Prince Henry of Prussia to China—by the way, he has not reached there yet —with a German squadron, there was, as we all know, a banquet at Kiel at which the Kaiser was present. Extraordinary speeches were made by the brothers, and some of the German newspapers have not hesitated to say that these were in many parts impious. Coming down to a lower level, Kaiser Wilhelm spoke of the expedition as the “ first effects of a newly-united and newlycreated German Empire in its duties across the seas.” He said that Imperial power meant maritime power, and that the German fleet in Chinese waters—reinforced by Prince Henry’s division—would now have to stand forth as the symbol of Imperial and maritime power. The colossal fleet referred to by the Kaiser — which has since stopped at Socotra for orders and to seek for coal —consisted of one 7000 ton 23-year-old iron battleship and one 4000 ton cruiser! A writer in the London Daily Chronicle thus pokes fun at the whole thing The colossal fleet of the German Empire has sailed on its perilous voyage. The Fatherland haß once more put forth its whole national strength when immediate danger threatened. On the other side of the globe a tremendous armed force, naval and military, has flung down the gage of battle. Soon all the world will be deafened by the clash of arms and the roar of cannon, Human life anfi treasure will be

poured out like water, and thousands of homes will be dark in sorrow before the blood-stained laurels of victory are brought back. The Kaiser has risen to the occasion with heroic courage, and Prince Henry has gone forward to battle and perchance to death, regarding nothing but his patriotic duty. No one can look on unmoved at such a spectacle, and our prayers must go up for the victory of civilisation over the countless barbarian hordes. “ Deutschland , Deutschland über Alles / ” THE AFBIDIS. General Lockhart, interviewed in London, gives it as his opinion that another campaign against the Afridis will be necessary before those turbulent tribesmen will be prepared to fully submit. This will be disappointing news for the British people, as it will be for the War Office. Blood and treasure have been poured out in vain; the British forces have fought valiantly, but only to be eluded after all by the mountaineers, who have slipped away to fastnesses where our soldiers could not follow. General Lockhart confesses himself beaten; but there need be no surprise expressed. The Afridi is an impossible creature, and it will take more men and money to “ deal ” with him than the British will have the inclination to find. As one writer has said, there is no reliance to be placed in the word of an Afridi. Ruthless, cowardly robbery ; cold-blooded, veacberous murder are to him the salt of life. Brought up from his earliest childhood amid scenes of appalling treachery and merciless revenge, nothing Ciin ever change him. As he has lived—a shameless, cruel savage —so he dies. And it would seem that, notwithstanding their long intercourse with the British, and the fact that very large numbers of them are, or have been, in our service, and must have learnt in some poor way what faith, and mercy, and justice are, yet the Afridi character is no better than it was in the days of his fathers. Much has been said of their fidelity in fighting against their own people for us, but when it is remembered that an Afridi generally has a blood feud with nine out of ten of his own people, the beauty of this attachment fades. They have always been more noted in action for a readiness to plunder than to fight. On the whole, they are the greatest robbers among Afghans, and have no faith or sense of honour whatever. SIR ROBERT IN HIS RETIREMENT. Sir Robert Stout, it will be seen, has thought it wise to retire from polities so that by devoting the whole of his energies to the practice of his profession he may repair his financial position, and thus consult the private interests of himself and family. There is no truth whatever in the statement that' a big salary was the price of his retirement and it is matter for regret that any such assertion was ever made. Everyone will honour the man who believes that his first duty is to the members of his own household, and we can only add the hope that the inroads made upon his means will neither cripple nor prejudice him in any way. The sympathy and respect of all men will follow Sir Robert into his retirement from the political arena, and we feel sure that all wiil join with us in the hope that he may long be spared to adorn that profession of which he is one of the leading members.