PASSING EVENTS.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 4319, 30 March 1901, Page 1 (Supplement)

PASSING EVENTS.

History i» -philosophy teaching by examples, —Thucydides. ’From the "New Zealand Mail." Naturalists have observed that the multiplication of organs tends to weaken the physical strength of animal life; so it may bo in regard to the corporate body of society. In Wellington wo have now two organisations. A ratepayers -association and a "new” municipal association have been called into being, and their objects are alleged to be similar. The "now and progressive” municipal association is, however, more particular as to what it is not, and what if does not want to do than it is with respect to the objects it has in view for the betterment of the city. It is only from the speeches made that any notion •of the new association can bo obtained. It has been said, and repeatedly rejtora tort, that this "new and progressive” organisation, “would rigorously exclude party politics from its consideration.” This reminds ns of the orator who having cautioned Ids hearers not to molest oppositionists or throw stones at their dwellings, declared that the opponents lived on the loft, hand side of the street and all their friends on the right. There was not a whole window in the houses on the left .side the next morning. But while there is seeming unity' of aim among; the “leading lights”- of the rnnui. cipail associations, there are indications that the sweetness of their present harmoniousness will be broken by a rift wi-hin t,he lute. The now association doas not want to run counter to the ratepayers, one speaker said; and another exclaimed : “Much as the ratc-Vn-yp-ra might dislike it, much, as it might scorn to menace their vested interests, if the city wanted to progress, the rates must first of all increase for «. time.” It is well to be progressive. It is well to municipalise many public services of utility. Doubtless the housing (problem will have to be dealt with, and . ;it is very probable all their progressive ",-notions will he attained in the future. v iStill, a progressive policy will cost anoney, and as the ratepayers hold the purse-strings, a vast expenditure cannot 5)0 resolved upon without affecting ds. trirnentally t° feme extent and for a time the value of property. It would ho better for the municipal associations to amalgamate their forces and devote their attention to seeing that the programme the Council has now on hand is satisfactorily and expeditiously paraded out.

Whatever the route of the new electric traction tram .service for Wellington may be, (ho world affords abundant •testimony of tho efficiency of electricity for the purpose of tram, haulage. For cheapness and speed olcotrioity has everywhere ■proved satisfactory., Tho ratepayers of "Wellington need not therefore have any hesitation in voting tho am mint required for the purpose of installing the overhead trolly system ,of electric traction for this city. Liverpool, Leeds, Glasgow and other places have initiated such services, and in the minds of some soiontifio authorities the question of light railways has been solved by this expeditious method of conveyance. By the last mail comes the intelligence that the profits from tho municipal) overhead electric tramways in Sunderland have exceeded expectation. One section of the tramways has just been running since August last and another since tho end of November. Tho receipts, which were estimated at tenpence per mile have been eighteenpenco and there, was a net profit of over £3OOO on tho working of the sections so recently installed. Tho corporation decided to f.pendl £27,000 in extensions, and this ■would bring the total invested -up to £250,000, which is expected to produce a profit of £IO,OOO per annum after all expenses have been paid. Tho Wellington corporation is justified in seeking foist loan sufficient to install tho new service ; and, although a special rate of 2d in the £ is provided for, it is inconceivable in the light of the experience of other cities that the ratepayers of Wei. lington will bo called upon ft: contribute it. penny piece towards the maintenance of the service. The advantage, however, to the ratepayer should not be lost sight of. Tho expenditure of so largo a sum must necessarily enhance the value of his property, and a certain modicum of the advantage that a new and up-to-date tram service will afford to residents will certainly accrue to the landed proprietors of the city. Tho “battle of tho route” for a double line in Willis, Cuba and Manners streets will have to bo fought and decided probably before tho loan is sanctioned.

At a time like the presentit is expected that the nations will extend to the King of Great Britain their sympathy and congratulation. Quito a happy turn was given to the exchange of speeches between Britain and France. Lord Carrington, speaking in the King’s name, has exchanged congratulatory addresses with M. Loubet, President of the French Republic. Notwithstanding all that haa been spoken by the anti-British politicians and press of Paris, the better classes of Franco entertain no animosity towards their neighbours on tho northern side of tho channel. The gutter press of tho capital and tho Socialistic members of tho Chamber of Deputies have endeavoured to stir up strife between the two nations. That their efforts have failed, that the threatened invasion of Great Britain and tho capture of Lon. don are not seriously entertained by the responsible and less excitable people of. Franco, coos to show that the French as a whole recognise in Great Britain a source of revenue to their nation that St would bo rank folly to impair. From a purely business point of view, it would he disastrous for France to. quarrel with Great Britain, whose inhabitants ‘-buy of goods from the French six hundred ■millions francs’ worth more than the latter buy from the British. The advantage is altogether with the French, PStd it can easily he understood that no tradesman wants to quarrel with his best customer. But from an inter, national view-point such an interchange r»f anietnii.es as was 'witnessed the- other clay is likely to be productive of good. TVanco desires to be on friendlv terms ■with all her und the idea of heins left alone fills her with dread and apprehension. She is now on friendly.terms with Italv; sho is now more agreeable towards Great Hritain: and if rlie still mistrusts Ger.vyiany and trusts Russia. less than she did some months ago, she has ceased ;o look upon the

Triple Alliance a: a league of hostile forces. "While regarding Groat Britain with something like favour to-day, selfinterest prompts her not to quarrel with her rich and powerful neighbour. The international situation as far as Europe is concerned is peaceful. Of course, this is not an assurance against hostilities at any' moment. Just before the outbreak of the Crimean war in 1H there was not a. oloud on the horoscope of Europe as big as a .man’s hand, but many remember, and all students of history know, what a devastating war cloud broke over the Continent after the Sinope incident. The interchange of congratulatory addresses on behalf of the heads of two Powers may not go for more than the interchange of civilities among respectable citizens ; but that the conditions prevail that render such exchanges possible is a matter for satisfaction and is an assurance at least that “all’s well” for tho present.

There was a time when tho nations of Europe could put implicit faith in the assurances of Russia. At all events (he Emperor of Russia fifty years ago had earned a character for honesty, stratum forwardness and moderation. _ Since those days Russian Emperors, yielding to their ambitions and aggressive advisors, have sacrificed honour and ’ustieo to a passion for acquisition by fraud and deceit —violence, if need bo. The policy' of the Czar, whatever his personal likes and dislikes may be, is revealed in the negotiations over the Kinder’s siding incident, and in the, secret agreement entered into with China for the occupation of Manchuria, while yet the ally of tho Western nations conducting operations around Pekin./ To bully the weak, to cajole tho strong, to seize by' force, or to circumvent by fraud, are now recognised as the uniform tactics of the man who proposed to the world a scheme of universal peace and disarmament while ho wa.s doubling the number of his employees in the arsenals and dockyards of his empire. The Czar h;gl tho courage to propose a policy of disarmament to others, but he was unable to restrain his ministers from expending vast sums on preparations for war. In the Far- Eastern crisis, tho Czar has dis. nlaved a similar policy. He joined the Western Powers in a determination to keep “an open door” in China, and proclaimed a willingness to abstain from the acquisition of territory. Ho scout, eel the notion of any partition of the Celestial Empire among the Powers, bat resolved upon the annexation of Manchuria.' 1 Now it is reported that a secret agreement exists between China and Russia whereby the latter takes possession of that vast fertile region, Count LarasdorfPs assurances to the contrary notwithstanding. The Father of nil the Russians might have obtained greater triumphs in art and industryin developing his vast dominions than ever finesse, fraud and cajolery can afford ; but it seems neither he nor his minions are capable' of forsaking tho practices of barbaric tribes. While avoiding war the Powers must present such a front to the Bear as was tho case just preceding the Crimea, the recollection of which ought to make Russia careful how she deals with the responsible representatives of the Allies how -operating in Northern China.

The ex-communication of Count Loo Tolstoi by the Greek-Church would naturally be a severe blow to a man of seventy-two years of age. But Tolstoi is a philosopher, and if it were our function to discriminate and decide what a Christian is we would he inclined to aver tnafhe who has condemned tho religious persecutions of his poor countrymen by the Russian Government, which is to all intents and purposes the head of the Greek Church, and exercised an extreme self-denial, while he has laboured for the good' of humanity, comes nearer the ideal life of a Christian than those who have persecuted the poor of Russia in the name of the Church. It is true that the great Russian’s writings have been distasteful to the Greek ©hurch. Indeed, they have been described as heretical. We may not agree with either the doctrine of non-resistance and that species of anarchism known as Tolstoian, but we disapprove of the slavery which the Russian Government has imposed upon its people, and wo can make due allowance for him, who, seeing the sufferings of his countrymen, declared that “all the evils of society come from the organised violence of governments.” It is quite Tolstoian. of course, to affirm that to bo subjected by force to a rule of which we disapprove is slavery. This could he construed in a way that would excuse and justify rebellion and insurrection in any part of King Edward’s dominions; but that is not what Tolstoi meant to imply. His teaching all goes to demonstrate that in Russia there is not that freedom for the growth of mind or for moral development which is peculiarly the characteristic of people under the British flag. It may be urged that Tolstoi himself grew and developed amid adverse circumstances, and that if it is possible for one man to so prow, why is it impossible for all ? This would be, however, but to beg the whole Question. Opportunities, education, and environment mould the plastic and freeminded man, the conditions of the Russian peasantry anchor them, soul and body, to a, slavish dependence on and a childish regard for the Czar. Tolstoi metaphorically heard tho chains of his countrymen rattle about their ankles as they laboured for brown bread arid pottage in the fields, and as h© witnessed their sufferings he cried: Their evils come from and are perpetuated by the organised violence of government. The Church and the Czar’s administrators hate Tolstoi, for if his doctrines were trenerally accepted and acted upon by Russians, the freedom which the save would accord them would turn Russia into a bear pardon, the Church would bo sacked and the Czar dethroned. Tolstoi may be described; as an anarchist in Russia, but in Great Britain, where government is constituted by the will of the people for the people, the Russian philosopher would; probably be regarded as a harmless unit of society. In Russia. he' is dreaded by both Church and State. . ’■