HOME NEWS SUMMARY.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXII, Issue 4734, 16 August 1902, Page 3 (Supplement)

HOME NEWS SUMMARY.

(Emm tlm “Spectator.”f LOMJON, -I -1 THE GERMAN EMPEROR.

Tim recent speeches of t.lit* German Emperor and Ins Chancellor upon the Polish question have greatly irritated .Slav feeling, not. onTy In Hie Polish and (V.ech districts of Austria, hut in Ru.ssia.. They will, it. is said, drive the Poles to accept; the ideas of the I’anSlaviu organisation. ami to help to throw them into Iho arms of Russia. This change of feeling will he the easier hocause the Poles are becoming much more nnitetf. and ha.vo ceased to dwelt so entirely upon the. idea of reviving Uhl Poland, with its aristocratic and conservative organisation. The dividing line is now almost exclusively one of creed. Many observers have predicted that tins would ultimately bo the course of Polish opinion—i.e., the recognition that their quarrel with Russia was only, as Potishkine, the Russian poet, long ago declared it to he, ‘*a household, quarrel” which tin rope never would understand. The total result of such a change, if if. occurs, wifi ho to give Russia a. definite foothold both in Germany and Austria,, and to deepen the dislike between, the .Slav and the Teutonic peoples, which arises from a radical difference of nature '[lie “plantation uoiicy,” which is the one non' adopted in Prussia, has always laded, notably in Ireland, and in Prussia directly strengthens the Polish la milords, who can always sell their estates at. a liberal price to Government, and use the money in more prolilahle iinderlakings. A lactom' master is as influential as a landowner. AMERICAN POLITICS. The American President is engaged in a severe struggle with a section of his own party. There is great distress in Cuba, owing to (he ruin of the sugar cultivation, and tlio President that'as the Vnion controls tlio Treat ynuiking power of the Onban Government, it. is I^otlnd to give Hie Cubans preferential terms. lie has .sent. a. Message to Congress strongly advocating this view, and it is accepted by tlio Press, jinrl probably a. majority of Ibn people. The. party managers and many of tin' Senators, however, dislike Mr Roosevelt as much too independent, and with the beet-growers, who arc strongly organised, they think they can inflict on him a humiliation which will impair his influence. Ho is a dangerous man to treat, in that way, more especially on a ([tiostion in regard to which the hninano sentiment of the American people, and tlio growing disliko of tho great commercial “rings,” are both upon his sick. Americans like Protection, but, as has recently been seen m tlio case of the Reef Trust, they object even for llm sAke of Protection to starve anybody, and if is coming in parts of Cuba to actual hunger.

THE ROYAL ASIATIC SOCIETY. A banquet given by the Royal Asiatic Society on Tuesday was marked by two events of interest: an official statement by tbo Dnko of Con naught, that the. Prince and Princess of Wales would shortly visit India, and a, speech from the Alaharajah of Gwalior professing even passionate loyally to “my Ring and Emperor.” It is* not yet a hundred years since the Mahraita sword was broken, ami though it was flic interest of every Hindoo Prince to stand by the Overlord who guarantees him against rebellion and against the much-dreaded .Mussulman ascendency, there lingers a fceljng ainpng Malirattas which renders this public declaration most acceptable. Sindbia is the most powerful and the wealthiest, as bo is personally the most capable, of tbo Mahratta Princes, and had bis father joined tbo mutineers in. 1858 when his army revolted, tbo task af Sir Hugh Rose might have been more difficult than it was. The Malirattas are not only bravo soldiers, they are quickwitted men, they aro most orthodox Hindoos, tbo tradition of their victory over the Mogul still lives among them, and should they ever rise in united rebellion “the fire,” to in so their own phrase, would really bo “in the bills. ’ When wo crushed them before, wo had the genius of Wellington and the soldiership of Lord! Lake to help us, and oven thou tho fight was sharp. A TREACHEROUS RUSSIAN. Colonel Grimm, tbo Russian officer who betrayed official secrets to the Ger* man Intelligence Department, has been tried by Court-Martial for his offence. Ho made a full and detailed confession, and doubtless for that reason Ids life was spared; but tho sentence upon him is still a terrible one. Ho is condemned to degradation from his rank, to twelve years’ penal servitude in tho mines of Saghalk-n. the Russian Botany Bay, and to pass tbo remainder of his life, if ho survives, in some village of Siberia north of Irkutsk. It is said that his treachery will cost tho War Department £1,200,000, as many fortifications must bo* rebuilt, and some bridges moved. Colonel Grimm has, it is stated, petitioned the Emperor to commute Ins sentence into ono of death; but the example is too dangerous, many bad) men of his type being,willing to risk the necessity of ultimately committing suicide. Tbo sentence will, wo imagine, be confirmed, and wo do not envy tho feelings of the German officer who conducted tho negotiations.

THE SICK MAN OF EUROPE. Coustantinoplo is full of rumours as to now developments of the Sultan’s system of terrorism. It is rumoured that Fuad Pasha., who was recently arrested, condemned by a Court-Martial for treason, am! sent t-o Syria, died on his voyage, while all the officers of the man-o’-war have been promoted. This must, bo an invention, as Fuad was seen after his arrival in Damascus, but it shows popular opinion as to the Sultan’s methods. There are stories of further plots within' tho Army, and it is asserted on fair Viennese authority that tho Sultan has 1 prohibited tho issue of any more books in Turkish, thus closing tho doors of many printing establishments. His Majesty, it appears, is of opinion that enough books are in existence, and that those who want to indulge themselves with reading can read tho old ones. Tho object of tho order is, of course, to suppress tho circulation of “seditious” literature, and its effect will be to make that literature more dangerous. Tho authors of secret lithographed pamphlets, circulated as letters, will uso language which no ordinary printer daro print or soli. No 'Press Law ever works in obscurantist interest unless it permits printing, but places all printed matter under censorship. A NAVAL OFFICER’S PRIMARY DUTY.

In the House of Lords on Tuesday Lord Selborne made an important statement in answer to a question addressed to him by Lord Wilton. Lord Wilton wanletl to know whether, in view of the recent experiments with capped pro-

jeclik-s. it. was intended to strengthen I lie armoured hell, of Hie •’Monmouth class of cruisers, and also whether it ua:s intended to provide WAT >!np:. v. Uji an adequate number of ®ipped projectiles. Lord Seihorne in reply declared I hat the ten ships of the “Monmouth class u ere already far advanced towards completion, and if at the present limo the Board of Admiralty were .-<> ill-ad-vised as to endeavour fo recast the whole d-.sign of those vessels tl.e result could not, he satisfactory, and the delay would he very great. It was impossible to combine every quality in every slop. With regard to the adoption of cappeo shot, that was, in the opinion ot naval experts, as ho staled last year, not a simple but an extremely complex question. Hut, said Lord Seihorne, and here all thinking men will agree with liim, the essential thing is that Hie men behind the gun should know how to shoot. “Every officer in his Majesty s Nnvv should understand that his primary iuid most important duty is to make tlio men ?uuler him the. best shots in tho world.” We are delighted to find that tho Admiralty has at last como to recognise the truth of Earragut’s illuiriinntinf'* docvrinc lh;iU accurate and rapid gim-fire is the best form of armour.—it will he remembered how 111 tho action of Santiago tho "Gloucester, an armed yacht, successfully engaged a Spanish ironclad which could have sunk her with one shot; simply by a tiro so quick and rapid that. It prevented! the enemy working his guns with any effect. —Let ns hope that, having officially recognised the paramount importance ef good shooting, the Hoard will givo all the encouragement in their power to officers ami men who make good practice. IT wit certainly lias not been the official custom hitherto.

EDUCATION IN ENGLAND. On Tuesday tbo discussion of the first clause of the Kducation Bill—that which constitutes tho new local authority—was resumed in the. Commons, Sir Edward Grey moving an amendment providing that tho Council of a borough of over ton thousand, or of a largo urban district, must obtain tho consent, of tbo County Council before becoming I lie local authority for elementary education. The discussion revealed a good many cross-currents, Air Cripps and Sir William Anson supporting the amendment, while Mr Bryco and Air Alathcr urged its withdrawal. Air Balfour rebutted! the charge of inconsistency brought against the Government. There was no justification for tbo view that Iho proviso in tho first clause ran counter to tbo principle of ono education authority. Tho object of the Bill was to get rid of illc ail hoc system so that there should not be two popularly elected bodies in tbo same area with equal rating powers. Tho view of tiic Govonmient was that primary ought no longer to bo artificially divorced from secondary education, and that principle was in no sense interfered with by Uio proviso, for tbo boroughs and urban districts concerned would bo able to co-ordinate primary with secondary education, upon which they could already exercise control. Tbo amendment having been rejcctdl by 272 to 111, Sir William Harcourt reviewed and condemned tho Government proposals at great length, after which Mr Balfour moved the Closure, and tho first clause was agreed to by 305 votes to 122—a majority of 183.

“SHIPS. COLONIES AND COAIAiERCE.” Sir John Colomb delivered a long and most interesting address on “Our Ships, Colonies, and Commerce in Time of War” before tho London Chamber of Commerce on Alonday afternoon. Discussing tbo question of ships in relation to military. invasion by sea, Sir John emphasised tho important proposition that “modern warships cannot bo used for the transport of troojjs,—-there is no room. Tbo Mercantile Alarine, therefore, is tbo only agency by which military invasion can bo now accomplished.” Tho practical illustration which ho then gave'of our real situation is fairly reassuring, but it did not prevent Ids earnestly impressing on the Colonics the need of a more liberal recognition of tho obligations cf partnership, and of securing “tbo maintenance of common interests and tbo defence of common rights. To provide for the prosperity of British shipping and the development of British commerce is the real business of every son of our oceanic Empire m peace. To make sacrifices to secure the ■safety in war of both is Ids duty, and the true test of his patriotism.”

EIGHTY-THOUSAND STRONG. Some very interesting figures have been published this week in regard to the numbers of tho Boers. Tho original estimates placed the forces of the Transvaal v at about 30 000 men, andl those of the Orange Erco State at 22,000, a total of 02,000. In addition there were tho foreign legion and the Capo rebels. It now appears that tho total Boer force exceeded 80,000, of whom at least 11,000 were killed and wounded. Tho prisoners and previously surrendered Boers number about 51,000, and tho final surrender accounts for 18,000. In addition there must be a considerable number of men who managed to get back into Cape Colony without being detected, and further, a good body of men who have managed to “lie low” in different parts of the vast theatre .of war. But even if the total is only 80.000 men, tho magnitude of the task wo undertook in tho year 1899 is sufficiently obvious. To overcome 80,000 mounted men in their own country some six thousand miles away from your base is something to be proud of. THE MARTINIQUE DISASTER.

A correspondent of tho “Daily Mail” living in St. Vincent forwards two facts thence which aro both of interest. Ono is that, tho volcanic dust has acted there as a fertiliser, tho crop of flowers in places covered many inches deep being unprecedented; and another that Ea Souffricro killed its victims with merciful instantancou.sno.ss. “In some bouses in St. Vincent people were found still sitting around their tables at tea. One man bad a smile on bis face, and had evidently died with a word on his lips. Another had a pipe in Ids mouth and his band outstretched for a match.” Similar accounts camo from Martinique, where tho Governor protests against tho ahandoiunont of tho island. Ho says that the hundred and sixty-five thousand who still remain cannot be removed by sea, and that although St. Pierre must ho abandoned, it is only necessary to shift the people in the neighbourhood tt> tho districts still remaining productive. ELECTRICAL ENTERPRISE. A deputation from tho Institute of Electrical Engineers waited on tho Hoard of Trade on Tuesday to complain of obstacles to tho development of electrical enterprise in England. Their real grievance is that tho local authorities have too much power over all projects, they having, as regards traction particularly, an absolute right of. veto. Mr Gerald Balfour's answer was substali-

tiaiiy l lust lie partly agreed with tho i-einonst rant,-, but tha*. lie hardly sr.\ flow to help them, as he found the local authorities nearly irresistible in the House of Commons. He could only hope thru a compromise would he arrived at. As regards electrical supply, such a compromise. had been devised, and would he embodied in a Bill as soon as tune could be, found to consider it in Parliament. The rea] origin of the deadlock, wmch is serious and arrests progress in the improvement of commnnieat , --<ns. is that each of the powerful interests involved, the eapalists and the local bodies, wants all the profit of electrical improvement. They must, wo fancy, the country being England, agree to divide, even if the community has to pay a little more for fhc promised advantages.

LONDON, June 28 THE KAISER TALKS.

The German Emperor has made another striking speech, this time at Aix-la-Chapollc. Ho declared that “the mighty German army was tho support of bho peace of Europe,” amid which “the German tongue was passing beyond seas.” Every “thought of science is first turned to account by ns, to be afterwards adopted by others. This is tho world-wido imperium after which tho Germanic genius strives,” and may attain if “tho Empire is rooted in simplicity and the fear of God.” Tho Popo had always kept a high opinion of tlio piety of Germans, and had recently told tho German Ambassador that the country in Europe where order and discipline still prevailed with respect for authority and regard for tlio Church was Germany. Tlio “two great creeds” must therefore, while living side by side, keep in view ono great aim—to

uphold and strengthen tho fear of God. “Ho who docs not found himself upon religion is a lost man.” We believe the Emperor is quite sincere in his passionate expressions- but his piety docs nob prevent his socking a great fleet, as, indeed, ho acknowledged next day at Crofeld, or longing for wealth for his people, or on occasion launching hroopa at his enemies, who certainly are not merciful. His is, in fact, a manyfacctcd mind, and its colour changes with tho angle upon which the light happens to fall.

THE PANAMA CANAL.

The American Congress has practically decided that the transoceanic canal shall bo cub through Panama, and not through Nicaragua. Wo believe the decision to bo a wise one, tho Panama routo being shorter by ■ five-sixths—-twenty-seven miles against a hundred and thirty—froo from tho necessity of building locks, and comparatively exempt from tho danger of volcanic disturbance. Tho work will probably he commenced next year, and American, engineers may be trusted to push on; but we sec no hint as yet whence tho necessary labour is to bo obtained. Even Neapolitans will not face the climate of Panama, and negroes, who will, dio of tho terrible miasma oven faster than white men. Tho only men who can be trusted to do tho work are the Chinese; but the cost of bringing them and repatriating them after the canal is opened will he very great, even according to American ideas. , THE STATES AND CUBA. Tho American Senate positively refuses, notwithstanding President Eoosc-

volt's rocjmvrt. to give tlic Cubans preferential terms for i lie import of tlmir 1 sugar. without which the islanders say 1 they must give up tho cultii ation. The 1 re-i'stance is not duo entirely to the fears of tile growers of beetroot, but also to the dread entertained by many Senators that if t)m system of protection is relaxed on any point or for any consideration, it will go by tnc board. Tbe press is for the most part with the President as is also a large section of the. people; and it is believed that tbc Constitution provides liim with tho means of making another appeal to the better sense. He can mako a treaty with Cuba admitting her sugars at a low rate, and-leave it to the Senate to confirm or reject that treaty. Under ordinary circumstances the Senate would, of course, reject it, but tbe people are getting so angry at what they consider tlio callous cruelty of the capitalists that tho recalcitrant Senators mav tremble for their seats. Tim inclination of Americans is to stand by tho President.

RUSSIAN 'DISCONTENT.

The St. Petersburg correspondent of the “Times” forwards a remarkable illustration of the depth of tho cleavage between the Government and the cultivated classes. The now Minister of tlio Interior, M. Plchvo, has advised the Czar to suspend tho inquiries of the Statistical Department, prohibiting them by fiat in twelve great Governments. and leaving to tho elected Councils of the remainder the right of imitating his policy. The reason assigned by tho Minister is that the very numerous agents employed in such inquiries must be competent persons, that they come iu contact with the peasantry

in their villages, and that they therefore find “extensive - opportunities for spreading revolutionary doctrines.’’ It comes to this, therefore, that almost anyone in Russia competent to do a sum in arithmetic is a revolutionist.

AN IMPRUDENT STEP. The new French Government has taken a very imprudent step. M. Combes, Premier and Minister of the Interior, has issued a circular directing that no one shall bo admitted into the Government service, or promoted in that service, without a previous report from the Prefect as to bis political opinions. The object is to confine the service of the State, to which every family in France looks with hope and desire, to, persons of decided Republican sympathies. The circular, of course, irritates all sections of the Opposition, and is certainly no “measure of appeasement.” It is perfectly possible, as we. see in our own Civil Service, to serve a Government loyally without approving it; and in admitting opponents, a State, as wo see from our own military and naval history, deprives them of half their bitterness. Irish Roman Catholics who at Homo would bo loud Homo Rulers die in heaps abroad to defend the British flag. The Republic cannot, of course, tolerate in its servants either treasonable conduct or treasonable language; but so long as it is well served, what do secret opinions matter? There is, wo fear, a trace both of the former and the 'former schoolmaster in M. Combes, and neither -will help to make him a successful statesman. He will plead the necessity of being logical ; but to be logical he should enquire vigilantly into the opinions of all conscripts.

SPANISH PROGRESS.

1 Spain must be increasing in wealth. [Thu (Jovermnent lias just asked lor a ' loan nf tliirtoon and a half millions I at 4 per emit., the- minimum tender to |bo ,t9O. Ten times, the amount lias been subscribed, ami the 10 per cent, deposit in reality fills tbe loan. T.von 1 supposing (bat much of the subscription was speculative, that speculation shows confidence in tbe State, and an | extent of capital demanding invest- | ment which was hardly suspected, and is the more remarkable because recent inquiries show that more than fifty thousand monks and nuns are living as unproductive workers, and because the condition of agriculture is so bad that a universal strike of agricultural labourers is seriously feared. In the distressed districts, particularly Estremadura. Andalusia and the neighbourhood of Cadiz, they are making common cause with the Anarchists, who preach violence as the only remedy for their grievances, one of which is that they receive no regular wages, but are paid by the job—an enormous increase to the power of the bailiffs, whom many observers believe to ho the real oppressors in Spain. PROTESTANT NOT ANTI-CATHOLIC. The Bishop of Durham sends to Tuesday’s “Times” an admirable letter on the use of the word “Protestant,” in which he points out that “Cosin, of Durham, certainly no hesitating Churchman, though he learnt a generous breadth of view in his exile in the Commonwealth time, uses the word in his will (see his Works, Anglo-Catholic Library) in a sense, and in a tone, characteristic of his time and of his i

school. He dies in concord with all Churches, ‘professing the true Catholic faith and religion . . . which I desire to bo chiefly understood of Protestants and the ’ best Reformed Churches.’ ” Tho truth is that tho English Church has a clear and indefeasible right and title both to tho appellation “Catholic” and to tho description “Protestant,” and if her sous arc true to her origin, tradition and essential spirit she will retain both, as Cosin no doubt desired. As long as the Roman Catholic Church exists, tho Anglican Church needs the word “Protestant” as well a_s “Catholiic.” What wo object to is ,tbo attempt to' lay tho word "Protestant” under a .ban as if it connoted “antiCatholic.” That it may have occasionally been oo used by ignorant people cannot possibly decide the matter. Plenty of words aro misunderstood by the ignorant, but that is no reason for acquiescing in the misuse. ENGLAND’S FREETRADE POLICY. All Freetraders will rejoice at the smashing blow dealt to tho hopes of Protectionists by Sir Michael Hicks Beach in tho House of Commons on Wednesday. After his speech it is impossible to entertain the notion that the Government hav'e any intention of making concessions to those who think that we are bleeding to death because we do so large a foreign trade, or to those who regard the inestimable advantages of a free open market as equivalent to being turned into a “dumping-ground” for foreign goods. The bleeding-to-death theory Sir Michael Hicks Beach answered once and for all by appealing to the growth of the income tax and of the Savings Bank deposits. People who aro bleeding to death do not put on weight. As to the notion that you can]

keep out. manufactured articles while

allowing raw materia; to outer, the Chancellor of the Exchequer was equally explicit. ”If anybody looks through the list c: our imports and exports and ran draw a line between raw materials ;md manufactured goods, he will be a much cleverer man than I am.” Mr import, for example, il9.000.01X) worth of leather. Is leather a raw material or a manufactured article? Wo cannot further summarise Sir Michael Hicks Beach’s speech, but wo must congratulate both him and the Govern-ment.-and the nation on the manly and unequivocal declaration made by him on tho question of Protection —and made by him. bo it noted, in bis capacity as Chancellor of tho Exchequer and representative of the Cabinet. That clear declaration may to some extent reconcile Freetraders to tho imposition of the corn tax, which passed its third reading by 105 votes (286 to 181). LORD KITCHENER ON SOUTH AFRICAN DEFENCE. Lord Kitchener announces that five hundred each of the Ist and 2nd Imperial Light Horse, the South African Light Horse, the Johannesburg Mounted lliflcs, Kitchener’s Fighting Scouts, and tho Scottish Horse should retain without preliminary cost their horses, rifles and equipments, with only the proviso that they should ho maintained by the civil Government in a state of efficiency and might he recalled by the military authorities if required. That is most excellent nows. It :s most 'pleasant to think that the Imperial Light Horso are now given the chance of achieving a historic continuity somewhat akin to that of our own Honourable Artillery Company. In this con-

nection wo are truly delighted to note that tho honour of knighthood has been conferred on Colonel Woois-Sarapson, of the 1.L.H., in fitting recognition of his brayery in the field and his invaluable services as an intelligence officer. Our only regret is that his gallant brother-in-arms, Major “Karri”. Davis, who is as modest ai ho is brave—it is an open secret that he has already declined a well-earned decoration—should not also figure in tho Honours List. These two men were tho knight-crrants of the struggle wit h Boor tyranny both before and during the war, and they should both have been Coronation Kuights.