The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1882-12-31
WHAT Is CONG ON IN EUROPE
The close OF the political year In England


has been marked by two events. one really no.
table. the other generally considered to be So
On Dec. 10 Mr.. Gladstone celebrated the fliticth
anniversary Of his election to the House OF
Commons, and about the same time Lord Derby
joined Mr.. Gladstones Liberal Cabinet. Tho
importance OF the work which Mr. Gladstone
has done during these fifty years OF Parliament
tary life cannot possibly be overrated but II is
questionable whether Lord Derbys conversion
10 Liberalism has much significance. inasmuch
rs he has been drifting In that direction ever
since his detection from Lord Beaconsneld's
Cabinet in 1878. BY some curious freak Of
fate the motto Of the Stanley family. Of which
Lord Derby Is tho head. IL Sans changer"
and for four centuries the Derbys have done
nothing but change their political faith and
their political opinions. Every one knows the
story Of King Richard on Bosworth Field. and
the Stanley who places his crown on his adver-
sary's head AS q Conservative Lord Derby
never was success. He has not tho tastes or
pursuits Of an English gentleman. With an
enormous rent roll no is VIGOROUSLY stingy.
| and In manner and character is exactly the
opposite OF his fiery father. the Rupert Of de-
bate" 1t was once said Of Lord Derby that he
| spoke with ono side and voted with the other
| IN epigram probably more true than epigrams
usually are. While in the Conservative camp
| Lord Derby was a Liberal-C Conservative and in
| the Liberal camp he will probably BIO O Conser-
vative-Liberal. In one way his accession to Mr..
Gladstone's Cabinet will be important The
Stanleys are very large landed proprietors.
The Earl himself has no less than GO S34 acres.
Al 269 OF which are in Lancashire One OF the
principal problems which the present Govern
| mont has to solve is the extension OF the county
| franchise and the redistribution Of seats. In
| fact. they will have to introduce Reform bill
| IN MI Rofo lilo
conservative In comparison with It, In doing
| so. Lord Derby's name will undoubtedly prove
| a tower Of strength. The great landed pro-
| prietors will not DO so much afraid when they
| know that every clause Of tho bill which is to
| rob them OF much Of their political power has
been discussed by one Of themselves. So far
Lord Derby will benefit Mr.. Gladstone. but no
must necessarily bring another element OF dis
cord into the heterogeneous Liberal Cabinet.
and it is we'll known that Mr.. Chamberlain and
his followers look with anything but favor
upon the new Secretary.
Mr.. Gladstone's semi-centennial draws at
tention to tho almost unique position which he
has occupied In English political life. No other
statesman has been before the public for so
long time and at the same time occupied so
much Of public attention. Lord Palmerston
entered public life in 1907 and remained in
active prominence until 1865. Thus he was for
lfty-eight years in the service Of his country
But Lord Palinerston took but little interest In
home politics. and gave all his attention to
foreign affairs. Lord Brougham was also about
nfty-eight years in public life at least. that
number Of years elapsed between the time at
which he first entered Parliament and his
death. But for many years before that event
he was not before the public. and when his
death WAS announced most people had forgot
ten that he was still alive. Lord John Russell
began his political life in 1913 and died in 1878
thus being no less than sxty-flve years in pub
lie life. But his political life was hardly as
long as that which Mr.. Gladstone has already
completed. When we come to call to mind the
vast changes which distinguish the England Of
1882 from the England Of 1882 and remember
that Mr. Gladstone has been. il not the prime
mover most prominent helper in all OF them.
we the important part which the present
Prime Minister has played in the history OF the
nineteenth century.
The death of the late Archbishop OF Canter-
bury has put an end. at least for the time. to a
most grave scandal in the English Church.
Few people have not heard Of Mr.. Mackonochie
and his fight with the English courts. Mr..
Mackonochie was the Vicar OF st. Adams. Hol-
born. London. He man of undoubted
piety and thorough conscentiousness. But he
was imbued with what used to be called Pussy
ism and is now known rs Rituaism. He de-
lighted in the forms and ceremonies of religion.
and made many steps toward the ritual OF the
Church OF Rome. This gave great offence in
many quarters. and at last the law was called
: upon to make Mr.. Mackonoche adhere to the
} practice OF the Church Of England. But the
reverend gentleman refused to obey the orders
of the Court of Arches or of the Privy Council
He insisted that no temporal power could COM
pei him to alter his convictions. and most
: disgraceful squabblc was the outcome Of his
resistance While upon his deathbed the Arch
' bishop wrote to the Vicar of st. Adams n mos,
touching and dignihed letter in which he
urged Mr.. Machonochie. without sacrificing
| his convictions. to put an end to these unseen
ly conflicts by resgning his benellce. Mr.
Mackonoche did not hesitate a moment. and
at once consented to the Archbishops request
However. in giving up his beneflce. Mr.. Mack.
onochie very naturally asked for some Other
:. preferment and he was presented with the
Vicarage of st. Peters. London Docks. the late
I incumbent OF which. Mr.. Sucking has beer
transferred to St. Adams. AS both OF these
clergymen are Of the same way Of thinking. II
! is quite likely that the quarrel may break out
! again but the good offices OF DR.. TAFT. as he
lay on his dcathbed. will not soon be forgotten
4 Sir Thomas Watson. the head Of the medica
profession in England. is dead at the advanced
age OF 90 years. He was born in 1892 at {
little village in Devonshire. but came OF ole
Nortbumbrian stock He was educated a
Cambridge. whore he was elected q Fellow
: He then studied medicine at st, Bartholomew
Hospital in London and at Edinburgh and II
n 1926 was admitted as Fellow Of the Roya
i College OF Physicians From that day unit
n his death the record OF his lfo was the rccor,
. of tho honors which were heaped upon him
: He was appointed Physician Extraordinary t.
n the Queen in 1859. and in the following yea
g was called ia. together with Sir William
c Jerner and Sir Henry Holland. to attend tn
= Prince Consort in his last illness. In 1866 tn
Queen made him IA baronet. and in 1870 he wa
n appointed Physician in Ordinary to the Queen
II Besides these honors. Sir Thomas held all tn
II great medical posts. and by his lectures AM
d medical works has left worldwide reputation
= Tho misery caused by the great inundation
@ OF the Rhine Main and Moscllo is eyceedingl
s. great. The money set aside by the Govern
g ment was soon spent. and private charity wa
r. largely drawn upon. Unfortunately German
Il is very poor at the present moment, and bu
e little money has been raised. Theatrical per