New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-06-29
THE MAD TUNNEL SCHEME.
rrs cRusHING DEFEAT IN THE COMMONS
Mn. oLADsroSE's ELooUENcE FAILS TO SAVE IL
Two DAYS WASTED ~ pEBATE-srAIE
AID TO opENoMiNATIoNAL EDUCATION
"A DINNER TO Mr.. LOWELL.
rBY CABLE TO THE TRiBuNE.l

watkins mad scheme for annexing England to
The Continent been beaten in a full vote in the
Uouse of Commons A majority Of nearly two to
one pronounced against letting him proceed with
what he calls experimental works" The MI
nority of 81 consisted of OIL Liberals. Tories a
Liberal Unionists and SO Parnellites MI. Oiad-
stones advocacy brought round number Oh op-
ponents There men in politics who pacK
Mr. Gladstone's speeches just as there arc men on
tho ,urf who back Woods mounts. But Mr..
Gladstone never made speech less convincing in
argument or more perfect in manner. If it had
any basis il must be sought in his belief that the
risk OF war between England and France is slight
He is perhaps the only living statesman who would
risk invasion on the theory that nobody was hkcly
10 invade The opposition to tho tunnel is due
to panic, he says. Perhaps it is; but what an ar
gmcnt for tho other side; for If the mere idea Oh
the tunnel frightens people, what scares would
there not be when the tunnel was actually built!
What sums would il not cost TO provide dcfences
If not against the invader against the fear OF the
invader! Mr. Gladstone-s amazing discovery OF
the advantage of land frontier has excited in the
minds of his stoutest supporters says one OF them
a feeling Of dismay. Sir Michael Hicks-Beach,
who spoke for the Cabinet, denying that they ever
meant to leave it an open question: collected some
but only some, of the many decisive arguments
against the tunnel. Lord Randolph Churchilrs
speech was far more damaging to tho proposal
than any other mas there Of late been anything
in public debate more amusing than his picture OF
the Cabinet sitting round an electric button dis
cussing whether the moment had come to press 1t
and destroy the tunnel Imagine, said Lord Ran
dolph the present Cabinet gathered together, hav-
ing to decide who should press the button. This
is as serious treatment as the question deserves,
but Lord Randolph was profoundly serious in his
opposition. What he said weighty, impress
i've and remains without answer.
The majority of % against Mr. Morleys anti
Coercion resolution, proposed on Monday in the
House Of Commons, was foregonc conclusion say
Home Rule papers. No doubt it was Why,
then, did you invite certain defeat? inquire the
Tories Mr.. Morley's answer is, 1t was necessary
TO show the country how bad the Crimes Act IS,
how badly you work it. III there bee an lnde-
pendent view, it is that these tactics were of
doubtful utility The country seems very much in
the mind it was before all these Monday and
Tuesday speeches were made. 1t is admitted,
privately if not publicly, by Home Rulers that
the speeches on their side hardly came up to the
mark. Mr.. Morley, somehow lacked debating
power. Mr.. Gladstone impaired the effect oil MS
by minute dctail-ncccssary perhaps TO his case,
but not oratorical. Mr.. O'Brien's was the most
impressive of all; his passion holds the House
But it his TO be said that Mr.. Balfour, though
too long, bore of the honors of debate lie
summed up the for the Government as well
rs it could be summed up. His strongest OPP
ponents own to the power of his statement. Still
IL is difficult to see that the speeches on either
side have convinced anybody who was not con-
WINGED before If the situation is altered, 1t is
altered in the interest OF the Ministry, VINO are
able once more to point to their majority as PROOF
Of unbro]xen cohesion between the two wings of
their party
The question of State aid to UNCONVENTIONAL
education is again raised by the majority report OF
the ROYAL Commission on Education ms Oom-
mission contains number OF gentlemen wicn
very archaic notions on some educatlool supJeclS
Lord Cross, chairman; Cardinal Manning' the
Roman Catholic Duke of Norfolk; Lord harrow
by. once better known as Lord Landon, the good
Young man of the Ministry of his day Loru Norton
and sundry others are types OF the reiormef VINO
thinks reforms should go backward lhey woulo
fight over again the fight OF 1870 upset the COM
promise of MIR. Forster's Education Act, allow
grants out of the rates, that is, out OF local or
municipal taxes, in aid of purely denominauonal
schools; they are in favor also, OF definite rchg-
ions teaching. not merely Bible reading, in all
schools The chances arc that those proposals Will
he allowed to die q natural death. Neither TINS
Ministry nor any which is likely to succeed IL
wants another burning question on It's hands
The strongest partisan of the Church IL tne press
throws cold water ON the proposals.
Yesterdays dinner to the Rev. William Rogers
was a remarkable compliment to rcmarKaple
man. He has been forty-fve years a Clergyman
at the East End London, and much more than
clergyman. His recently published "reminiscences
which I recommend to American readers, tell the
story of his life. 1 hope they can be read IN an
edition not pirated. Lord Rosebery presided at
this dinner supported by an extraordinary gather-
ing of eminent men in Mr.. Rogers's honor Ihe
Bishop of London, the Master of Balliol LORD
Coleridre the Dean Of Westminster, Lord Her
scbell. Lord Londonderry Lord Uran-
VILE Mr. Walter of " The Times" Mr.. Lawson,
Of The Telegraph" Mr. Frederic Harrison ana
Lord Justice Power are only few OF the many
distinguished names
Mr.. Lowell tells me that the announcement
of a dinner TO him by the Incorporated Society
of Autbors had been made before he had accepted
the invitation He expects however to be pres
ent IL health permits. This dinner is proposed
in recognition of Mr. Lowelps services to the
cause of international copyright Other American
authors will be invited Lord Tennyson IS pres
ident OF this society," and Mr. Besant is Its moving
spirit. The English publishers are its chief op-
ponents as they are Of the present American copy
right bill. The date now fixed for the dinner
is July 25. ~ shall be well long before that
says Mr. Lowell, cheerily. He is In fact. mach
better Though likely to be prisoner on his sofa
another fortnight He still defes the doctor
G.. w. S.
THE PopE's ENCYCLICAL ON LIBERTY