, 1889-09-25

pOiHt III OIL. an hOUF the DOCK Companies
have not thought it possible to give way.
Yesterday afternoon the strike still CON
tinued, and no sign of a settlement was
observable.
The most important foreign news of the
week Is that the Gar has apparently given
up the intention of returning the German
Emp0ror's visit, and this though he is now
at Copenhagen, whence he could very east
~ visit Germany The apparent GOODNESS
between the rulers of Russia and of Ger
many Is, OF course, a very important item
or political mete0rolOgy, and, like the news
which we so often get from Valencia of
the tendency of the wind there TO ''backv
JUST as we are hoping for a spell of fine
weather, 1t dampS all the hopes which are
formed OF a durable peace. At the same
time, nothing is more remarkable than the
Cars indispOSition to take any final step
that would end in war. That he personal.
~ IS pacific we have no doubt: and so far
as the preservation of peace depends on
him, peace will be preserved. 1t is, obvi.
Gus, however, that the relations between
Germany and Russia are not Just now of
the most cordial kind, and at any time an
outbreak III the Balkans might compel the
Gar TO take a political part to which ner.
sohally he W0Uld greatly object. il praci-
pltatlng war, unless indeed he were willing
which he would not be, to risk hi throne.
On Wednesday, the French Cabinet met
at FOntaInebleau under the presidency of
M. Carn0t, and the decree fixing the poll
lng.day for the General Elections was duly
signed. The ordinary voting is to take
place on September 22nd, and the second
ballots on October 9th. France is thus
brought face to face with one of the
strangest and most momentous crises in
her history No prospect was ever more
obscure. The nature of the coalition on
whlch Boulangism rests is strikingly ex.
mbited by a list of the Generals candidates
III which Anarchists, Ultram0ntanes. Sc
cuIarlStS, Nap0le OniSts, and OrleaniStS are
JnmOled together in strange confusion.
The spectacle OF Count de Nun, the expo.
nent OF an almost medieval Catholicism i;
Henri ROchetOrt, the Communist and anti
clerical Revolutionary; M. Naquet, the jew
author of the law of divorce; and Paul de
Cassajgnac, the Napoleonic s%washbuckler,
ALI willing to unite under the banner of
General B0ulanger, is one such as no
country has ever b4fOre witnessed. If
Boulangism is nothing else, it is at least
the universal solvent OF politics. 1t fuses
elements otherwise absolutely incOmpati.
BILE. The President will, it is said, just
before the elections, himself issue an adj
dress to the French people, exposing the
tactics of the aSSailantS of the Republic.
Possibly this course may be useful but it
is also possible that The electors may re.
sent it as an interference with their right
to decide for themselves.
The Times on Tuesday published an
important article on the Cretan question,
contributed by its correspondent at
Athens, who appears to have a special
knowledge of the condition Of the island,
aad, indeed, to have played II considerable
part in the principal political events that
have taken place in the islam OF late
years. In it the writer su ggeStS what he
believes would prove y solution of the
present difficulties. Though he looks
forward to an ultimate union with Greece,
he thinks that for the present the essen
tial point is to find II Governor capable Of
understanding the Cretan character, Which,
according to his account, differs little from
that OF the Irish, and then to give him a
life tenure AT present, the Office il held
for five years, all arrangement which re.
suits in endless intrigues in regard to the
renewal of the appointment, both at Con-
s~tantinOple and in Crete. For instance, one
Governor is said to have led up to his reap.
polntment by an ingenious application of
the maxim, DlUide ct imperG which consis.