New-York tribune., 1889-12-31
THE BRITISH EMPIRE.

INTERESTS IN ALL PARTS OF THE WORLD.
The close of the year leaves England in more
induloent frame of mind with regard to Ireland
than twelve months ago Even the Tory squires
have been brought TO q point where they view
the realization of Erin's Nationalist aspirations
with equanimty and resignation. They have
gradually allowed themselves to be convinced of
the fact that Home Rule is inevitable in the near
future that opposition thereto is practically use
less and that the only delay is due to questions
of political opportunity This transformation of
public opinion is attributable partly TO the IN
creasing constitutiOnalism of the Nationalist
tactics and partly also to the miserable collapse
of the charges brought by The London Times
against Mr. Parnell and his followers before the
special Commission appointed for the purpose or
trying them. The calumnies by means of which
The London Times" had sought to influence pub
lie opinion against the Irish cause were based on
letters purpOrting to have been written by Mr.
Parnel and other leading members Of the Home
Rule party in the House of Commons. The con-
tents of these letters implied not only the cognl-
zance, but also the approval by their writers or
the dynamite outrages which had taken place
in London, and even their completely
in the Phoenix Park murders and other crimes.
During the course of the proceedings. at the oe-
ginning of the summer, Mr.. Parneu was able TO
prove TO the satisfaction of the court and of the
nation that the entire series Of letters was the
work of a forger named Pigott, who, after MAX
ing a full confession Of his iniqulty. 'fed TO
Madrid and blew his brains out there at the
moment Of his arrest. The English people at
large have strong opinions in favor Of fair pay,
and the disclosure of the conspiracy which had
been planned against Mr.. Parnell caused a dis
tinct and NyidpSnrpad reVulSiOn his favor
throughout the land The sessions of the Com
mission have now been brought To close, ana IL
is announced that the Judges wi present their
report next February, when Parliament meets
Meanwhile the alliance between the Glad
stonian Liberals and the Parnelites remains III
full force. and has vastly contributed toward tie
abandonment by the Natlonasts of all methods
of party warfare which are not strictly conslltu-
tional and legal-a fact in itself sufficient 70 pOpu-
arizc the cause in England TIL, alliance, be-
tween the Tories and the iiberal-U nionsts Ike
wise remains intact, although II has been sub
ected to several severe strains
A remarkable feature of the wear has been the
prevalence Of strikes, onc Of which that OF the
cause of much anxiety. inconvenience
Of i'' the Metropolis The i ori OF the
food consumed in London ~ conveyed thither by
water and the impossibility of getting the freight
discmbarked during fortnight or three weeks
brought the great city 10 the verge OF Il famine
The dsputc between the dock companies and the
Cardinal Manning aud Lord Mayor Whitehead
taking leading part in bringing about settle
ment. The success OF the dock laborers, how
ever, had the unfortunate result Of encouraging
members Of other trades TO follow their example,
and strikes of gasmen strikes of coalheavers
and III fact strikes OF every possible KIND, have
been the fashion ever since. JhcX seem now TO
be on the wane. possibly in consequence Of the
energetic action on the part Of the police in pre-
venting the intimidation of blacklcgs' by the
strikers.
john Bull has not allowed the year to go by
without adding to the territory already in his
possession. Both in South Africa and on the Fam.
besi enormous tracts OF land. rich III mineral
wealth and in fertility Of the soil, have been
claimed and taken possession OF by the English
In the case of the territory north ana south OF the
XambeSl Great BTitains gr1D is contested by
Portugal. But as the English African companies
formed TO work and develop the new British
possessions are comprised Of extremely powerful
ard influential perSonages. VINO nave obtained
from the Queen royaf charters similar TO that
under which the old East India Company held
and governed India, Portugals ill-will in the
matter is likely TO be disregarded. Further north,
i'm Egypt a Madhs army was defeated with great
loss al Toshi on the Nile, by General La Francis
Grenfell az the head Of small
Anglo-Egyptlan army The veto on T9de
been removed for the first time since 1888, and
the corvee system, which has been in existence
IN Egypt for over 1000 years, nae been abolished
Mr. Henry NJ Stanley has brought 10 n successful
issue his Emin Relief Expedition on which he
started o. from the mouth OF the Congo on thc
we35 coasi of Nfrica two years ago. After IN
credible hardship and great peril he succeeded
in eneetinQ the IeScuc of Enln, the last of the
Provincial Governors Of the Soudan appointed
by Gordon and in conveying him and those of
his followers who remained faithful down 10 the
sea coast at Bagamoyo, opposite zanzibar, where
he arrived few weeks ago. In the course OF
his wanderiugs. Mr.. Stanley made numerous
geographical discoveries Of vast Importance.
notably In connection with the sources OF the
Nile and with the water communication between
the various great lakes Of Central Africa. Emin
Pacho's once prosperous province has now fallen
into the hands Of the MahdiSts who had been was-
ing war on him for the past six years. aud the last
vcstge Of civilization has thus disappeared from
the banks of the Upper Nile.
With regard TO the British dependencies in South