New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-01-09
A MUNICIPAL EXPERIMENT.
GREAT CHANGES TO FOLLOW ELECTIONS
TO THE LONDON COUNTY COUNCIL
Nh. GLADSTONE EXPLAINS THE FAMOUS LET.
TER AGAIN-THE MORIER AFFAIR-THE
RETURN OF Mr. PHELPS-rHE
DRAUGHTS MATCH.

MA GLADSTONE ENPLAlNS THE FhMOUS LtI'
TER AGAJN-THE MORIER AFFAIR-THE
RETURN OF Mr.. PHELPs-rHE
pRAUGHTs MATCH.
Tlr CABLE TO THE rnrBuyEl
copyrishf: 1889 By The Nec York Tribune
London, Jan s-The near approach Of the cleo
tons to the London County Council reminds Lon
doners that they are now to enter upon the largest
experiment in municipal government ever made.
The candidates for the lis seats exceed 400; in
some districts there are many as seven seekers
for one seat The most striking thing about the
lists is the fewness Of really eminent men who
desire to serve on the new Council Fears are
already expressed that the vestries, or the iobbng
local managers who have control Of the vestries,
may secure a majority. London's last state
would in that case, be worse than its first,
To combine in one body all the evils OF the
vestries and Of the Metropolitan Board of Works
would hardly be an achievement to be proud of.
The new Council will administer the affairs of
five millions of people with more than as many
millions sterling of revenue 1t is enough
10 make the mouth of New-Yorl boss" water.
Among the few candidates of distinction are Sir
Thomas Fsrrer, who long managed the Board Of
Trade Sir John Lubbock, NJ. p, banker and
man of science. and Lord Rosebery. late Foreign
. Secretary. Lord Rosebery has been asked by
some l,lOb cluZfnS 10 STAND as one OF lOut
candidates for the City of London proper. He
addressed meeting yesterday in speech remark
able for its clear statement of the real points at
issue. He puts politics aside, which
is more than many candidates do. 1t might
he said he does this because no GladStonian
would have chance of election in the city
That easy comment is disposed of by the fact
that the Tories agree with the Liberals in dis
regarding party lines for the purposes of this
contest The leading Tory journals support Lord
Rosebery as heartily as the Liberal journals
There are two main reasons for Lord Roseberys
non-politica view; first the new Council elected
for three years. will have all it can do to Or
ganizc the now system; second, its business will
be 10 administer, not legislate. 1t needs pure
rnen, efficient men. and who Will study
wise economy. 1t does not need Home Rulers
or Unionists. All this and much more Lord
Rosebery puts with his usual point and practical
good sense. Not less TO the point is his warning
to Londoners that they hardly seem aware of
the revolution which this change will effect.
His speech, as a whole, may serve as manual
for voters in the coming election.
Still another explanation from Mr. Gladstone of
his now too famous letter TO the Marquis De Riso
on international arbitration. lie now pronounces
incorrect-not under the circumstances but ab-
koIurf1y-tne statement tnat NJ had recommended
international arbitration the Roman question,
but il is certain, the genuinenes of his Rise letter
being admitted. that he did recommend interna-
tona arbitration question. His words
are: Tie question is of such importance to
merit the intervention of international arbtra-
ton" Reviewed." says The Pail Mall Gazette"
in the light OF the lliso letter the question was
the position of the Pope vis-avs with the Italian
Government. But that is the Roman question :;
and Mr.. Gladstone says it is absolutely incorrect
that he ever proposed to refer the Roman question
10 arbitration. What, then, did he mean? We
give it up That perhaps, is what all of us will
have to do Gladstonian conundrums are not
easy.
The English ard German papers are still eX-
changing compliments touching Sir Robert Morier.
Between the press of Berlin and the press Of
London there is chronic hostility. The Cologne
Gazette hates and is hated still more than its
b, Rim colleagues 1t is evident that the Germans
including the power behind the press, think their
onslaught on Sir Robert Morer has failed They
are shifting their ground and bringing forward
new innuendoes. One Junker paper in Berlin is
not ashamed to suggest that Sir Robert Morier
probably forged the Bazaine letter denying that
the writer ever said he received news from him
about the German troops The Cologne Gazette
IHUmdttS tudb SiI hODtIb NOrltr UIcBrdU WIS
sent 70 the Empress Of the French. These alb
surdities harm none but their authors
II is now pretty generally known in
London that the American minister goes
home at the end of the present month. As
il was known before that he meant to remain
till April the English public is slowly drawing
the natural inference from this change of date: it
is in fact, dawning upon them that Mr.. Phelps's
return is not wholly unconnected with Lord
Saljsbury's stubbornness in keeping the British
Legation in Washington vacant The State De
partment officials have been a little slow in per-
ceiving that Lord Salisburys refusal to send
successor to Lord Sackville was meant as diplo-
matte afTront, but they have, / Judge, at last
walked up TO the fact and are acting accordingly.
They need not proclaim their motives or sound
a trumpet of defiance, or say or do anything, but
allow Mr.. Phelps to take the steamer quietly for
New-York. The Foreign Office, European diploma
lists, and the public generally will understand
what is meant. Lord Salisburys policy of sulks
will be seen TO have failed. The provOcation he
has offered America will be properly met, and
the Government at Washington will regain the
prestige it seemed in danger of losing. Finally
Europe will see that the Nation cares not merely,
as that repudiated State Department official put
il, for business but for National honor also.
What is rather pompously called the interna-
tional draughts match between Mr. Barker and Mr..
Smith has ended in the victory Of the American
over his English opponent. Mr. Barkers score
five games to one, with twenty-three draws, is
reckoned good one, draughts being now so far
reduced TO a science that anything but "a draw
between two good players seldom occurs. The
winner gets 81 900 and silver cup. c. W. S.
SCHEMES FOR CHINESE MIGRATION.