Omaha daily bee., 1890-05-24
OTHER LANDS THAN OURS.


one of the most noteworthy measures of the
present session. The plan of dealing with
the liquor question, which is suggested for
England and Wales, is evidently modelled in
part on the Gotheuburg system, which has
been successfully carried out in Sweden. The
fundamental principles of this system are a
great reduction in the number of liquor shops
and corresponding improvement in the
character of those licensed a provision that
the sale of food shall bo an inseparable ad-
junct of the sale of liquor, and the delegation
of exclusive authority over the licensing to
local authorities. Lord Randolph propose es
that every county in England shall be di-
vided into licensing divisions, for each of
which committee of the county council will
be appointed annually to act as licensing
commission. Their powers as to the sup
preston of licenses and the selection of Ii
censees will be absolute and final. The bill
itself, however, supprcsses the mostnumerous
class of licensed houses. There are at present
three important classes of licenses for the sale
of liquor to be drunk on the promises. These
are the pubicans or spirit retailers license,
which authorizes the sale of all liquors,
whether distilled or feimented the beer
house license, and the wine license, taken
1t is the innumerable beer houses which Lord
Randolph would destroy at blow. 1t is
true that any person now holding a beer
house license may apply for publican's
license; but, as this would imply the posses
sion of larger capital, an Improvement in
the character of the house and quality of the
beverages sold could be relied upon. The
licensing commission will be authorized not
I1tn g1n11 lta
issued in given division, but to regulate the
hours of opening and closing and the struc-
ture of licensed houses. A feature of this
bill, which has no analogue in the liquor leg
slation of the United States is the provision
for compensatng the present holders of Ii
censes, who through the operation of the pro-
posed law would fail to get their licenses re-
newed This provision will be vehemently
opposed by the English prohibtionists, but it
is certain, on the other hand to be supported
by majority of both political parties,
though there will, no doubt be difference of
opinion regarding the principle on which the
amount OF compensation is to be ascertaned.
W.
The distinctive feature of French politics
today is the prominence of fiscal matters. Nj.
Nleline, the protcctionist leader, is finding an
intense opposition to his policy developing
among the silk and wooden manufacturers,
who, with other victims to the French agri-
cultural interests, are now sending their
protests thick and fast to the capital.
Another element Of difficulty, too, is now
found among the socialists and radicals who,
in the chamber the other day, demanded that
duties be laid upon foreign labor as well as
upon foreign food products and raw ma
tcrials. While the protectionists have full
power in the face of this growing opposi-
tion, together with the complications caused
by the German treaty, it is not unlikely that
discussion and refraction during the next
year will effect a settlement which will not
favor exclusively one great interest as against
another. The fact that the prosperity of
France largely depends upon her foreign
trade will not long be lost sight of. On the
other hand, if the present protectionst
programme reaches consummation, the
United States of America are not likely
to receive any favors. The French farmer
has as little liking for American food products
as his German brother; and that American
agricultural interests are likely to suffer is
certain in view of the fact that the French
protectonist movement derives its strength
from the farming interests The fundamental
principle of M. Nlcline's fiscal scheme is
combination of maximum and minimum tar
if. The minimum will be the real tariff for
the protection of home interests, while the
maximum rate is designed especially forsuch
a nation as refuses to give us the same ad-
vantageS which itaccords TO other countries;''
which is interpreted by Meine as meaning
that France will retaliate against any coun-
try not necessarily III kind but in anything
that the French tax gathering power can
touch.
~
Notwithstanding the fact that every gov
ernment of Europe prOclaims its desire for
peace, the possibility of war sull overhangs
the great powers. Each one is increasing its
armaments. This implies that behind the
scenes there are dangers which amount to
serious menace. There are no symptoms of
negotiations looking to better understandings;
hope for that seems, for the moment, to have
been abandoned and the manifest disposition
is to stand prepared for the worst. As usual,
Russia's brute aspirations for aggression are
the chief source of danger, and Emperor Will
lam is evidently in no mood to apply the kind
of salve by which his grandfather so long
averted conflict with that power. His plucky
utteranccs at Konigsberg are plain intima-
tlOl IlltJ utSlIeS 10 IOiCc Juc CLdI W uctldIe
himself and put an end, in one way or another,
TO the prevailing uncertainty; and Europe is
likely to applaud his resolution, even though
the result may have to be reached by war.
There can be no settled peace in Europe
until the malign power of the car is broken
and Russia is placed in such position that
her civilization can progress either from frcer
contact with her moro advanced neighbors or
from the granting of more liberal political
institutions to her people. 1t would seem
that such astupendous change as that implies
can hardly come about except through
violence from within,or without.
5t4*&
The international prison congress will meet
in st. Petersburg'in June, by invitation of
the car and there is an impression that the
meeting can only result in fiasco. 1t is sug-
gested that any discussion Of prison abuses
would be reflection on the management of
Peter and Paul and ought to send the CON
gress to Siberia. ANY condemnation of
cruelty, and any Recommendation of modern
methods of sanitation and discipline, would
condemn Russian 8, pfethods severely, and
bring the police down upon the conference.
ao..I, fha t,,.ia.N