, 1890-04-26
MEsceIL S.
Spectator 29th March.

The resignation of Prince BiSn1tFrk Il
an accomplished fact. He took leaYe Ut Tile
Emperor on Tuesday, and returned, 1t is
said. from an interview of more than iii
hour with a look Of satisfaction OH his face.
In returning, he received m ovation trom
the people of Berlin, who escorted him
home in thousands, and desired To take
the horses from his carriage. he reItrrs
at once to FREDERICKSBURG to watch affairs
from the SeClnSion of country life 1t De-
gins, however, to be understood that his
retirement was involuntary that the E"1.
perOr was determined to Issue orders with.
ont consulting his MinistG:; that his
Maiesty refused to waive his legal right
of communicating with each depart
lnent direct and that the Chancellor, who
had for twenty years been the real head OF
the State, considered this equivalent TO bis
eHacement. He VIII not, therefore, be
consulted in his retirement. iii" agitation
"caused in the European Governments
Ivy this great change increases, therefore,
rather than Giminishes, and is said to be
manifested IN the German provinces far
more than In Berlin. 1t il deupened by
fumours Of the grear Chalges Which TIP
Emperor intends to effect and Ivy a grow.
ItIE IuIICNStb{ Fidt MO AtVtlNHlI . SlNHS
energy is rendered almost dangerous by a
certain impulSirtncSs. He has become by
far the most rniANicuduS figure iii Europe,
and will fer some time to CUine live uuder
the microscope.
Mr.. A. j. Balf1ir on Monday introduced
his Bill for facilitating the purchase of
land in trelrul Ivy CuIrivatiug tenants.
In q speeds Of nearly Two hourS, rs tulI of
arithmetic ~ II Blu lget, he explained a
plan Of extraordinary ingenuity, which
would, lie believed, pIHhle tllB State to
advance e33. 0it 900 without the taxpayer
mourning the smallest real liability. W6
have dwelt upnn the plan AZ length else.
where, but it il briefly tiitS. Landlords
and tenants are 10 agree, without Compul-
sion, upon Il iirlGr which MUST not exceed
twenty years purchase Of the met rcnt,"-
that is, the tuditiat rent minus landlords
rates. The total Viii he usually seventeen
years rental, and tile procesS is then in
this wise. \ band Department formed
by the amalgtmAtIbh of the existing ave
Land Commissions, Will pay to the owner
OF, say, n holding Of E1b0 a year, E1,7O0
in special CntlsoIs Of 81 per cent, irredee-
mable for thirty years. The tenan will
PITY for five years 50 per cent. Of his pre-.
sellt rent, and for forty+four years moro 10
per cent, and after that nothing, the
mortgage and It's interest 1T 4 per cent.
beltIg exiting uished. On the first install.
ment being received, the Department
iSstes "a vestlng order," and the tenau
becomes q freebooter, subject only to the
decreasing mortgage. His holding can
only be sold by the State in default of
payment; and if that default Is %involunta'
~, it will be made up ont of the Assurance
Fund created by accommodating the extra
10 per cent. payable for the first five years.
The tenant, in brief, sits at . reduced rent,
which buys the freehold.
The force enabling the State to grant
these easy TERMS is, of %codrse, it's superior
credit created by THE guarantee Of lie tax
payer; and to guard him, Mr.. Balfour
employs a most Ingenious plan. The State
contributes certain annual grants to local
purposes in Ireland. These are, of course.
until paid, in the hands of the Treasury;
and if there is default not to be met
out of the Assurance Fund, the Treasury
docks the defAulting district of the amount
gut of these contributes, compelling it,
however, i'll the case of Education, to re.
place the sun by an addition to the local
rates. In addition, if the LOCAL grants are