New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-11-02

Netherlands respecting the Kings mental inca
pacity is not likely to have any important poiti-
cal result with one exception. The King has
long been really incapable of governing The
Council of State is now King. Queen Emma VIII
presently be proclaimed Regent and Princess Will
helmna will become Queen in 1893 The Grand
Duke of Nassau now takes Luxembourg. and the
struggle to prevent Germany from absorbing that
province will be watched with interest.
, The celebration of Count Won Moltke's ninetieth
birthday occurred with all. and more than all, the
ptrmise6' CEREMONY and splendor. save that no
civil proifotion was offered to him. The Emperor
put into his congratulations sentence to the effect
that Count Won Moltke had not monopolized power
in the Army and would leave successors when he
departed. This was understood to be an amiable
| sneer at Prince Bismarck. who was not invited to
the celebration. Such is the magnanimity of the
present ruler of Germany.
The bombardment and capture of Vitu by Ad-
miral Fremantle's feet is one more blow at the
East African slave trade The origin of the quar-
rel with the Sultan of Vitu was German, but the
English became involved and acted with prompt
decision. The Arab save-traders have received
a much needed lesson.
The Dockers Union have turned the other
cheek. Their officials few days ago issued a
pastoral to their flock with reference to the new
regulations of the dock owners. All their coun-
sells are for peace. They accept the terms, they
forbid all strikes. Yet what the London dock
companies have done is nothing less than to re
volt against the tyranny of the DoclSers Union
which they have so long endured. They have
organized a new system of permanent labor, and
propose to manage theif own business. an act of
presumption heartily approved by the general
public
The struggle between the Shipping Federation
and the Seamens Union seems likely to break out
first at Cardiff, where either strike or lock-
out may occur at any moment.
An emissary from the Australian strikers has
arrived, with mission to persuade the English
public that the strike is not and that the men
will win If they are helped The number Of his
converts is thus far limited, and the amount of
money subscribed is nil
Mr.. Balfour's visit to Ireland had q practical
object. He went to see for himself what things
looked like in those districts where the danger of
famine has been supposed TO be greatest. 1t is a
remarkable tour; remarkable for nothing more
than for the friendliness of his reception by the
very poorest classes of the Irish people in the
most congested districts. Mr.. Balfour takes, it is
now seen practical view of those responsibilities
accepted some weeks since. He had then every
information from others. He adds to it what
can be seen with his own eyes. He went
with practically no escort, or none capable of
protecting him against any organized violence.
The full result is yet TO be seen but Mr.. Balfour
said at Galway that he meant to push large rail
wpy schemes in Mayo. Donegal. Cork Kerry. and
elsewhere. He will spend n million and a hall
in Galway. line along western Ireland will be
opened up by these railways. He returned TO
Dublin yesterday.
BY far the most remarkable passage in Mr..
Gladstone's Irish speech YVES tie passage on the
Plan of Campaign, UNITED Ireland" halls It as
splendid vindication. Mr.. Gladstone admits
that the Plan is Illegal and declares that hc will
Justify nothing that is illegal. In the next breath
he says that it was an absolute necessity,
and that the real authors of il are the Govern
ment Most people would think that justifica-
tion: vet nobody denies that the plan is illegal.
The Pope has pronounced it so; and Mr. Parnell
refused 10 sanction it, The best comment on Mr..
Gladstones defence Of boycotting is the murder of
Mary Flanagan. 1t is the usual story, with one
variation. Flanagan took an evicted farm. Hc
warned and hoycotted: but, proving insenslbe
to this form Of moral suason, he was to have been
murdered. His assassins murdered his daughter
by mistake. 1t was last week that Mr.. Gladstone
challenged his opponents to show him any recent
in justification of their charge that boycotting
rests on crime, or that in his own words, crime
dogs the footsteps of the League.
Lord Harrington was cordially well received
yesterday in Edinburgh. lie made two speeches,
and naturally had something to say in reply TO
Mrl Gladstone. He points out, among other
L.
statesman of the first rank to tell the Irish people
that they ought t. hate the law, and that this
advice the more singular since the particular
law they most to hate is mil,ler form of one
formerly passed and enforced with strictness by
Mr.. Gladstone himself against ths' same Irish
people. He thinks it odd moreover, That the
Home Rule leader should devote so much time 10
distorted versions Of local incidents like Tipperary,
which is new. and like Mitchclstown. which is
old, very old should leave all the main issues at
one side and should have nothing TO say about
Home Rule itself and the real present meaning of
that elastic phrase. On this point Lord 1larting
ton and Mr.. Davitt Of one mind Mr.. Davitts
comment in THE Nineteenth Century" on Mr..
Gladstones Midlothian speeches deals In qualified
culogy. His complaint is complaint heretofore
heard in Unionist mouths. Friends and foes
alike" says Mr.. Davitt, are still in the dark
to whether the next general election is to be
fought upon a definite and democratic Home Rule
proposal, or upon the name and fame of Mr..
Gladstone alone"
Mr.. Courtney has again been playing his favor
itc part of candid friend to the Government. He
spoke on Thursday to his constituents about his
recent visit to Ireland. He is as stanch Union
ist as ever. but he dslikes the Tpperary prose
cution II was a thing he wished had not hap
pened. The state of things in Tipperary might
Justify it. He was far from saying that Ministers
were not warranted In what they had done But
Mr. Courtney believes he is expressing the feeling
of many Unionists in Ireland and out Of it when
he says that he wishes it had not been done.
Undoubtedly he does. BE the merits of the case
what they may most Tories think the prosecution
mistake. But few say as frankly as Mr..
Courtney; who, indeed. is not a Tory, but a
Liberal Unionst. and man whose opinion counts
His specific objection 20 the prosecution is that il
Ic II, tbo NJ fla