Omaha daily bee., 1890-06-28
OTHER LANDS THAN OURS.

German enthusiasm over the proposal by
ENGLAND to cede Heligoland to the German
empire is calculated to make the marquis of
Salisbury rather weary. The English prime
minister evidently thought he was doing
rather sharp stroke of business when he pro-
posed to relinquish Heligoland in exchange
for clear title of large slice of Africa He
was little doubtful, apparently, whether
Germany would consent to any limitation of
her African empire, and the suggestion of the
surrender of Heligoland was thrown in as a
little bribe to conciliate the party of the other
part, as private citizen who wished to drive
good bargain might commence operations
by ordering in champagne and cigars.
The German delight over the recovery OF
Heligoland is however, so hearty and over
flowing that Lord Salisbury must begin to
think he hasn't made half as good a bargain
as he might have done. If he had offered
Heligoland as the price of the complete with
drawal of the German troops from Africa
and the recognition of Englands claim to abb
solute supremacy from Cairo to Cape Town,
it seems probable that the offer would have
been readily accepted. AT least Lord Sails
bury, as a keen and grasping merchant in
real estate, must begin by this time to feel
heartily ashamed of himself because he did
not make such a suggestion. The trouble
with England's chief shopkeeper is that he
failed to appreciate the force of the senti-
ment that makes Germany desirous of expell-
ing foreign garrison from the mouth of her
North sea ports.
In its domestic legislation the Salisbury
government has reached the lowest stage of
degradation. The announcement of the with
drnwal of the licensing clause OF the local
taxation bill completes the sessions record
of failure. The land purchase bill has been
practically abandoned until the next session,
and the licensing question, on which the gov
ernment has narrowly escaped defeat, has
been withdrawn. Lord Salisbury has en-
forced discipline in his own party at the sacri-
iice of both measures, which have been under
discussion during the greater part of the ses-
sion. Even his proposal to thwart obstruc-
tion by change of procedure by which
measures can be carried from one session to
another has been withdrawn, and Mr..
Gladstones plan of parliamentary
inquiry substituted in its place. The gov
ernment emerges from the business of the
session discredited and Inundated. 1t has
been unable to cope with obstruction. 1t has
failed to accomplish any important Legislative
results. 1t is evident that Lord Salisbury's
party suffers from the lack of effective lead
ership in the house. His own attention is
engrossed with questions of foreign relations.
His heart is in his diplomatic work, and he is
remarkably successful in all his undertakings
in his own office, AS prime minister respon-
sibe for domestic legislation and the conduct
of his party he is signally successful AS an
old tory he is singularly out of touch with the
new toryism, and a conservative prime min
FltI
democratic and progressive elements of his
party exposes himself to defeat in general
election.
n.
Bismarck casts well-deserved ridicule on
the assertion of a German paper that the
present cordial relations of the British and
German courts must have powerful effect
on the political situation. He points out that
whatever may be the personal influence of
Kaiser William IL. on the foreign policy of
Germany, Queen Victoria has no voice at all
in determining the foreign policy of England.
The attempt of the late Prince Albert TO
claim in the queens name some share in the
management of foreign affairs was resisted
and eventually baffied by Lord Palmcrston;
and the experiment has never been renewed
since the death of the prince consort.
In the present temper of the English
people the knowledge that the court
had eXerted pressure in favor of treaty
would be fatal to its ratification. If the !
queen, who, we believe, never reads the news
papers, is blind TO the conditions upon which |
monarchy is still tolerated in England, we
may be certain that the prince of Wales is |
fully alive 10 them, The fact that the German |
emperor is Queen Viotorla's grandson would |
not have pins weight in deciding the atti-