The sun., 1890-11-18

but no attempt should be made to forcs
any person to pay for labor not performed,
ltaly's Position in East Africa.
The cordial relations which have hitherto
been maintained between England and Italy
seem likely to be impaired by the rupture
OF the negotiations regarding the bounda.
ries Of Abyssinis. The Italians insisted that
for the defence Of their Abyssinian protec-
torate an occupation Of Kassala elthor by
an Anglo Egyptian or an italian force was
indispensable. The attitude OF the British
Foreign ONCE on the other hand, is pre-
cisely that Of the dog In the manger. It will
neither take Kasssla itself nor permit italy
to do 30. The pretext for this extraordinary
course is that Ksssala nominslly belongs to
Egypt and that England cannot cede 1t to
foreign power without the Khedive's con.
sent. But the same thing might have been
said Of Massowah, OF which the Italians
were to take possession. Every one knows
that the khedivs is q mere dummy In tho
hands Of his British guardians and that,
II ordered, he would as promptly cede the
one place as the other.
There is no doubt that Kassala command
ing as 1t does the valley OF the Atbara and
the caravan routes leading from Suakin
and Massowah to Khartoum, is Of great
strategic importance to the possessors Of
Khartoum. But the English protectors Of
Egypt have abandoned Khartoum to tho
dervishes, and, In view Of the dissraceful
failure OF tho expedition under Lord woIsE-
LEY. the attempt to recover the place will
>l,,H H,, d.
the practical abandonment Of their pre-
tensions to Khartoum the Engllsh seem to
have renounced any moral claim to Kassala.
While to them, however. the latter town IL
under the present or any reasonably pros
pective circumstances neither harmful nor
useful 1t is, while in the hands of the
dervishes, a source Of constant and grave
danger to the Abyssinian proteses Of Italy.
The latter, It must DO remembered, in their
last battle with the dervtshes were severely
beaten. and their territories on the left bank
Of the Atbara have since been exposed to
continual depredatlons on tho part OF the
Mahdlsts posted at Kassala. Another con-
fiict is impending between the dervishes
and the Abyssinians. armed. disciplined. and
probably commanded by the Italians, and
should the latter prove victorious, they
would naturally wish to oust the Moham-
medan fanatics from their coign of vantage.
For England to tnterpose. and say that q
triumph Of Christians over Moslems shall
be virtually fruitless. naturally is regarded
by Italians as grievous wrong.
What adds to the uneasiness Of tho Italians
at finding their hands tied In the matter Of
Kassala Ia the reflection that at best, their
policy of annexation In Abysslnia Is Of ques-
tionable expediency. The acquisition OF
Massowah. the occupation Of tho high table
land Of Keren and Asmara, and the sssump-
tion OF protectorate over Abyssinia are
moves analogous to the French adventures
in Tonquin and Anam, which ruined the
Ministry OF M. JULES FERRY. Italy is far
less able than was France to afford such
ambitious and expensive demonstrations.
Nor were they. indeed, ever deliberately
sanctioned by the italian people or its leg
islature Only when they we're presented
as accomplished facts was tho reluctant &C.
quiescencs Of the Chamber Of Deputies OBJ
tained. The cost Of maintaining standing
army In readiness for European contingent
cies is out Of all proportion to Itaiy's nnan-
cial resources, and the country cannot bear
tho additional burden that would be I'm
posed by war for tho defence Of Abyssinis.
Where Lord WoIsKLEY failed It Is improbs-
bic that the Italians would succeed without
an exhausttng outpour OF men and money.
Speaking on this subject some months ago,
an influential italian statesman, Marquis
said that the uncertainties of the
African programme were infinite, while its
advantages, compared with its risks, must
always be small. In any case. what Africa
had cost and would cost the taxpayers might
moro profitaby have boon spent at homo.
However the Italians may at heart regret
The assumption of welghty responsibilities
In East Africa, they know that they cannot
now repudiate them without loss OF ma
tional dignity and prestige. They feel that
3 professedly friendly power should try to
lessen rather than aggravsts tho Inherent
iiflcultles Of their situation. and they not
resent their treatment at the
hands Of Lord SALISBURY In the matter Of
Kassala. They must long ardenty for the
return OF Mr.. GLADSTONE to power. for he
would promptly order the Khedive to re-
nounce his shadowy pretenslons to place
which he has no prospect OF regaiping.
Women in Church and State.
So far as reported. the Methodist churches
have voted against the proposition to per-
NIT the admission Of women as lay dele
gates to the General Conference, the su-
nreme leuislatiye hodv NJ tha communion