New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-07-12

| etharSic and slow TO move is not dead At
most it sleeps, and when it wakes or if il wakes,
yOs will hear very different tune finn the
Nonconformist Gladstonian organ, or else it will
cease TO be an organ of the Nonconformist con-
science.
AS for Mr. Parnell, neither he nor his enemies be-
leve that the day of his political extinction has
dawned. He will fight on Some friends may
fall OFF from him. The Irish are too quick-witted
| not to find plenty of excuses for turning their
backs on the who never turned his ul their
enemies. But it is far cry to the
next general election, and great many things
will happen meantime. Mr.. Parnel will retain
but three seats, says the prophet whom the anti
ParDellites keep in their pay. Possibly; but Mr.
Parnell alone would still be force to be rcckoned
with.
The House of Commons got on rapidly with
its work during the week. The Education bill
was read the third time on Wednesday, and sent
up to the Lords, where some of its provisions are
likely to be sCrutinized sharply enough The rest
of the legislators time has been occupied with
routine business except that on Thursday Mr.
Morton, a temperance champion, tried to apply
the local option principle to the House itself, and
TO exclude liquors from the lobby bar; but the
members avowed their confidence in their ability
to resist temptation, nfty-ive only voting for
abstinence.
1t has now come out-evcrything comes out
that Captain Shaw has been driven from the Fire
Brigade by the meddlesome interference Of the
Fire Committee of the London County Council.
That is one more service for which London has to
, thank its present municipal rulers. Captain Shaw
! bore long with these busybodies, but finally re-
/ signed. The committee announced his retirement
! TO the Council without so much a civil word
of regret One of their better members, NJ. Boul-
nOis protested, upon which Mr. Benn one of the
worse, said there was not the least reason to in
GJ1ge in regret. To Mr.. Benn Mr.. Thornton said
ditto Sir John Lubbock the chairman, is no
man to let pass such display OF ingratitude and
illmanrers. lie hoped that the public would not
think that Mr.. Benn and Mr.. Thornton expressed
| the opinion of the Council lie recognized the
value OF Captain Shaw's services, and trusted that
/ his resignation was not final. Captain Shaw's
services are in fact recognized everywhere. His
resignation is deeply regretted, except by Mr..
| Benn, Mr. Thornton, and their like.
Mr. Timothy Healy, as plaintiff in libel suit is
! a picturesque figure; or, perhaps, as one Of the
! lawyers said, comic. He has been libeler-geneml
| to the Irish party for years Amid group OF
men, all eminent for their power of disregarding
the decencies of public speech, Mr.. Healy has been
pre-eminent. Now he sues The Freeman's Journal
for saying that he had betrayed his clients in the
! MaryDOfOugh TRIALS. lnlS al1tg8IlOn nhu, ne Cou-
sidered, damaged his character TO the extent o.
| $4,000. Mr. Healy denied what was said of him.
The defendant said that it was fair comment Irish
courts are peculiar, and when Mr.. Healy was called
as witness he greeted with mingled
cheers and qroans He was crosS-exanined to
! show that he had freely abused other bsrTisters
! as well public men. Asked whether he called
Lord Spencer the Duke Of Sodom and Gomorrah,
he said yes; he was not ashamed of it; would do
it again. The defence called no witnesses. The
Judge said that the question was entirely for the
! Jury. The jury found that the language COM
planned of was not fair comment, but were un-
! able to agree as to the cash value of Mr.. Healy's
damaged character and were discharged.
| Not the least singular incident in connection
with W. II. dladstone's death was the postpone
ment of the Duchess Of Westminster's
dance and the reason given for it,
The Duke thought proper to send paragraph
to the papers saying that, besides some
| knship, ties Of old regard for Mr. Gladstone
were strong enough TO make this particular feS-
tivity impossible in the circumstances. These
ties of old regard were not however. strong
enough few years since to prevent the Duke from
selling Mr.. Gladstone's portrait at a profit, nor
from allowing political differences to end in per-
sonal alienation. 1t lends point TO his explanation
to find this very portrait. Sir Everett NIillais's
in the exhibition Of the Society of Portrait Paint
els in P.ccadilly, lent by its present owner, Sir
Charles Tenant who paid the Duke of
Westminster $4,000 for the painting which had
cost him So, 200.
Mr.. Irving whose tact and whose feeling for
the true dignity of his art have often been shown,
has again shown them in way that must be
surprising to those who gave him the occasion.
Asked to take part in a discussion on the moral
influence Of the stage, he refused, on the
ground that the moral influence of the stage was
no more disputable than the moral influence of
literature.
The timeliest Of recent publications is Mr..
Harold Frederic's life Of the German Emperor.
He writes openly enough admirer. even as
q partisan of this youthful sovereign, and due al
lowance must be made for this in considering
Mr.. Frederics opinions on current German poll
tics and on the personal relations between the
heaven-born monarch and the forty odd millions
of other Germans of earthly origin over whom he
rules. But the interest of Mr.. Fredercs
biography is in its careful study of facts not
generally known, and his not less careful study
of character. 1t is possible to dissent from his
main conclusions, yet 10 admire the skill with
which they drawn and the plausible view OF
the perfectibility of imperial human nature here
set before MS. The author writes agreeabN, often
with force, is readable everywhere and has pro-
duced the most attractive sketch Of the German
Emperor anywhere TO be had in English or Ainerl-
can print.
Mr. George Russels book on Mr. Gladstone is
disappointment The author has had some ad-
vantages from personal acquaintance, none ap-
parently from Mr. GladstOne's goodwill to this
narticular enterprise, since the most the great man
would say was that lie would put no obstacles
in tbe way of his would-be biOgrapher. Mr.. Rus
sell has collected certain number Of facts about
uy Gladstone's early life, others about his re-
Eoio,N life and has written chapter in which
be onalyzes in his own manner the development OF
his subiect's character. Even here American adj
Mirrors of the British statesman will be sricved