The record-union., 1891-04-25
LONDON GOSSIP.
THE CONSERVATIVES COMMITTED
TO FREE EDUCATION.
Great Interest Manifested by the Eng
lfSh Government In tho
Worlds Fair.

Copyrighted, 1891, by n. Y.Associated Press.
LONDON, April 4-There is much con-
graduation among the members of the
Commons that the Conservatives have
committed themselves to free education,
but much diversity of opinion as to how
the new departure would affect the
party's future. No one doubts that the
Government has made Il coup with a
view that at the general election the Con-
servativeS who dislike the measure will
accept it because of their desire to aSSoci-
ate the name of the party with the i'm
mense boon to the town workingmen
and rural laborers, but the Liberals
reason that the Tory action cannot take
| from them the credit of a measure for
which they long fought.
The opposition has further and stronger
reasons to hail the Government scheme,
containing as it does abundant possibili-
ties for party disruption and widespread
national discomfort. They will probably
be denominational, according TO high
authority.
The Cabinet plans. however, simply in
volve free education in the lower stand
ards, assisted education in the higher
standards and increased grants to de-
be made in the system of control, except
that parents shall have power to elect
part of the board. The solid opposition
of the Liberals on this latter point may
! give the Conservatives a disastrous check
on the eve Of the dissolution.
| The English Government is evincing
the greatest interest i'll the Chicago
| Worlds Fair, and has decided to make Il
! handsome appropriation. This is an un-
usual sign of friendlineSS, as no appro-
! priation was made for Paris. While
| everything is favorable as far as the Gov
ernment and influential persons are con-
! cerned, it must be admitted that the
probable exhibitors show Indifference.
entirely owing to the lack of information
and the absence Of any means to supply
| it. Chicago must beStir herself if She
wishes England freely represented.
The Foreign Office has received alarm
ing advices from Lisbon. The English
Minister, Glynn Petri, represents the
political situation as critical. The Portu-
CUES Cabinet oughtto submit the new En-
glish convention to the CorteS on May 9TH.
but the Premier pleads for extension Of
the modlts UiUeHdi and delay in the pub
fishing of the convention, i'll order to give
time for the abatement of the excitement
against England, which is ImDerilinp the
position of the Government.
The Newfoundland delegates express
qualification at their reception in the
House Of Lords; they have received many
encouraging promises Of support from
the officers and members of the Com
mons.
The Chilean Envoy, Senor Godoy, has
been here trying to negotiate q loan of
9j00, 000 for President Balmaceda. The
London tinanciers having declined to adj
vance the money, he went to Paris,
where he continues to search for syndi-
cate to take the loan. lie has very little
chance of success. Godoy SAYS Balma-
ceda still has plenty Of money TO pay the
troops with. and sooner or later will
overthrow the insurgents. His declara-
tionS in regard to the state of the ex-
chequer are doubted, III view of the fact
that the Chilean cruisers built in France
cannot leave because two-fiithS of the
price stipulated to be paid after the final
trial is not forthcoming. Senor Godoy is
about TO go to Berlin to seek financial
help.
Gladstone has decided to support the
divorce reform bill, introduced by
Hunter. This amazed the Liberals, who
believed he would oppose any extension
Of the divorce laws as a matter Of relig-
ious principle. The bill entities the wife
to a dissolution OF the marriage tie in the
event of adultery or four years deSertion
on the part of the husband. The House
of Lords will reject it, IS the bishops will
congre9ate against il.
hfilISh oitstl reports nom Spain and
Portugal announce the remarkable. Stc-
cess oi the system Of grating American
or native vines, which result in prey ent-
ing phylloxera and producing good wine.
The Consul at Madeira writes that a
large amount of new vines, mostly
American, were planted in the districts
most celebrated for their wine, and pro-
duce a superior quality on the north side
of the island, where all vines were de-
stroyed by phylloxera years ago. The
new vines have given their first fine
crop.