The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1893-01-04
Revival Of the Project to Connect
England With the Euro
pean Continent
Main Objection Heretofore Has
Come From the War and
Navy Ofllces.
Gladstone's Government Declared to BE
II Favor OF tho Projeot-Nsws Of
Foreign Countries.

PoJccs W VOnbbIucb . tuun0l DCtW0on En-
gland and France. so as to establish connsc-
tion between the two countries which shall
be independent Of wind and waves. Sir
Edwin Watkin. tho father Of the idea. be-
lisvss in ''psgginR away likslAbrahsm Lin
coin, but his ''peRginR away" has Thus far
brouRhkno profit to him or the sharehold-
s's whom no has persuaded to join him.
They buried their money in the big hole
and that seems to be the end Of IL. II must
be understood that The tunnel has been car
risd for some two thousand two hundred
yards, and all appeared TO be going on we'll
whom the government interiered and stopped
the work. The position made ID kept in
good order and is always open to inspsc-
tion to those who take an interest In H..
above all, to members of parliament. who
have II in their power to remove the block
and allow the ssnRuine Sir Edward Watkin
to 90 on his way rejoicing.
Among the distinguished converts to the
tunnel scheme is Mr.. Gladstone, to whom
sir Edward has paid assiduous court for
years together. The last time tho question
WAS brought before the house Of commons
Gladstone spoke in its favor. but he had
not much influence then. Now he is prime
minister. and that makes all the difference.
At the last meeting of the company, just
held. Sir Edward Watkin boldly declared
that so far as he knew the governments was
favorably inclined to the company's enter
prise. What authority has he for making
that statement Probably none. But if
the rise of turn or two in the market cen
be secured almost any assertion is lawful
(such is the ethics of the stock exchange,
and Cir Edward Watkin has thoroughly
mastered them). believe tho public gen
eraiiy dislike the entire scheme. and they
are greatly influenced by the fact that all
tho great military authorities are dead
against it.
Lord Woolssly has warned us that Eng
land would never be free from invasion for
twenty-four hours after the tunnel was
made. and that it would involve the addi-
tion of 100000 men to the army and it
would deprive England of all the adyant-
practically make it part of the continent.
This has always been great idea Of weight
with the house of commons. Sir Edward
Watkin tells US that the French are very
eager to have the tunnel proceeded with
and that they have finished their 1900
yards in admirable style. That is the very
point. The reasons which render tho
French SO desirous for the tunnel are pre-
cisely those which mako Englishmen fight
shy Of it. The silver stream is their great
p elective. They have built an enormous
fleet chiefly to enable them to hold COM
mand over it. Now it is to be placed at the
disposal of an enemy who may want to
strike blow at England from the con-
tinent, and the English are not willing to
incur that risk. But il 1t is going to be
made and seems likely to pay, there are
l lenty of people who would be ready to
find the money, All d patriotism will not de-
ter them from going into n good specula-
tion. Hense, Sir Edward Watkin has lost
no time in trying to fix the position of the
new government.
OF course Mr.. Gladstone has not been
consulted about it lately. He has quite
enough to think about. The Dublin explo-
sion will obliRe him to come back to Lon
don much sooner than he intended. There
must be n cabinet meeting to consider what
shall be done.
If decision could be taken by ballot on
home rule parliament would not be trou-
bled with the bill next session. But the
Old man would not give mp his darling
project, even though dvnamiters were at
work in every street in London. The only |
question is whether seme provisions of the
coercion act, which are still unrepealed, |
shall be put in force. That is a knotty
point. Public opinion seems to demand il,
but Mr.. Gladstone's Irish allies will leave
him at the first turn of the screw. Those |
who hope to succeed Mr.. Gladstone in COM
nand or the liboral party would rather not
be called nron to show their hand on this |
most unpleasant subject.