New-York tribune., 1893-12-24

FOREIGN PRINCE AccRINGToN ELECTION
ANARCHIST -HUNTING-THE FRENCH NAVY
NJ GoBLET's socialist SCHEMES
sIGNoR CIIsPrs GOOD START.
,Br cADLK TO rnE TRIBUNE,
Copyright; 1898 Bg The yribuns Amoc,ansn
London Dec 2s-Mr. Gladstone takes with
him to Brighton. where he paszea his brief
Christmas holiday, the consciousness OF week
we'll spent, from a party point of view. He has
won a party victory in the House Of Commons
on the question OF naval defence Of the Empire.
and another at Accrington. which turned largely
on labor: the first by full the second by re-
duccd party majority. 1t may be reckoned as
sct-off to this reduction that he. or rather Mr..
Asquth induced the House 10 give him nearly
double his normal party majority for disagreeiny
with the Lords the contracting-out clause OF
the Employers Liability bill. Possibly It pleased
him not less to be able to throw protecting
arm around enc Of his Irish supporters. who
came within measurable distance OF being CEN
sured FOR public imputation on the honesty OK
the House in its dealings with the South African
Company.
In the other scale have TO be weighed the rather
awkward episode touching the Duke Of Edin-
burgh's annuity and fresh mutiny amcng the
Radicals But Mr.. Gladstone has serene con-
fdence based on many experiences, In his power
Of reducing the Radicals to submission whenever
their submission is really necessary; and ne Is
probably unaware how widespread is the discon-
tent among the masses, arising out OF his defer
encc to the Crown in the pecuniary affairs OF
the Royal Family Be that as 1t may, he has
had on the whole good week.
His Journey to Brighton implies failing In
health He goes Mr.. Arnltsteads guest for
four days OF fresh air. No mortal who can spend
them elsewhere spends his Christmas holidays In
London.
Conjecture as to what may happen after
Christmas IS idle enough; but II is plain that on
both sides Of the House tempers are rising. Mr..
Robert Reid a party man II there be one and
Radical, fired a parting shot at the Opposition
Just before the House broke up. He accused
them Of deliberate Intention to wreck the ses-
sion Of 1894 by obstructing the Parish Councils
bill in 1893. The patience Of the Ministry. said
Mr.. Reid. hotly. was likely to be mistaken for
pusillanimity; and he wanted to know what the
Ministry meant to do resum!ng business next
Wednesday Sir William Harcou-t replied that
as the House was about adjourning. he thought
the best thing they could do was to wish each
other merry Christmas Mr. Reid retorted,
still, more hotiy that this was fiippant answer.
But the House only laughed and dispersed.
There can be little doubt that extreme pressure
will be put on the Government by the RADICALS
10 employ the closure after Christmas. But nine
teen clauses Of the Parish Councils bill have been
considered In committee and ffty-two remain:
not many Of them. perhaps. very rich In con-
tentious matter. 1t is known that the LORDS
mean to debate the bill fully The anxious Rad
ica his mind full Of the Newcastle Programme
Is asking himself and others when the session Of
hat hal ~ ~
any great measure can be carried before the dis
solution which almost everybody. except possi-
bly, Mr. Gladstone regards as inevitable next
year.
The naval debate and division on Tuesday In
the House Of Commons resulted, as said, IN
party triumph for Mr.. Gladstone. Each side
accuses the other Of making 1t party matter.
Each accuses the other OF degrading the discus
sion These recrminations do not much advance
Imperial interests. There certain facts which
are not disputed. An American ex-Secretary OF
the Navy General Tracy. ha already laid them
before the American public. Mr.. Gladstone scoffed
at him and his authority. but It is not seriously
disputed that France and Russia arc building
more frst-class battle-ships than England.
Lord George Hamilton, who First Lord OF
the Admiralty in the last Government made
temperate statement. based on facts and figures
which have not been successfully assailed Tne
figures vary as they are set forth by one side
or the other. and different classes OF vessels
are or are not included. But the net result Of
them all is that whereas England is now supe-
rior TO France and Russia. she WILL II no new
building programme be adopted. in 1898 be in
ferior whether you count By vessels or by tom
mage. and very largely inferior. ~------
Such being the facts. the Opposition ask the
Government TO say what they going to DO.
I'VE will not" answers Mr.. Gladstone. we
are responsible. not you" And he makes light
OF apprehensions which fill experts with grave
alarm. Ills speech was that Of financier. OF
a party leader. not OF a Prime Minister RESPONSE
BILE for an Empire whose existence admittedly
depends on the supremacy Of its navy
II is however believed that Lord Spencer II
alive 10 the danger. his naval colleagues In
the Admiralty certainly are, and that new first
class battle-shps are speedily to be laid down
But the Opposition are not to have credit for the
new policy.
The fresh dissension between Mr.. Gladstone
and the Radicals referred 10 above, is but one
more proof how delicate is the question OF
money grants to the Royal Family. This time II
is the annuities to the Duke OF Edinburgh, now
Duke Of Saxe-Coburg. but still commonly re-
ferred TO by his English title. He had two an
nuties one OF fifteen thousand and one OF ten
thousand pounds. both by Act OF Parliament the
Hrst granted on his coming OF age. the second on
his marriage. Both bestowed him a.
the Queens son and an English subject and In
both acts the right to revoke them on his acces-
sion to the Dukedom OF Saxe-Coburg was re.
served.
That contingency has arrived. The Duke has
ceased to be an English subject. He has re-
signed from the English Navy. though retaining
an honorary rank. He has withdrawn from the
Priyy Council and forfeited his seat In the House
OF Lords lie has become sovereign prince OF
a. German Empire. and beyond question owes
allegiance to Germany. and has accepted Ger.
man nationality, inheriting. at the same time. .