Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-12-30

e
The cost of the exposition was between
fifteen and twenty million dollars 1t was
conceded to have surpassed in grandeur
and extent every other exposition and to
have been a grand success. The attendance
in spring and early summer was discour-
aging, but later il was all that could be
at Chicago to entertain the throng far out
stripped the demand and many hotels
closed for lack Of support
The Home Rule Bill.
Mr.. Gladstone. the British premier, in
speech of two hours. on February Ii, in
troduced a bill for home rule in ireland.
1t was read for the first time on the 18th.
The bill provided for an Irish legislature
consisting of a legislative council and a
legislative assembly. Legislation respect
ing exclusive Irish affairs is to be enacted.
Broadly speaking. the legislature was given
those powers possessed by a state govern
ment in the United States, reserving for
the imperial parliament those matters left
by the American constitution to Congress
Modincations were introduced suitable to
the peculiar conditions existing. Lana leg
lsiatlon was left for three years to parlia-
ment. The opposition began a most stub
born Tight. both Irish factions gave the
bill their support But the Protestants of
Ireland in Ulster, Munster and Leinster
opposed the bill strongly ana even prayers
were offered up against it. AT a meeting
OF citizens in Belfast on March IA resolu-
tons were adopted expressing the convic-
ton that the bill would destroy public con-
hdence, render property insecure and
threaten peace. Many prominent Catholics
also Joined in the agitation against the
measure. Out of 1,2.S church parishes in
Ireland, 1.l9O protested against it. and it
was claimed that only $1,000 of the $4,000
members of the Irish church favored home
rule. The Presbyterian general assembly
OF Ireland denounced the bill Numerous
deputati tons protesting were sent to Mr..
(.lA0St0nR a
The bill went to second reading on April
u, and was passed by S47 to 304. On May
II was taken up in committee by clauses
Then followed filibustering contest by the
opposition, which was frustrated only by
adopting the closure. From the Sth to the
18th was spent on the second clause. Mr..
Gladstone made concessions here and there
which much angered his Irish followers,
but did not adopt the prohibitions regard
ing ex post facto laws. laws impairing the
obligations Of contracts and the suspen-
sion Of the habeas corpus. which are i'm
posed on the states In America The de-
bate was one of. the longest on
record. Through IT all. Mr.. Gladstone main
tained his wonderful powers. though bowed
The hour set for closure. on July q. wit
messed the most dlsorderly scene ever
known In the commons. Mr.. Chamberlain
had made furious attack on the bill when
Thomas Power OConnor shouted Judas"
At once the house was in an uproar and
blows followed words. Finally Mr.. O'Con-
nor apologized. The final vote was taken
after midnight, on September !, resulting
In a majority of thirty-four for the bill the
vote standing 301 to 267. OF the 400 English
and Welsh members voting, 221 We're In
favor, and 269 against; of the al Scotch
members voting. As favored the bill and
% opposed; of the 103 Irish members, 80
favored and % opposed the bill. The meas
ure was sent at once to the house of lords
where 1t passed the first reading within
five minutes. On the second reading the
bill rQiRCfad 11Q n Al
forced into prominence the question of the
constitutional rights Of the peers and of
mending or lending" the house Of lords
The National Liberal Association issued a
manifesto declaring that the peers must
either capltulate or be abolished. It was
now announced that Mr.. Gladstone would
go ahead with his reform bills, the parish
councils, the Welsh disestabiishment and
the registration, and the employers liability
bills. pass them. and when the lords reject
ed them. dissolve parliament and appeal
to the country.
The German Army Bill.
The German army bill was distinctly a
government measure. upon whose success
the Emperor and Chancellor Won Caprivi.
set their hearts. The existing military es-
adjustment of Germany was such a heavy
burden that all productive classes suffered.
Militarism had no longer an enormous popu-
lar following. The government realized
from the start that IL had a powerful oppo-
sition to face in its efforts to Increase the
effective strength Of the army. The bal
was the chief subject of discussion in the
reichstag In the spring. Notwithstanding
the appeals Of the kaiser and the influence
Oh ,ne CHANCELLOR. on March IL, it failed on
second reading In the military committee
Inc government now offered to compro-
mise. The crisis came on May g. when the
compromise amendments were rejected by
Iaz TO 10, and the reichstag was dissolved
n he
~ 2oVO candidates were in the field. AS a
candidate must receive a majority To he
elected, second elections were made neces-
sary in nearly 200 cases At the 6rst sisc-
ton on June Is only 2l5 members n-ara
elected. or these 101 favored the hin ana
ia opposed ii. The second elections u-ara
favorable to the government and a clear
majority of 33 was obtained for the eryn,,
bill In the new reichstag Prussia ana IT,
smaller states of the north stood ~ 49,
government while Bavaria, wurtemhers
nnu rne south opposed it. -Four Prussian
provinces elected twenty-one candidates 70
seats previously held by the oppositton
Inc chancellor announced that he would
stand by the compromises which he bad
ppr Or ana which had been rejected
On July the bill was introduced Tba
peace effective OF the army was incre.se6
by 10000, and the entire stan6,na ~
sradualiy to 47e 800 men. until 1899. The
o o,t nhaay passed on July b. by POI to 1s5.
anu shortiy the reichstag was dissolved.
Secession I'm Norway.
In the summer Of 1892 the Norwa,,,.,,
storthing resolved in favor of senarate Nor-
wegian consulates. but King Oscar a.,
sweden refused his sanction. The liberal
cabinet OF NJ Steen resigned, but was ner-
suaoed TO resume office. Thus matters
rested until this year. In January the
adoption of an army bill at Stockholm in
creasing the effectiveness Of the Swedish
army, was regarded by the Norwegian radI-
cals as menace to Norwegian indenen-
oence, and the autonomous sentiments of
the radicals was kndled into flame Tba
radicals. too, leaned toward an understand
ing with France and Russia and distrnstea
the friendly leaning OF the Stockholm gov
erhment toward the triple alliance. King
oscar proposed that a fair allotment OF
diplomatic and consular Appointments
should be given to Norway and that the
foreign minister should be alternately from
sweden and Norway. But by a vote of al
TO 90 by the storthing of Norway a resolu-
uon was adopted maintaining the right OF
Norway to complete independence in ali
matters not described in the act of uuton
as pertaining to the union. The kings com
promise was rejected Unless the Norwe-
gian claims were granted the Norwegian
cabinet announced that II would Withhold
contributions for the diplomatic and con-
sular service. Warlike talk was freely in
dulged in and hints OF secession were hea nd
Meanwhile the people of Sweden clamored
for universal suffrage. King Oscar refused
to sanction the resolution passed nj Chris