New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-04-01
THE NEWS OF EUROPE.
NO POLITICAL SIGNIFICANCE IN THl
MEETING OF THE EMPERoRs.
THE AGRARIAN LEAGUES ATTACK UPON THu
GERMAN EMPERoR-MR GLADsToNE's NEW
ATTITUDE TOWARD THE LIBERAL
UNIoNIsTs-IRIsH DIssESsToNs-
EIGHT HoURs-LITERATURE
AND THE DRAMA
LORD HANNEN.
fCopyr1gtt 1884,: By The Tribune Ano,ationJ

fCopvrfgh; 1891: By The Tribune An01atonD
London. March 3i.-The meeting at Abbazia
between the German and Austrian Emperora
notable incident though 1t be- is almost certainly
devoid Of political meaning The Emperor Of
Austria pays a visit to his German brother be-
cause he is on Austrian soil. 1t is a cvlity. and
also an expression OF the friendship known to
exist in a between them. But neither
OF them is accompanied by a responsible Min
ister, and 1t is the absence OF responsible Min
listers which makes 1t clear that no political busi-
transacted
Neither the Emperor nor Count Won CapriH
nor any else having authority has yet ex-
planned the meaning Of Count Caprivis
speech last week at Dantzig foretelling the prob
able necessity that the peoples Of Europe might,
In the next century. have to stand shoulder TO
shoulder lest some OF them be not powerful
enough to face coming eventualities alone. All
Germany has been puzzling over this enigma
and In vain.
Far more significant than anything known Of
the imperial meeting at Abbazia is the manifesto
Of the Agrarian League. That Conservative
body, driven into opposition by the stress OF
economical difficulties. beaten In Parliament and
threatened by the Emperor, has turned suddenly
and rather savagely upon the Emperor. Its
members refuse to be bound by the will OF q
political opponent. F1outed by Count Won
Capriv they pass him by TO reach his master.
and sound note OF defiance to imperial absolut-
ISM There have been parties before in
Germany who resisted the policy which the En-
peror favored. There have been protests against
the pressure which came from the throne. There
are Socialists who make war everything and
every body. There are Radicals who are the CON-
scious unconscious instrument OF Socialism,
But such language the Agrarians now use to
the Emperor is heard for the first time from such
men, and perhaps never from any political group
has it taken form so personal. The Emperor.
saturated with his idea of divine right, is sure to
think it blasphemous, II not insulting
Mr.. Gadstone's letter to the City Liberal AS
sociation Is curious and interesting document
giving rise to as many surm!ses the vale
dictory address which he acknowledges was
non partisan. His answer might almost be
cael an appeal to reconstruct the Liberal party.
The address was proposed by distinguished Lib
eral-Unionist, Sir John Lubbock. Mr. Gladstone
almost seems to think that 1t was in his character
leading Liberal Unonist that Sir John Of
fered him this tribute. He tells him that the
address helps TO cherish the hope l never can
abandon, that the day may come for the reduc-
tion or extinction Of the schsm In the Liberal
party.
That reads, says the Conservative organ, re-
markably like manifesto. 1t does; but IL also
raises the question. since when Mr.. Gladstone
began TO cherish the hope Of reunting the party.
He rent II in twain in 1856, and under what cir
cumstances? Heretofore he has seldom referred
to the Liberal Unonist5 without a touch Of Bit
terness. The most courteous of public men, he
mentioned them habtuay not by the name they
themselves adopted, but "Dissentient Liber-
ais He habitually described them rather
worse than the Tories. So marked was his hos
tlity to his old colleagues who had refused to
follow him into the Parnellie camp. that, upon
Lord Rosebery's accession. the Conservatives
were in a futter lest Mr.. Gadstonc's departure
might be the signal for a return OF their Liberal
allies to the Liberal foli. That anxiety soon
dispelled. Lord Rosebery held out no hand to
them they to him.
They are more anxious to know what this new
mood Of the old leader means Is he already
tired of retirement? Is he meditating return?
Is the precedent Of 1876 and 1850 TO be repeated
or initiated? Is Lord Rosebery reserved for a
fate similar 10 that Of the Lord Harrington OF
that day? Does the Old Parliamentary Hand
after these few weeks OF calm reflection begin
to think he sees his way to recalling those whom
he drove from his side in 1886? Is this olive
branch which he tentatively holds out to Mr.
Chamberlain and the Duke of Devonshire? Does
he tnnk Slr w NllIlalU Is dfSlOuS lOT tHe
return Of the one Liberal who might oust him
from his leadership OF the House OF Commons?
Does he imagine that Lord Rosebery is eager for
a duumvrate in the House of Lords. or longing
TO find himself In company with the man in
whom moderate men OF all parties have had
faith?
Such are some and only some Of the questions
TO which even the suggestion OF reunion gives
rise. do not think It in the least probable that
Mr.. Gladstone medtates an immediate reap
pearance the political stage. or perhaps.
temperance as leader at any future time.
Something must depend the result OF
the operation his eyes. But he has
chosen the first lull in political excitement since
his resignation to launch what most people think
a balloon The appearance of this possibly por-
tentous object in the heavens elicits plenty OF
comment from his old opponents and is received
with absolute silence by his recent supporters.
The opponents magnify It. but that is perhaps
better than seeming blind TO the existence Of
meteorological phenomenon which Il would be at
least respectful TO mention.
The constituencies are not responding quite so
we'll as was expected TO the appeal OF the new
Ministry There have been four elections Mr.
Munro Ferguson's majority pulled down in
Lelth, though nobody Is more popular than Mr..
Munro Ferguson. and he is known TO be Lord
Rosebery's intimate friend Lelth, moreover. 10
well within the sphere OF influence OF Dalmeny.
and within that county OF Midlothian where
Mr.. Gladstones name has still magical sound.
as where has 1t not? The Hawick Burghs re-
dressed the balance the same day by increasing
Mr.. Shaw's majority and the day whole.
though the Unionists won on comparison OF
figures, was reckoned a drawn battle.
But on Thursday came Berwckshre and
Montgomery. Both showed Liberal losses and
Montgomery came within measurable distance
OF being Liberal disaster. Both seats became
vacant by the accession Of their occupants to