New-York tribune., 1894-01-21

IL
NJ the French four-and- -halfs into three-and-a-
halfs came up There was serious opposition
to that BILL which has since become law, but the
Socialists saw an opportunity, and suddenly
moved to apply the savings from this operation
nearly S15,000.OO0 yearly-to the reilef OF asri-
culture and the rural democracy
This was perfectly novel attempt on the part
of the Socialists to present themselves as cham
pions of the land-owning peasantry Probably
their tactics were seen through and the Cham
her thought to checkmate them by adopting the
proposal What extraordinary was that
neither the Finance Minister. who had charge of
the hill nor the Prime Minister expressed an
opinion TIL after the amendments were adopted
one by 40 and one by over 800 majority Theh'
the mischief being done. VI nerier invited the
Chamber to undo It. and made It question OF
confidence For the Chamber to reverse its vote
uitAr, ten minutes was to stultify itself but 1t
did Nobody was ready for another Ministerial
crisis and so by 100 ma jority this singular body
obeyed the bidding Of its leader. Such. a per-
formance strengthens neither Chamber nor CaDi-
net but 1t does at least indicate that neither IS
vet ready to accept the leadership or the So
cialists. ..n~. ~,n.,- =.
Thcre is however one subject on which the
purpose of this legislature is not doubtful. and
that ia protection The Customs Committee,
chosen by the whole Chamber on Thursday, foa-
tains twenty-eight "extreme" Protectionists. two
moderate Protectionists. and three Free-Irauers.'
The English have long been predicting Of frahoe'
, as Of America. that she was coming rounu u
free-trade This is the answer of France to that,
too-confdent forecast. =. .:.f:
The Wilson bill is. in one sense. the answer
OF America a bill which. though pregnant win
mischief is not here regarded as measure Oh
free-trade such as the English doctrnaire de-
sires That is point on which the Enghsh
agree with Mr.. Watterson, amazed as the emil
nent Kentuclxian must be to find himself in such
company. He may not know It, but every loea
in his mind OH economical subjects is drawn
from English sources.
Another colonial adventure is.to be pressed upon
France, where buccsneering-. has grown more
nopular than ever since the Of this policy
In Siam This time it is TO be Madagascar. An ex-
pediton Is said to be preparing, of ten or twelve
thousand men, There is no grievance Ihe
Kroumirs Of Madagascar have yet to be IN
vented But the Hovas 1t appears. are not suf1i-
c;ently sensible of the advantages of the present
French protectorate 1t is thought 1t will take al
least ten thousand French troops to bring con-
viction to the minds of these Madagascar scep-
tics There is debate in the Chambers TO-
day. England In Madagascar as in Siam. seems
to provoke French susceptibilites. England mas
done nothing but 1t is supposed she may mean
to do something. and at any rate Madagascar
II once annexed to France, would be valuaoie
possession both for commercial and naval pur-
poses. ....
NJ. Waddington's death is not less lamented
in England than in France. He had been SO
long Ambassador here that personally he was
almost better known in London than In Paris.
But he counted among his friends In his own
country most Of the best men OF his own time.
His services to France as Minister, as Plenipo-
tentiary to Berlin, as Senator. and finally as
Ambassador to England during ten troubled
years entitle him to the gratitude OF France.
The expression Of II, save from those who were
his friends Is somewhat stinted. His funeral
was private, but the presence Of such men as
the Prime Minister and others Of the Cabinet.
and the eu,ogies By NJ spuller NJ. LEON Say
Others, are snhfcient testimony to his
memory. The British Ambassador was there
to represent England. for whom the Queen and
the Prince of Wales also sent messages.
NJ waddngton. though stanch. and even
overstrenuous and difficult in pressing the claims
OF France has been throughout an Ambassador
whose mission made for peace He defined his
aim in his speech at the very remarkable fare~
we'll dinner offered him at the Mansion House
as the promotion Of good and friendly relations
between France and England 1t is not his fault,
nor Englands. II they have grown steadily less
friendly.
His successor NJ. Decrais. is expected to re-
verse NJ Waddington's policy and ''parler ferme'
to the English Foreign Office. NJ Decrais Is
far too experienced diplomatst to do anything
of the kim. Such language is not held except
as a preliminary to war. The Chauvinist press
t,>l, tn and INT no
English Minister in his senses pays attention to
the vaporings of these journals NJ. Wadding-
ton understood England the better for being
English by descent, and served France the bet
ter for the same reason He did not solve the
Egyptian problem because the Egyptian prob
lem Is insoluble. NJ Decras is expected. as
NJ. Waddngton was. to perform the impossible.
He may rejoice II he succeeds as well as his
predecessor in the great objects Of his embassy
and leaves behind him a reputation equally
honorable.
The lull in English politics remains unbroken.
The House Of Lords again assembled yesterday
at 4sl5' and adjourned at 4:35 In the interval
Lord Ripon Announced that the second reading Of
the Parish Councils bill would be taken next
Thursday. The delay is not, ii appears, due to
the innate wckedress of the peers generally. or
Of Lord Salisbury In particular. but to the fact
that the Government was not ready to proceed.
The much amended Parish Councils bill had TO
be reprinted in order TO be intelligibe. and
Government printing is slow business. Lord
Kimberley moreover who leads the forlorn
hope Of Gladstonians in the Upper House. has
been III, but Is better and expected to beIH mis-
place on Thursday. .
There has been political speech or two.
notably one by Sir Henry James to his constitu-
ents at Bury. with remarks on the conduct Of
business by Mr.. Gladstone during the present
session in the House Of Commons. Ill suited to
the American market Sir George Treveyan,
whose name comes seldom OF late to the front,
has been made a citizen Of Glasgow. one division
Of which ne represents in Parliament. Mr.. John
Burns. who lately threatened. in his genial way,