New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-08-12

row. The upshot Of the whole letter Is that
ne personally thinks 1t would be well II the qnes-
ton could be settled by local option. the option
70 be exercised In districts OF considerable area
The British Association for the Advancement
OF Science. less particular than Mr.. Labouchere'
does not mind having peer premier oai-
barous phrase. with which Mr. Labouchere mas
enriched the political vocabulary OF this country
It's president for the year IL Lord Salisbury. Inc
ex-Prme Minister, though a peer. and though
Conservative, has some knowledge Of science ana
has also a mastery Of the English language and
a remarkable power of handling abstruse sub
tects with lucid precision. This last is useful to
a president when he has to deliver long au-
dress.
The Association has Of late years lost little OF
its hold on public attention. though not It's place
IN the scientific world 1t is still KIND or IN
terpreter between science and the natural man.
Lord Salisbury accepted that duty and discoursed
at Oxford on Wednesday Of science In a way Wen
calculated to persuade the Indifferent public of its
destinations. 1t Is long since there has been an
address Of equal weight and brilliancy.
What people were most curious TO know was
the line which Lord Salisbury would take with
regard TO Darwin and Evolution. There Is no
doubt about Darwin. to whose genius he paid a
a more difficult matter. Lord Salisbury Is de-
vout Churchman and believer. He has. however
some Of that gift OF metaphysical subtlety which
IL conspicuous In Mr. Gladstone. and he has left
his position In doubt. Professor Huxley, who fol-
lowed him. claimed him as a convert 10 Darwin.
No doubt Lord Salisbury spoke Of Evolution IN
terms which lend color TO that view. such terms
as almost every man who has thought at all on
the subject now usea But he criticised. and dis
sented and refined. TIL his meaning became on
some points somewhat cloudy. He Will nave
nothing to say to natural selection. He insists
once more on the argument from design ana re-
lapses at times into methods OF thought which
have been supposed obsolete. He looks with
sceptical eye upon biological research. or rather
upon what he thinks too positive statements OF
the conclusions which biologists draw from their
Investigations Their theories are. to Lord Sails
burys mind. provisional. He announces no hnal
theory Of his own. He cings to an Orthodox
conception OF the origin of the universe Yet MS
address would have sent him to the stake In the
days of his greatest ancestor. and to the piiiory
not much more than ! .cneration ago
HIS u.s. IN truth. one OF the most Interesting ex-
amples ever seen of an original and powerful
mind peculiarly subject to religious influences
and peculiarly subject to scientific influences. The
of a discourse in which literature also holds
most honorable place He has. finally. urbanity
a. we'll az authority, lifts himself far above the
animosties which so often disturb the friendly
relations of religion and science and leaves upon
the reader an impression which will endure II
there be nothing in this address which marks
an epoch or which is likely to affect the course
of scientific thought there is much which will
INSPIRE enthusiasm in younger men and teach
many student how to think If not what to
think. on problems Of the profoundest import.
Americans who wish TO see what is left OF the
pictures. or Of many pictures. In the National
Gallery. must come soon. If the apprehensons Of
Sir James Linton and Mr. Orrock be well founded
These two experts aege that from the heat OF
the rooms large numbers of paintings are being
ruined. This Mr. Paynter, now Director Of the Gal
lery denies but his denial does not cover all the
charges There is. in truth. widespread BELIEF
among artists and crticssthat not few Turner's.
Constables, Stanfelds and other priceless works
will have disappeared within few years. unless
the present system be altered. The press. which
welcomes a new topic In the declining days OF
Parliament has taken this up. and the press. II
ANYTHING will compel attention to the subject.
Once more the Home Secretary has been asked
to upset his own award In the matter or cab dis
putes, and this time he has not refused The
drivers were dissatisfied; reason enough Tor new
hearing and new decision. Such Is the demo-
cratic doctrine in England. The democracy
ab,des by no arbitration not favorable to itself.
In this case Mr.. Asquith seems TO have made
mistake originally. for the owners acquiesce in
reduction OF the prices fixed by him Tor the hire
of what are called privileged cabs.
old al al nj no
complaint Of the trade union, that the railway
companies insist OF, managing their own business
at their own stations admitting and excluding
such cabs as they please. This right they decline
to surrender. There was to be strike in order.
by inconvenencng the public, TO bring public
opinion TO bear on the companies. This has now
been postponed. But Mr.. Asquith owns he is
tired of cab arbitra ton for which he can hardly
be blamed
The vigilaat'g handsome victories over the
Britannia on Saturday last and on Monday gave
rise to hopes which were dashed again on Thurs
day. 1t seems to be agreed that Thursdays race
was sailed under very even conditions. There
was wind enough for the Vigilant, and not too
much sea, and the course gave her as much OPP
portunity to show her best points as to the
Britannia Yet the Britannia beat her by over
two minutes beside time allowance. English
opinions are not necessarily impartial. but this
time they are all way. THE most decisive
victory yet" says one authority. and fair'
aIl.round trial" Another more enthusiastic, de-
scribes the race as probably the finest ever Wit
messed on the Solent. impossible to have bet
ter test" he declares. and crows loudly over the
Britannia as "in all points" the better vessel OF
the two third, with mournful particularly,
tells us that never once did the Vigilant gain on
the Britannia. and we are asked to believe that
even Americans at Cowes American women
among them shared the delight OF the English In
the Prince OF wales's triumph, and Joined In the
tumult OF congratulations which welcomed the
Britannia as she crossed the line. ! Imagine the
number Of Americans who re1oice1 over an Ameri-
can defeat was limited.