New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-01-06
THE NEWS OF EUROPE.
ARMENIA AND THE POWERS.
SIGNIFICANCE OF SOME OF THE NEW
YEARS DAY HONORS
SOCIALIST AGTAToR IN TRoUBLE-BELGrux
AND THE CONGO ANOTHER FRENCH
SCANDAL-M DE LANEssAN-ARTIsTs
AND CROWNED HEADS
lBY CABLE TO THE TRIBUNE.

ttopyrghf. 1895: By The Tribune dssociation)
London. Jan. 5.-Mr. Gadstone's Hawarden
speech to the Armenian deputation has been
much criticised because Of its Jedburgh justice.
After a long TRADE against the Turk and his
accursed ways, the ex-Premier wound up by ask
inc his audience to suspend their judgment and
wait till the charges now directed against Turk
ish cruelty and m.srule were established There
may be ground for crticising this line Of
action. but it cannot be denied that Mr.. Glad
stones view the Armenian question Is quite
in accord with public sentiment. 1t is no secret
that the Foreign Office have received reports
from consular sources for the last three years
which have never been published but which show
that the persecution of Armenians has been
gradually increasing. Mr.. Gladstone was well
aware of the strength of the against the
Turk before he delivered his speech at Hawarden
last Saturday. According to one Government
paper. the ex-Premier even intimated to Lord
Rosebery before the event that he intended
speaking out upon this question. and Lord Rose
berry does not seem to have restrained him. But
for this story It might be thought that Mr.. Glad
stones utterances would have embarrassed the
Prime Minister and the Ambassador Sir Phillip
Curre; and possibly that has been the result
But even such consequence would hardly
muZze Mr. Gladstone when there Is anything
to be said about the unspeakabe Turk.
After ALL this criticism Of the ex-Premier does
not amount to much. The general opinion among
Conservatives. well as among Liberals. sup
ports Lord Rosebery's action, and when the
cusatons now made are formally established,
we may fairly expect heavy reckoning with the
Turk. When that day arrives the most serious
obstacle will not be among English Conserva-
tves but will most probably be found on the
side Of Russia. 1t cannot be truly said that
Russia is at this moment aiding England's in
itave with great cordiaIity; and for this reason:
Russian statesmen realize more truly than most
English people that the Armenian question Is
being engineered by clever politicians for the
purpose Of setting up another autonomous state.
It is a matter Of course that the st. Petersburg
Government does not desire another Bulgaria In
her path to the Bosphorus. and if every charge
now leveled against Zekki Pacha were proved to
tie hilt. Russia would not permit the creation
Of an independent Armenia. That the result Of
the present inquiry will be a weakening
Of the Turkish hold upon Armenia no one
doubts Instead Of 3 severance Of district II is
more likely to be placed under a Christian ruler
whose hand will be strengthened to resist the
Kurdish freebooters. This is understood 10 be
the policy which the more reasonable men In
England are aiming at
Considering the Premier S. line Of attack against
the Lords. ii did not surprise the British public
that the Queens birthday honors included no
addition to the peerage Most OF the favors were
bestowed upon men who had won distinction by
public services and some few were striking IL
Illustrations of how a grateful Prime Minister
rewards hose who vote straight and hnd the
sinews of war. No one object to the honors
bestowed upon Mr. Cecil Rhodes; though only
privy councillorship. ii is step TO something
higher probably a peerage if he cares to have
IT, He declined knighthOOd several years ago.
The favors shown to Messrs. Russell. Rey-
nolds Erichsen White, Westland and Bowel
raise no cav. but it is sad revelation OF the
poverty OF the Ministerial ranks when we find
baronetages conferred on Mr.. George Newnes
and Mr.. John Barran. and knighthood on MT.
Israel Hart and Mr.. John Baker. Mr. Baker
is the Radical Member for Portsmouth, Mr.
Hart Radical Alderman in Leicester, Mr.
Barran Radical Member for Leeds All nave
contributed freely by personal service ana
money to the Radical clubs, and all are rich
men. Mr. Barran. too is one Of the keepers OF
that volatile factor. the Nonconformst Con-
science Ii is to his credit that he has risen 10
his present eminence from small retail, ready
made clothes-shop In his native town lie IS
wealthy. and is popular even among MS pohticai
enemies Mr.. George Newnes is best known to
the world as the founder Of Tit Bits one or
the most wholesome OF English popular papers,
though largely maintained by judicious use
of scissors and paste Lately however. he has
aroused the sympathy of his party because or
the many thousands sunk in his Westminster
Gazette" one of the leading Radical organs.
4 grateful Minister has now rewarded him.
Epn a
fourth-class restaurant in a back street in Man.
chester To-day he is baronet with more:than
5000 900 a year
one Of Mr. John Burns's henchmen In pro-
noting the New Unionsm has had an ugly fah
You have doubtless already learnt or the coll
lapse of the Sailors and Firemen's Union, wnich
was for several years the creation and the IN
strument of Mr. j. H. Wilson. Commoner. Mr.
Wilson'S extravagant management and his fall
ure to answer charges Of fraud led to revolt
against his control. and the union closed. IN
order TO BE- reconstructed free from his baeful
influence. However much the organization mas
been Of service to the New Cnionists for the pro-
motion OF their favorite methods OF se.f-adver-
tisement il ACCOMPLISHED no good object for the
men Only one-thrd OF the income was devoted
to strike pay and sick and burial funds. Two
thirds were absorbed by officials and manage
ment.
The latcs: charge against Mr.. Wilson is that
Lc was the author OF fictitious letter discredit-
ing the work OF the Shipping Federation-that Is.
the employers combination. He having recently
said he could not take proceedings for libel
against those who alleged such authorship, the
Shipping Federation has just promised to pay all
the expenses OF lawsuit If he proves his case
But Mr.. Wilson shows no willingness to move
Should he finally shirk bringing an action, an eff
fort may be made to bring his conduct to the
notice of the House Of Commons. Under any cir
cumstances he will lose his seat at the next gen.
eral election.
The Belgian Government can hardly have de-