New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-04-14

House unimpeachable evidence of the unrivalled
qualifications OF the Unionist candidate; not that
the high abilities and professional success OF MI
Gully were unrecognized, but the truth is that Mt
Gullys chances were nearly killed by the current
mot that although a member of Parliament or Ten
years standing, he had not been ten minutes IN
the Chamber. Sir Matthew White Ridley, on the
ether hand, has had a quarter centurys eXpe-
renee has repeatedly acted as chairman or COM
mit,ees and commissions, and admittedly pos
scsses a knowledge of parliamentary procedure 20
which Mr.. Gully does not even pretend.
The work Of ploughng the sands goes me'riY
on in Parliament this week, Sir William Har-
court turning the furrov by introducing his
Local Veto bill In its main features # closely
follows the similar measure Of 1888, but ii sup
plies additional option giving the people the al
tentative Of total prohibition and the dlmnution
Of the number of licenses. They are at liberty
70 vote for closing all public houses. Tor closing
one-fourth Of the number or for no change in the
present arrangement. Professional prohibition
lists do not welcome the new provisions. the
least examination Of the measure sufHces 10
demonstrate its complete impra bility. II ny
any rnischance II should become n law, II would
create endless turmoil. confusion and injustice
with cut securing any good result. There Is no'h-
ing prevent all three systems ~
the bill from operating in separate wards Of
parish at one and the same time. Thus each
parochial unit might be kept in state Of con-
tinual unrest.
1t is wearisome to dilate upon the eccentrcities
Of q measure obviously introduced merely for
political effect and never intended 10 be passed
One shameful provision may. however. be noted
II only to demonstrate Sir William Hareourts
audacious inconsisten This apostle OF temper
ance calmly exempts Ireland from the operation
of the bill because he needs all the votes OF the
Irish members to impose It upon the rest OF the
Kingdom Surely this is strange travesty OF
local option Mr.. 7. w. Russell has set himself
the task Of remedylng this defect but II he Sc
cures the extension Of its provisions to Ireland
ne will set against it all the Irish votes and thus
the Government may perish at the hands or their
own friends Unless however. the leader OF the
House Is deliberately riding for fall, which
some persons suspect, little more will be heard Of
this measure which is only an electioneering
device.
The French Government have taken an impor
tant step in the direction Of establishing State
pensions for the aged Their credit of 10000 year
" to benefit societies is intended for workingmen
who must have subscribed 10 such societies for ten
wears. in order to be entitled to the maximum al
lOWanCe of one franc per uetS Inc 'ON's'I ~
ties desired tina. State help be given to all work
,ngmen not merely TO those who had subscribed
TO friendly societies. but they did not persist III
their demand The Government assistance as
sumes the shape Of grant, according TO the NOR
its Of the recipients in saving money not accord
ing to their needs
The recent settlement Of the Government with
the East African Company helps forward the pro-
posed railway from Mombassa TO Victoria Nyanza
The project has also received fresh impulse
through the French endeavors to secure command
of the headwaters Of the Nile The whole cues
ton Is Just now attracting the attention OF the
Cabinet and 1t is not improbable that there may
soon be a declaration Of policy. There VIII he
great public disappointment II the Government ad-
here to their present policy OF doing nothing
The information which Captain Lugard brings
with him from the Niger region respecting the
French prospecting expeditions in that territory -
not likely 20 improve the relations between the
British and French Governments. 1t will certain
" strengthen Lord Roseberys hands in tbs cur
rent negotiations for a settlement
way 7 REVOKED.