The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-02-17
THE BRITISH PARLIAMENT
The Parnsllit. Vote Nay Strengthen tho
Governments Position.
JOHN BULL IN CONGO TERRITORY.
Probable Christian Massacre in Constanti-
nopIe-European Ladies' Dare Not Walk
the Streets for Fear OF Insult.

| scoring the Government lOI lI4LteEinB
away the time of Parliament in the con-
sderation Of measures which the Minis
try has no expectation OF passing, while
other vitally important matters requiring
the immediate attention of the House al
| fecting the whole country are thrust into
the BACKGROUND, has lost its practical in
terest. in view of the ascertained fact
that the virtually fixed majority OF the
Government in the House is now about
eighteen. The ministerialists feel assured
! that If an unceasing watch Is kept upon
| the rank and file TO guard against sur
| prise divisions a business session can be
| proceeded with until the anti-Lords resO-
| luton shall wind UP the present Parlia-
| ment The position OF the Government,
| too, may be further strengthened by the
/ PHnelite vote If the Irish land bill
shall be IN any degree unsatisfactory.
| Apart from the grudging support which
| has been given by the Parnelites 10 the
, opposition the appeals OF Archbishops
| Croke and Walsh for unity, on the part
OF the Irish party against the common
| political foe, has influenced the Parnellite
| faction 10 a feudal spirit which certainly
must induce them to forget their local
| grievances and rally In support OF the
| main wing Of the party.
| @ The anti-Pamelites are also modifying
| their methods, as instanced in a meeting
| of IT'S members, held yesterday. at which
| vote Of condolences with the family of
| the late Eugene Kelly was passed. This
| action showed conclusively that there was
a growing feeling Of harmony among the
| members of the factions of the Irish par
~. and the subsequent cordial conyersa-
| tion Of the leading as well as the minor
| mo op1b of ha
| tie establishment of a better feeling, If
| not absolute entente.
Mr.. o'BBIEN's SUIT.
The position of Mr.. William OBrieu,
| who is anxious to retire from parliament
| and devote himself e. literature and jour
| naism, and the successful issue of the
| suit Of cN-CommOuer Chance against him
TO recover 100 pounds the balance OF the
costs Of Mr.. O'Bren's action Tor libel
| against Lord Salisbury, has again raised
| H. dispute between MI. O'Brien and the
| committee Of the Irish National party
| as TO the responsibility for the costs OF
action. The comrilttee positively declines
| TO pay the costs out of the Iarty funds,
| but rather than lose his services in Par
| lament TO the cause of Ireland MIR.
! O'Brcns friends have signined their
| readiness to subscribe the necessary
| amount, If Mr.. O'Bricn will consent 10
| It's being raised in that way. I'm the
| meantime Mr.. O'Brien has declined 10
! express himself in the matter, and the
| Unionists. who had gleefully expected
! that dalnagiuc reV1f4tioEs would arise
| from the action, and later that something
/ TO the discredit OF the Irish party would
| come from the controversy over the pay
| mcnt of the costs, have been grievously
| disappointed.
! The difference Of opinion of experts in
I IL. ,.ttI. 49,, If 4
| has led the Government to accept sir
| Donald Currie's suggestion I'm reference TO
| the appointment of select committee or
| the House of Commons TO consider the
matter. As the taking of testimony Is
| likely to occupy the period extending over
| all the session of Parliament, the Wash
| ington committee must wait until the
| Parliament committee has concluded its
! labors.
THE CONGO TERRITORY MUDDLE.
Sir Edward Grey, in his statement in
| the House of Commons last evening, that
| any agreement made by Belgium giving
| France or any other power the right to
! prc-empt territory in the Congo region
without the consent of the great powers,
was not valid, and further stating that
| no such consent had been given, omitted
| TO state an important fact. England ad-
| dressed Il note to the powers, inviting
| them to express their united objection 20
| the conclusion of a treaty, giving the
| right To France 10 pre-empt Congo terri
| tory. The Congo State and the English
| Foreign Office appeal with confidence TO
| Germany and Italy 10 join in formal
| denial Of French rights in the Congo
| country, while the French newspapers
! rejoice over the prospects Of securing the
| Nile regions beyond Uganda. In the mean
| time. England's agents are silently ef-
| fecting an actual occupation OF the dis
| puted territory. The questions involved
| fail TO draw the attention Of the Minis
| ters i'm Parliament. though IL is known
| that a British expedition left Uganda six
! months ago, with the avowed intention of
| taking possession of as much of the coun-
| try IS possible.
FEARS cRUELTY From THE TUBKs.
| The latest phase of the ant-Turkish agi-
| tatiop has shown itself In an attempt to
| excite alarm over probable massacre
! of Christians in COnstantinople. Accord
| ing TO the speaker, the months fast OF
| the Ramasan, the ninth month in the
| Mohammcdan year, will probably witness
an on, break Of fanaticism. and IL Is rep
| esented that if the Russian and English
fleets are not ready TO make their APP
| pcarance at COnstant.nople at a moments
! notice, the doing of terrible slaughter
| will be very great. Already. the papers
| assert no European lady dares TO ven
| ture on the streets of COnstantinOple with
| out danger OF insult. and the Christian
| towns In the Vilayet of Ismeed (anciently
| Nicomedia). in Asia Minor. are in con-
| stant fear Of attack from the Turks. Vol
| unteer guards are said TO be watching
| the villages night and day, and these are
| alone the sole protection of settlements
| from destruction.
| RISK ON Ia GAsCoGSE-
The recent storms have greatly en-
| hanced the business Of British under
| writer's. The French underwriters were
| frightened when the steamer La Gas
| cogne was overdue. and rushed 10 London
| to re-insure their risks. The London un-
| derwriters stood out for fifty guineas
| percentage, and succeeded in getting for
| ty and forty-five. Relying throughout
| upon La Gascogne's well-known sea-
| going qualities, the London underwriters
| readily absorbed all Of the offers made
| to them. and their transactions also
| enabled them 10 effect very low rates on
| the Teutonic. The other amounts which
| were paid to the London underwriters
| during the storm period were six guineas
| on the Glenochii, on the American snip
| Inyincible. and on the Ortha twenty
1 puineas. and on the Loeb Maree seven
| guineas.
| The Bimetallic League is raising \ fund
| for agitation purposes OF 5000. and has
| already succeeded In getting 5000 pounds.
| The intention OF the league is TO make
4 ~ tim