New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-05-05
(BY CABLE TO THE rRrBuNE.]
Copyright, 1895 sy TIE Tribune Asssetssio..

the annexation OF nicaragua may now De rcao.
sured. The Ministry. which before was accused
Of the most sinister designs is now more likely
to be accused OF weakness. There was no
evidence of the one, and there is no evidence Of
the other. If Salvador does not execute her
guarantee the English have the same power
as before to collect their demand. Our share
in this matter has been strictly and wisely
limited to that Of the friendly broker. as Bis.
marck described himself In similar circun-
stances. We have played with undertaking
correctness the honorable part Of the impartial
friend to both sides. To have done otherwise
would have exposed to diplomatic rebun.
If to nothing worse. Mr. Bayards share In
the negotiations has been criticised at home.
II cable dispatches may be believed. but MI.
Bayard like every Ambassador. has done no
more than carry out his instructions. He has
shown tact and good feeling; more than that
he could not do. If anybody IL to be held re-
sponsible for a line OF conduct which through.
out Europe Is thought creditable to America
II is not Mr.. Bayard but the President and tho
Secretary Of State at Washington. None the
less is 1t true that the negotiations were
smoothed by the presence Of an Ambassador
who understands and accepts the first principle
of all diplomacy, and deems 1t his true busi.
ness not to create difficulties, but to relieve
them.
This mornings news Of the ratification OF the
treaty by China though not Official Is probably
true. It was supposed that Russia might use
her influence TO prevent the ratification, but
she has better means Of securing her own way
with Japan. Last weeks belligerent talk has
now given way to more moderate language.
England is said to have advised japan to make
certain concessions. and the prospect now u
that diplomacy not violence. will have the last
tc ~ ha w
to place her feet at the disposal Of Russia In
the Eastern seas or at least to cooperate ct.
fectively with Russia AS Germany grows hot,
however, France naturally grows cold; Japan
meanwhile pursues dilatory tactics, ike the
true Oriental she Is.
An uneventful Budget Is the chanceilor Of the
Exchequers description Of his latest financial sx-
pIoit. There is a sense In which II is uneventful
II contains no novelties no surprises. no new %.
mands upon the taxpayer; and-which Is most az.
tonishing OF all-no new concessions to the nom
propertied majority In whose interest exclusively
the last Budget framed. Probably even S's
william Harcourt, who carries the spirit OF finan.
cial adventure to the point OF absolute reckless
ness of consequencee shrank from fresh descent
down the steep path Of democratic finance; but
this Budget maintains the principle or brigandage
which was the foundatlon-stone Of the last The
|
the author Of them exults in the financial success
OF the scheme Of confiscation which he then car
ried through. The Conservatives. who offered but
n halting resistance to 1t when first proposed. are
dumb under the re-enactment Of IT, They seem to
have made up their minds under the philosophical
lead of Mr. Balfour, to accept the inevitable.
precedent, though It be OF only years standing.
is held to be nviolable. At any rate they DO not
seek disturb 1t, while a majority is against
them in the House. and-whch is more potent
argument-while a general election looms IN the
near distance The point on which every English
man is most sensitive Is the pocket. The working
man who now rules this country, has been taught
to believe quite truly. that last years Budget re-
Leved his burdens taxpayer at the expense OK
the rich and OF the middle class. Generally he
never thinks Of asking whether this is just; his
present idea Of justice is what benefits himself and
his class He would resent any interference with
taxation which tended to put rich and poor on an
equality or T. adjust taxation in proportion TO
everybody's means This is political view Of the
Rudget and there is another. Sir William allows
the extra wh!skey tax of last year to expire. while
he reneys the beer tax imposed at the same time.
This he defends on various grounds the true rea-
son Is the Irish vote. There are just eighty-one
reasons in the House Of Commons for making this
distinction in favor OF Ireland The Ant-Parnell-
ites were on the brink of revolt. They had warned
the Chancellor of the Exchequer that they could
not face their constituents II this tax
moved they consenting They would therefore
| have voted against it, or said they would. and
since the detection Of even a dozen Anti-Parnell-
ties would have left the Ministers in minority.
the issue was toleraby plain. Sir William had TO
| choose between the wh.skey tax and his whole
Budget and indeed. the existence Of the Ministry.
or course the whskey was dropped and one
more Irish triumph has 10 be recorded
The most interesting point in Sir William Har-
COURTS Bulge, speeches Thursday night-fcr no
made several-had nothing to do with the Budget.
After delivering short sermon on economy. In
his best pulpit manner Sir William said: 1T
IS my duty 10 warn the House that subject
II may be- and probably will be- the last occasion
on which. from a responsible position. l shall
he able to use these words the House OF
Commons 10 the country The Opposition
cried: Why" but there was no answer As
there has been during the last ten days
marked revival of dissolution gossip Sir VIII.
lam's solemn admonl;ion was at first taken to
mean that a dissolution is imminent On reflection
TIE words do not support that inference Whac
they really signify is something even more
gloomy from the good Liberals point or vew1
namely. Sir Williams belief that whenever the
dissolution dGeS occur, ana Beuefd ciecuop -
he'd the Urionlst party will ccme back with .
majority. Un.onist Chancellor or the Ex-
cheluer In other words. will be In Office when
the next Budget comes round. There Is nothing
rema rkable In that view; what Is remarkable Is
that Sir william, who represents the Ministry
In the House. should publicly and. as 1t were
officially make such admission.
II was the rumor Of the week which gave .
sinister Interpretation TO the warning. Accord.
Ing to this rumor. very definite and persistent
this time. Lord Rosebery is on the point OF re-
signing. ] do not believe 1t. and none OF the
assigned seem to ne valid or even
plausible. Lord Rosebery is much better. sleeps
better. looks better and is In better spirits. H