New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-06-07
fry CABLE TO THE rRrBUNE.l

rordor runo 6-"The Times" st JamesS
r,azatte" and "The Chronicle" are devoting con-
siderable attention to American politics. inc
idea has at last been grasped that the silver
party will control the Democratic Natiohai |o".
vention. reject President Clevelands nnahcia'
views and accer. candidate pledged not 10 'e''
a free-coinage III.
..The Times HIS sufficient discernment 10 per
ceive that with the balance Of trade heaViiy
ogatnst the Initec States the financial situation
Is beset with difficulty. but has not yet mastered
the fact that aone policy, In addition to unlimteo
borrowing. is needed for keeping up the gold re-
ssrve The conviction Is gaining ground IN the
press that the Republican party is less commltted
70 silver than the Democratic and that its tri-
urph will promote the ends Of honest hnance ana
currency reform. The Economist souhos eo-
day loud warning that unless there Is ciear
announcement at the approaching Nationai No"-
,,ort,on IN favor Of the maintenance Of the gold
standard the shipments OF gold from the United
States will assume larger dimensions. ana 'ne
stocks of that metal here and on the Cohtihen'
will be further increased. The Economist eA-
nresses the general opinion of the English busi-
ncss world when Il declares that the triumph o'
tbe anti-silverites at that convention will mean
the cessation Of gold exports and the flow OF tnae
natal from Europe to America. because investors
curities and trade would be stimulated
Tho Venezuelan boundary question has
dronned out Of sight 90 completely that the In
gllsh press has ceased to refer TO IL. Nesot's-
tions between the Governments In Washington
and London are blocked and no progress mas Ose"
made in the direction Of a settlement during the
last two months For this inaction two general
reasons may be assigned. The first is l-ord oailS-
burys torpor; he is either preoccupied with other
matters or deliberately sluggish IN deaiins VIII"
Secretary Olney, from a conviction tnat the C"in-
mission will not make a report within iohs
neriod. and that there is no necessity for haste.
The second cause of delay is the difficulty OF con-
trolling the action Of Venezuela The British
Government complain Of the lack Of responsible
authority in Venezuela with which a permanent
hosls OF settlement can be arranged, and signs
ara not wanting that Secretary Oney has found
II impracticable to direct the diplomatic action
of that country. Consequently negotiations are
hanging fire. and the prospect of speedy settle
ment Of a troublesome question is not pright.
u Lord Salisbury had been successful in the
MANAGEMENT Of foreign affairs in oiher quarters
Of the world his le;hargy and indifference IN the
treatment Of the Venezuela question might De IN
tellieibe But he has failed disastrously IN Con-
stantinople: his Soudan policy Is an inscru'ao's
mvstarv and his lieutenant, Mr.. Chamberlain,
4
Lord Salisbury has done nothing since his re-
turn to the Foreign Office to restore his prestige.
After his dismal record OF failure In Constanti-
nonla his followers are surprised that he Is not
moro anxious 10 bring about brilliant stroke
somewhere else. They perceive, II ne Goes not
where this can be done. The settlement OF inc
Venezuela affair supplemented by the nego'ia-
tion Of q treaty OF permanent aroltrauon Win
America, would cause general satisfaction IN Eng
land and be regarded a great diplomatic tn
umph Probably he hopes 10 accomplish this re-
suit but imagines that there is no need OF has'e
as matters now stand. The Cleveland Govern
ment has raised a troublesome question without
being. able to settle 1t; consequently It Will be
handed over TO the next Republican Administra-
,on as A vexatious diplomatic legacy. with the
Commissions report and Mr.. Clevelands Decem-
Der message Of menace.
The Times" prints to-day well-informed ana
important letter from It's special correspondent at
Havana showing that the economic condition ID
daily growing worse: that famine and pestilenoe
arc ,nnendiug: that the Spanish forces have not
vet inflicted decisive check upon the rebels any,
v,here. that Maxine Gomez has displayed an ex-
traordnary knowledge OF guerilla tactics ana
SUPERIOR strategy. and that financial improvement
and political reform are practically hopeless uh-
der Spanish rule. II is Il most deploraple 40
count ~ the ruin wrought by Spanish incom-
ne,ence and misrule but it will excite no pity In
Europe. where the beet industry profits from the
destruction of the Cuban sugar plantations. Eng
land also has sugar islands which VIII oe 'ehi-. /.
porarily relieved by the ruin OF Cupa, ana the IN
surgent cause passes without observation me
Tines's' correspondent. referring to the protest
of the state Department against the decree pro-
h!bi,inS the exporaton Of leaf tobacco. expresses
the oninion that there is small doubt that the
Snanish Government is acting within its rights
He mentions the abrupt manner In which the
United States denounced the Harrison reciprocity
treaty with Spain and put high protective duties
In force but does not lay stress on the ract that
the insurrection in Cuba and the ruin OF the sugT
industry are the direct result Of the abandon<
ment by the Democrats OF the reciprocity agree
ment at the dictation Of the Sugar Trust ana the
consequent interruption Of the policy under which
the condition Of the island was improving. In
reality. the German tariff is one OF the chio
causes OF the present deporable state OF CUBA
There are signs OF improvement in the South
African market, where dealers are strasglns
back to get under the tent OF the kamr circus
The recovery in prices is net yet decided OUT
there Is a great increase In speculative acu'lty'
This is due to the clemency shown TO the haho
prisoners and TO the expectation that the sem
tences OF the four Reform leaders VIII speedily %
oommuted and President KRUGER induced to come
10 England TO recruit his health. Barney"
Rarnato whether he deserves il or not. gets moro
credit than Mr. Chamberlain for the improve
ment IN South African affairs. He warned Pree!-
dent Kriiger that the lucrative industries OF the
Rand were paralyzed by political uncertainty
and that cemency and amnesty were necessary
for business reasons. The fines Will be settled up
by Barnato and other millionaires and another
Kafir boom will soon be in order.
Cecil Rhodes is in Buluwayo planning railways
and exciting the enthusiasm Of his supporters. He
is "the big dog that btes." but President KRUGER