New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-04-19
HICKs-BEACH'S WARNING.
TAXPAYERS AND THE NAVY.
THE BURDENS OF THE CITIZEN IN A TTu
OF NATIONAL PROSPERITY.

SOUTH AFRICAN ANxIErIEs AND DIFFICULTIES
THE NEW IRISH LAND bILI~-A THREATENED
LIBERAL sPLIT-DUELILNG IN GER
MANY-TgE SPRING EXHIBITIONS.
tBY CABLE TO THE rRIBUNE1
London April 1s-The rumor-mongers cannos
reconcile themselves 10 humdrum conditions the
report that British army OF 10000 men will b
sent to Egypt IN the aut INN for the reconquest
Of the Soudan has been revived, but has been
promptly contradicted. The amateur campaign
ers are evidently going TOO fast and neither Lord
Wolseley the Government can keep up WITH
them South Africa is a more promising field
for immediate operations. The situation there
is becoming more serious II 1t Is NOT yet critical
The Times" represents the Beers as armed TO
the teeth and assuming q belligerent attitude. II
this be 50, they are In excellent condition for
fighting the Matabeles as they have ohered TO
do but their aid is not wanted. The suppression
of the savage uprising cannot be ntrusted 70 the
sharpshooters OF friendly State whose territory
was invaded by the Chartered Companys raio"
ers Sir Hercules Robinson, who prevented the
or rIv dispatch of British reinforcements to the
Cape from his anxiety to avoid giving offence to
President Kruger, has been alarmed py inc
growing strength Of the Matabeles and by the
weakness Of the available white forces for the
serious work Of suppressng the revolt. II Colo
mel Plumer. with his relief column reaches
Buluwayo and Is Joined by q detachment from
Fort Salisbury there will be a mounted force OK
about one hundred men for attacking the horde
of Matabeles who are reported to be wen
armed
II may be several weeks before this concentra-
ton of forces can take place. Several journals
have seriously advised the Government to send
out Dr. Jameson to South Africa to take charge
OF the British forces, with the understanding
that he will return for trial when the reoeiion IL
suppressed. This expedient would reduce the
Imperial policy to the level Of a Gilbert and Sulli-
van burlesque. Mr.. Chamberlain. who has evi.
IDENTIFY been held back by his colleagues has
finally obtained authority for dispatching bat.
TALON of the line and body OF mounted infantry
to the Cape. The force Is small, but probably q
larger one will speedily follow. Sir Hercules
Robinson. being a diplomatist, has dreaded the
effect of the campaigning in Matabeleland upon
the sensitive Beers.
Mr. Chamberlain Is apparently convinced that
too much time has been wasted already In
futile dallance with them while the Matabeles
were rallying a force Of 1900 men and threat
ening all the garrisons The troops sent OUT
will replace the regulars withdrawn from Natai'
and Mr. Chamberlain Is careful 10 explain 10
President KRUGER through Sir Hercules Hooih-
son, that the reinforcements are designed as
permanent increase of the garrison OF the cape
for the protection Of its dockyards and coaune
stations hut apparently 1t was hardly necessary
TO offer a diplomatic pretext for Strengthening
the British forces in that quarter. The Trans
vaal itself Is making military preparations ana
ordering Maxims, rifi"s and ammunition on
large scale The johannesburg correspondents
laa fnf nff
ornaments and warlike spirit Of the Beers.
throws a strong sidelght on the whole situation
in South Africa If President Kruger were to
start for London with a definite scheme OF
noltical reform in the Transvaal. the garrison
of regulars at the Cape would be large ehous"
for all practical purposes, and the coiohls.s'
with Mr. Cecil Rhodes at their head. would %
able 10 protect Bulawayo, and take care OF all
the British possessions in that part OK the
world
Meanwhile there Is NJ sign that the German
Emperor's interest in his blood relations tns
Beers Is reviving The sovereigns OF Germany.
Austria and Italy have met, embraced anu
parted. and the Triple Alliance has lease loF
another term, with England friendly, put iso-
lated A portion Of the German press - stii'
critical and contemptuous respecting Engiands
relations with the Transvaal. but the Official
Soudan manoeuvre. whatever its ulterior pur-
nose NAV be, las restored good feeling be"
tween England and the three great Powers OK
which Germany is the head.
The Budget speech disclosed at once tn, mag.
njtude of English prosperity and the helpless
ness of the taxpayer. With revenues from
every source exceeding the estimates. and WIN
the largest surplus ever Known. the taxpayers
are allowed to stagger along with oessarV
measure of relief large part Of this years
surplus is already disposed OF In naval WORKS.
and the estimated surplus next year wouid Do
larger by SIS, 0O.000 If the new naval programme
had not been adopted. What remains is de-
voted to easing the operation or the oeatn
duties, reducing the land tax from four sh'ii-
ings to one. and relieving the agricultural rates.
The eight-penny income tax. which Is virtually
a war tax. still stands. Sir William Harcourt's
so-called democratic budget. which was once
condemned as a policy Of confiscaton, Is re-
tanned with slight changes. The beer tax, which
the brewers denounced, remains In force. Tax
pavers are not relieved, although the Treasury
receipts are the largest ever recorded In Eng.
land.
This is because the expenditures are as elastic
as the revenues. Ever the fortunate Chancellor
OF the Exchequer who has fallen heir to BIZ
William Harcourt's revenue producing system -
inclined to take serious view OF the future when
the lean years follow the fat Meanwhile there
are signs OK unparalleled prosperity In luxurious
living and there are millions 20 spare for naval
work Revenues increase when times are good
because people use more tea, drink more oeers
wine and spirits. smoke more tobacco and gam
BILE more on the Stock Exchange. Last years
returns are not perhaps conclusive on this point.
but apparently the mortality among rich men -
also greater in era Of prosperity. The revenue
pours into the Treasury, and the surplus 10
Drawn off into the Admiralty. and the rapid pay
ment Of the National debt Is deprecated as an
Improbable policy. The taxpayer meanwhile