New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-04-12

Judging by appearances. the Arctic and Ant
arctic poles will soon have no further secrets
10 reveal to the inquiring spirit Of the present
age. and to those who are In search OF new
fields Of exploration we would recommend an
investigation Of the so-caed SargassO Sea, which
has furnished the theme of more strange tales
and legends even than the North Pole. 1t is to
be feared that some Of the yths will be de-
stroyed by the article upon the subject pub
lished to-day, especially those which would lead
one to believe that the Sargasso Sea is species
of floating continent that attracts and swallows
NIL wreckage and vessels which approach too
near The supposition, too, that 1t Is inhabited
has no solid foundation. Still the sea presents
a very interesting subject for investigation, as
its mysteries have by no means been exhausted.
Attention is drawn In our London dispatches
of to-day to the interesting diplomatic duel that
Is in progress between Mr. Chamberlain and
President KRUGER. Neither the one nor the
other appears anxious to retain the statu quo,
but while the British Government Is determined
TO diminish the independence and the autonomy
Of the Boer Republic, the latter is equally de-
cided to put an end to the suzerainty of Eng
land This being the case, there seems to be
but little prospect Of any understanding, and
everything points to the fact that matters are
gradually drawing to head in South Africa
and that before long the question at issue be-
tween Boer and Brit0n will have to be settled
nv means OF an armed contest 1t Is one that
will tax the energies Of England, even though
abe is colossus as compared with the plucky
little Transvaal Republic. For the Beers have
more than once inflicted ignominious defeat upon
the troops Of Queen Victoria.
Considerable indignation has been excited re
Gently among the public by the news that q
couple of privates Of the National Guard had
been sentenced to Imprisonment for neglect t.
nav their military dues and fines. Inasmuch al
Il has generally been supposed until now tha
the barbarous custom Of impris0ning a mar
for mere debt was obsolete In this State, Tht
Tribune has taken the trouble to Investigate
the methods by which there has been what ap
rears 20 be q revival of this odious practice
from the data upon the subject, which will b.
found printed elsewhere in our columns Of to
dsv. It win be seen that imprisonment for debt
although abolished as far as ordinary citizen
ara concerned, still survives for our citizen-sol
dlers. This u unjust and demands an immedi
ste remedy, since II II obviously unfair to sub
3ect citizen In pursuit Of his ordinary avoca
lions, and who IL a soldier only In his spare mo
ments, to the same discipline and penalties a
4 regular soldier on frontier service.
According to English historians the Biac
Death, or Great Pestilence, which ravaged Eu
rome In 1348 was the turning point in the ma
tional life Of Great Britain All existing inst
tntions were shattered by the death Of owe
half the population 1t proved the close of tn
medieval period and the beginning Of moder
Zines. Elsewhere in our columns to-day "E1
Attach6" draws attention to the fact that tn
Black Death, Of which description Is giver
haa made IT. snuea1snco n China. II II bol