New-York tribune., 1896-11-22
BRITISH TRADE PROSPECTS.
THE SITUATION TRANSFORMED SINCE
M'KINLEYS ELECTION.
RENEWED ACTIVITY IN NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
TRADE A BAROMETER FOR THE WORLD
THE CONSULAR sERvICE-sOUTH Az
RIcA's TERRIBLE PEsT-TRUsrs
IN ENGLAND-NOTES OF
DRAMA AND ART.
fBy CABLE TO THE rRIBuNE.l


of the election, anI the details Of the Venezuela
settlement have ceased to interest English read
ers. What the mercantile community cares about
is an increase OF trade with America and OF this
there are many signs. This is noticeable particu-
larly In Bradford. where the American trade was
stagnant several months before election. Even
orders for goods that had been contracted for
cancelled II the importer could find any pre-
text. Some New-York firms actually sent back
to Bradford worsted coatngs which had been
purchased and sold them there because they
could do so on better terms than in the American
market. If dress goods had not been in demand
in the United States. exports from Bradford would
have been virtually suspended. Inquiries were
made in October for goods to be delivered II Mo
Kinley were elected but there were no buyers,
although prices were low.
The situation has been transformed since cleo
ton. learn by letter from Bradford that in
quries have been pouring in during the last fort
night by cable and mail: that buyers from New
York. Boston, Philadelphia and Chicago are be-
ginning to arrive; that large contracts for wooen
and worsted goods have already been made. and
that orders for yarns. .wool-tops rags and ma
chnery have been received from American man
ufacturers. Goods made to order cannot be
shipped for several months, but invoices already
have largely increased A Bradford merchant
may be quoted saying: How strange are the
mutations of time. Four years ago considered
Mckinley bitterest enemy; regard
him a savior" This remark may easily b
explained.
Bradford has a worldwide trade, and It has
discovered that when Business is good with the
United States it is good everywhere. American
Bradford knew that McKinlcv's election would
restore confidence and thereby increase Amert-
can trade. and that the beneficial effect Of the
resumption Of prosperity in the United States
would be felt all ever the globe. English mer-
chants have learned something from the unex-
ampled commercial depression in the United
States which has folio wed the revision OF the
American tariff English lines under Mr..
Cleveland. They have discovered that II 10
vastly more important for their own interests
to have prosperity In the United States than It
Is to have tariff lower than the last one, with
the population unemployed and the buying
power Of the market steadily shrinking.
|. The tightness Of the money market prevents
large English investment in American securf-
ties There Is a strong demand for gold from
both Austria and Russia, and the conditions OF
Indian exchange do not preclude the possibility
OF the export OF vast amount of gold II the
value OF the rupee rises above one shilling four
pence Money is scarce in India and the de-
mand for 1t is great owing to the famine and
the necessity for selling everything which can
be exported II exchange rises little higher.
gold exports from England will be the cheapest
method of making ramttances. Well-informed
London bankers now expect that this dimculty
can be regulated without great drain OF gold
from the Bank of England and that the Russian
and Austrian demand for gold will gradually di-
minish The money market remains firm under
these conditions The uncertainty and scarcity
Of money in India has impaired an artificial
value to the silver ripee in comparison with
bullion. and this would disappear II free COIN
age were resumed there. The English BIZ
metallists recommend this course. but there is no
probability that the English Government will
sanction It,
The members of the consular service Of the
United States taking great interest In the
question whether President Mckinley will re-
spect the order Of the State Department made
year ago, converting all consular offices with
salaries not exceeding $500 into Civil Service
Offices II he does respect It, and no administra-
ton has ever yet taken backward step In
Civil Service reform he will leave the rank ana
such vacancies as occur can be filled only by
promotion reappointment Of ex-offcials or by
Civil Service examination. There are fifty-s seven
American consular offices in the United King
dom or these only six carry salaries above
81. 900. and all the rest are included In the
operation of the executive order Of September ~.
| 1895 II President Mckinley respects this order
there will be only twenty-five consular offices In
Europe open TO the appointment OF Republicans.
in consequence OF their salaries being above
| $500 The remaining members Of the service
will be protected under the Civil Service rules.
| and the new Administration will be relieved
| from the pressure OF office seekers. President
| Cleveland ana Mr. Olney may be charged with
| filling the stables with Democratic horses before
they locked the barn door, but 1t is also true that
| the present incumbents are gold Democrats. who
represent hundreds of thousands OF voters
swelling Mr. McKney's majorities In the va.
| rious States.
The Egyptian question must have occupied
much of Lord Sallsbury's time lately. for General
Kitchener has been coseted with him frequently.
| as well as with Lord Wolseey. Rumor credits
the sIrdar with success in convincing Lord Sails
bury Of the expediency and necessity Of continu-
ing the advance from Dongola to Khartoum. but
the force will probably halt where 1t Is until
spring General Kitchener returns to Egypt at
once to await the decision OF the Court Of Appeal
| In the proceedings against the Casse.
The report that Italy has entered into a secret
treaty with Russia is a symptom Of the uneasi-
ness caused by the Bismarck disclosures, which
have created general dstrust OF European
diplomacy and excited suspicion that backstairs
intrigues are constantly going on. Germany itself
has learned nothing from the debate on the
treaties, but 1t is preoccupied now with discus-
sion over duelllng and the atrocities Of military
privilege and the necessity of putting an end to
barbarous practices which contrary to the
genius of civilization. while sanctioned by mill.
| tary opinion and university habits.