The evening times., 1897-01-23

London, Jan. 3.-The developments OF
the debate on the address in reply TO the
quaen's speech have so far been adverse to
the hopes OF the Liberals, and especially Of
the home raIerS, VINO expcc-ed the guver1-
nient 10 BE- greatly weakened over the Irish
finance agitation.
The mlca-talked-of coalition between
Irish Unionists and Nationalists is not the
practical sory of common action which the
Nationalist leaders desired, and were led
70 believe would be effected. Since Parlia-
rlant mes views have been exchanged lC-
tween Col SaUHderson, Mr. H0E2ce PiGn-
ket, Mr. DiIlcn. Mr Realy and others ui.
the IRISH finances which meant active c.
operation toward a common end.
The Nationalist leaders have found tha,
the rcceEt warmth of feeling upon Tie
question has amung the Irish UnsonisJ
distinctly got chilled. The persuasive
voice OF the governmen. whip has convinced
the Sanderson faction that working re
Tations with the home rulers on any quCs
tlon would entrap theni and 1t is know g.
also that the government has empowered
the whips 20 promise a fun consideration
VI blIt Aiitttbfts AAaN AAlNh NtiANAiA'tof NtANAO
fore, while continuing to support in alb
stract and sentimental fashion the Irish
demands, VIII not vote against the gov
ernment. " hose majority against the Dill
hon, Redmond and other amendments re-
mains intact
anc lcrssu to whica rhis irish Gclata
promises to run is another illustration OF
the impotence of any English government
Parliament. Tnis was TO be in no re-
spect al Irish session, yet there is a GER
tain prospect that ireland VIII absorb the
larger portion Of the parliamentary year.
The three great Irish questions which
have been forced upon the consideration
OF the government and the country-finan-
cial reform, board OF agriculture and a
Catholic University for Ireland-compete
with. If they do not overtop in public inter
est. the purely English measures before
the house.
Tire lukewarm policy Of the Irish Union
lists n Parliament may be only tentative
They await what the government may do.
There is meanwhile substantial encourage
nent for the Natonalis.S in the further ad-
lesion Of many influential landlords to the
financial agitation. Lord Rosse, the owner
OF tie famous Bossc telescope: Lord buffer
in, the Duke OF Abercom, the Marquis OF
Londonderry. Lord Mayo, with other mag
mates, have giycn in some instances an abSo-
late and in others qualified approval OF the
moveme ut.
THE Catholic bishops OF Ireland are tax
ing no specially prominent part in the fl
nance discussion. Their attentionis chiefly
directed TO the demand for q Catholic
university Their memorial, signed by
every Catholic bishop in Ireland, which has
been before the cabinet since early in De
cember, viii undoubtedly stimulate the
government to future action.
Tue Radicals, especially Mr Labouchere
and his little clique, who have been assaiI-
ing Lord Sdlisburys policy in the East,
viii gain nothing by it, but VIII rather en-
hance hisreputatiO as anadroit diplomatist
The luSter OF the arbitration treaty, and
the prospective Venezuela settlement, to-
eether With the correspondence on the
Turkish question, set forth in the blue
book this week, has caused a decided change
IN the attitude toward the premier assumed
by his opponents.
The fact is now wen established that
Lord Salisbury was the one who brought
about the understanding between the pow
erS ancnt Turkey. and that to his efforts
alone is due the determination TO effect
reforms in that country, even should the
employment OF force be necessary to bring
them about. The dominant mood Of the
House OF Commons, on the Liberal as well
as the Conservative side, is one Of conf
dence i'm Lord Salisbury as a guide in for
eign affairs.
AdviceS from Belgium show a serious
state OF affairs there. arising from the
c0nscriptIon law, which Provides that
every iuan who has Completed his nine
teenth year is liable to military service
for eight years, OF which, however, two
thirds are allowed, as a rule, on furlough.
An important clause OF the law provides
that conscript may purchase a substitute,
and il is this clause that causes the trouble.
wealthy Young men are able 10 purchase
exemption, which they do in large mum.
bers by getting a substitute and thus, prac-
ticaIly speaking, the whole military serv-
ice OF the country falls upon those who
are the least qualified by their domestic
duties TO perform it. Great discomfort pre-
walls against the system, which takes young
men from their employment, and it is an
acipated that trouble will follow the draw
y
The government has received information
that an organized resistance is being pre-
pared, in which the Socialists, who include
very large proportion OF the workingmen
OF the country, are taking a most active
part The young men liable to the con-
scriptiOn are resolved not 10 serve and all
the labor leagues have promised TO back
them up in their resistance TO the govern
ment Already military preparations have
been made tomeett the trouble and the draw
Ing OF the conscriptS is looked forward to
with much anxiety
The new Chinese minister to England,
LO Feng LO, is timed to arrive n London |
early In June. He brings some magnificent |
presents to the queen, at whose diamond |
jubilee fetes he is TO figure The foreign |
office, which has never got on well with |
the. present Chinese minister, expects to |
find in Lo Feng Lo a better medium of |
communication with Pekn. He knows Eng |
lish. French and German. was Ii Hung |
Chang's interpreter at Tien Tsln and sub /
sequently LIS minister OF the navy, and |
accompanied Ii on his recent visit to the |
continent and England 10 FengLo is cred |
ted with a strong preference for English /
built warships, and is said TO have almost
carte blanche in the disposal OF Chinese |
money for English building yards.
WI, the new minister to Washington.
was bornin Singapore, studied law in Lun-