The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1897-08-12
BOTH OF THE POLITICAL PARTIES
SEEM TO BE IN A DEMORALIZED
CONDITION.
ALL EYES TURN 70 ST. PETERSBURG
Cznr IL Thought to BE Pregnant
with Political Significance.
Antarctic Expedition.

| OlllSU OF the inherent SCHOOLS OF minis
terialists has threatened more than once
| during the past six months to bring
about war in the tory camp, and the re-.
cess leaves considerable numbers of con-
Scryatives in a state of high Indignation
| and resentment.
| The malcOntents claim that the leg
| iSlation has been reactiOnary and social
istic. Many of them are angry at what
| they declare to be Il humuliating sur
render of the national honor at the de-
| mand of America. The Marquis of
| Londonderry representing the big class
| of tory landlords, has added to the dis
comfture by publishing yesterday let
| ter, in which he practically cuts adrft
| from the unionistS, saying in so many
words that he can not stand the Irish
land bills nor Mr.. Chamberlain's pet
measure, the wOrkmen's compensation
| bill, which latter he dubs socialistic. The
marquis adds that the conservatives
would never have permitted it to become
II law il it nad been introduced by Mr..
Chamberlain before he changed his pol
itics.
The rank and file are Indifferent and
quarrelsomc. while the leaders seem 10
be lost in the shuttle. Lord Rosebery
occasionally leaves his temporary retire
mcnt in order to make humorous
speech John Morley is seldom heard.
except at academical lectures; Sir Henry
Fowler and Sir Henry Campbell Ban
herman are quiescent, while Mr.. II. II.
Asquith has been earning tory cheers for
his speeches in behalf of the workmen'>
compensation bill Sir William Vernon
IIarcOurt is also visible. although Henry
LabOucherc has tried u push TO the front
by issuing manifesto early in the week.
suggesting a new liberal program. His
sO-called presumption. however. has
been snubbed 10y the heads of the liberal
faction, and his manifesto has fallen
absolutely fiat. As matter of fact. the
liberal party seems opiniouleSS. a. We'll
as leadcrleSS. The conflict for the lead
crship of the party continues in spite or
this far from hopeful outlook. and should
the liberals be again called 10 power. The
fight between Rosebcry and Hdryougr
will undoubtedly be reOpencd. In the
meanwhile there is no hope for their r.
turn TO office unless they first fully sal
isfy the Irish natonali>tS with cast
iron pledge that they will give then.
home rule.
The leading question in cpntineu-a. %
litical circles i. will the visit II En-
peror William Of Germany 10 81. Peters
burg result in a German-Rus>ian-Fre-ch
understanding directed against Great
Britain: Such con>ummatiOu J., IN
many. where the lcuunciariJn u: the
treaty of commerce between Great
Britain and Germany has F-kiuL.-I an
glOphOhiSm.
The Deutschc Zcituug yoie,- III Ger
man people saying: The emu-rar Will
achieve renown if he succeeds Dr. Great
ing an alliance aiming AZ rL- a-lihi.a-
ton of Eneland'S power.
Continuing, the Deutsche Z-.JI1- sug-
gcSts that the emperor should ell-avOr
to obtain the closing of continental ports
against English goods. The fact that
the German emperor l. acclMul MED 10
ST. Petersburg by Prince H0hell5ha. the
imperial chancellor. and by the grs-Tlmp-
tive foreign minister. Baron Won BIZ
low. indicates the importance which j
attached to his visit.
Adviccs from Paris. however. show
there is little enthusiasm there On the
subject of the suggested anri-Eugli>h al
lance, the impression being that France
in entering into such an arrangement. j.
openly playing Gcrmany'S game. and il
is very doubtful if France will derive
material advantages therefrom. On
the other hand, Great Britain. judgin.
from the tone of the press. i absolutely
indifferent and content To pursue her
position ''of splendid isolation" satisfied
that either the dreibund or the Russo
French combination will receive her with
open arms if she ever desires to ioin
them. even though maps are already pub !
lishcd. showing the approaching parti- |
tion of the British empire.
The attitude of the postofficc ,nInpror,h- |
crS is becoming threatening. The answer
of the postmaster general, the duke o.
Norfolk, to their demands is not forth !
coming. and if the telegraph operators
carry out their threats an almost cam-
pletc stoppagc of the service is proba- |
bic during the coming week. The DELAYS |
in the transmission of messages are al |
ready ScandaOuS.
The financial secretary of the treasury. |
Mr. Hamburg, in the house Of commons
on Thursday explained that the delay was
due 20 motives of economic The news
papers are scathing in their comments on
the acknowledgement of the pOStOfiice.
Antarctic expeditions are becoming |
thick. In addition to the Belgian ex-
petition and the suggested British cX-
petition to the south pole, Prof Neumey-
cr president of the German antarctic |
is organizing an expedition |
of two ships with which to
penetrate to the meridian of Kerguelan
island. His plan includes the erection of
an observation station on some yet I'M
discovered land where he and his scien-
tluC SiaH Will remain LOT TWO andTCuc
winters One of the ships is TO keep in |
communication with the outer world |
while the other is to explore beyond the
my sterOus coasts of Wilkes and Vic
toria lands The cost of the expedition is |
calculated to be S250.O00.
The vatican. including the pope him
self is actively engaged in campaign 10
stimulate the revenue from Peters pence,
which shows serious decrease. The
chief contributor to this fund has always
been France, but the tendency of the
vatican to support republcanism has
cooled the ardor of the aristocratc DON
ors and while the gifts from America
have increased they do not cover the
French deficit
The receipts are steadily abating while
the expenses of the vatican are increas
ing. One of the causes of the decrease
in the pope's revenue is that foreigners
have got the idea that their money has
been used in speculation. 1t is known
that much of the Peters pence fund has
been lent to speculative interests, in
building schemes which have collapsed,
and thus the vatican finds its hands full
of unsaeable property.
I,oie Fuller and her company made
their appearance at the Shaftesbury last
Thursday for a four weeks engagement.