The Portland daily press., 1897-02-01
OVER THE SEA-.
Political Tidings from the British
Isles.

Interesting Tidings from the British Isles
-The jameson Raid is Again Time
ly Topic.
London. January 3o.-Moat Rev. Will
lam ]. Walsh, archbishop of Dublin, has
written q letter in which he advises the
reference of the question of the leader
shin Of the Irish national army to o
small representative committee, whose
decision shall be final.
The archbishop also expressed his APP
nroval Of an article written by Timothy
Harrington. member of parliament for
the barbor division of Dublin, and pub
Hsbed in United Ireland, suggesting the
rsunion of the factions of TIE party un-
der the leadership of John Redmond
since the Irish members of the House
IF t,om,nons withdrew their amendment
70 the address in reply to the Queen 8
neeeb. which amendment referred to the
financial relations between Great Britain
ana ireland, it is seen that they made a
serious tactical error, which was equiva-
Ient to allowing Mr.. Balfour, the COVER
want leader in the House, to spikessthrie
ouDs. A prompt and energetic opposit-
ion 10 the suspension of the financial
question mighS have been effective in
carving the votes of the Irish Union
lists. but now it will be useless to Oppose
fine commission. which will be sup
norted BIZ the Unionists and number
Of Scottish and English Liberals. The
o,sstion. instead of hearing solely on
The financial relations between Great
Britain and Ireland, will develop into
an inquiry into the financial relations
netween the different parts of the Unit
ed Kingdom.
The Scotch and Welsh bers of the
House insist that their respective claims
shall be considered, and the English
Radicals demand an inquiry into the
matter of the taxation of the various
GLASSES in the kingdom.
Nevertheless the session will not be
barren for Ireland. if the governments
pr0posal TO transfer Irish private bill
eojslation from Westminster to Dublin
takes the form of bill The tenor Of
and the governments dependence upon
tina render the appearance Of such a
measure doubtful, but it would undoubt-
eddy pass If the government should
submit it.
All the Irish members are eager fol-
such bill, fotseeing that it would trans
fer much power and the expenditure of
much money to Dublin.
The amendment made Thursday in
the House of Commons by Mr.. MacLean
to the motion of Colonial Secretary
Chamberlain for the reappointment of
the commission to inquire into the affairs
of the British South Africa company is
Indicative of the feeling that prevails in
influential quarters regarding any inves-
tigation Of South African matters. Mr..
MacLehn's amendment was to the effect
that as the troubles in South Africa
had been peaceably settled and as the
leaders of the raid into the Transyaal
had been punished it was needless to ap-
point commission to reopen the mat
ter. This amendment was seconded by
Sir John Lubbock and had the support
Of other influential members.
Although Mr.. amberlain's motion
was finally adopted the debate showed
TINT Mr.. Cecil Rhodes and the British
South Africa company in which he is
the moving spirit, were not without
strong friends in Parliament Mr.. Mac
Lean is the proprietor of the Western
Mail one of the most influential news
papers in Wales, and his attempt to head
off Investigation of the affairs of the
chartered company had the support of
other newspapers throughout the king
dom.
There is no denying the fact that if
the commission attempts to probe too
deeply into the company's affairs persons
high in society and political life will be
hurt, and for that reason it is the opin-
ion Of many persons that the proposed
Investigation will prove farce.
It has been stated that the company,
1t its lavish uss Of money to attain Its
ends, did not overlook the press, and
that its support by some Of the most in
auential newspapers of London and else
where is due solely to the fact that these
papers were practically brihed for that
purpose. Many aristocrats are connected
with the company, and it Will be to their
interest to put every possible obstacle in
the way of thorough investigation.
Mr.. Rhodes, who has come from South
Africa to testify before the commission,
is in fine fighting fettle. and does not
appear to be the least worried as to the
outlook. His testimony is looked fer-
ward to with much interest, AMI 1T is
generally believed if he should be pressed
too hard he will make revelations that
will prove great shook to what he has
termed the "unctuous rectitude' OF
some British statesmen
One Of Mr. ChamberIain's objects in
insisting upon the inquiry is to cleai
himself Of the charge that he had
knowledge previous to the raid that the
70 I.o. 10 inla G