Birmingham state herald., 1897-01-10

attitude, which gives additional piquancy to "a situation. which by Itself is tnterest- ing enough. When, early in the summer of last year, Messrs. Chamberlain and Rhodes had B long interview at the colon- ial office it was stated that those two dignified statesmen had an undignlfed wfangie. The assertion was Semi-offi- cially denied and the denial seemed to be supported by some of MT Uhamberlain's statements in parliament It is evident now that Rhodes deliberately mlsled the colonial secretary at that time and Jo- seph Chamberlain Is not a man to forget or forgive such duplieity He is a min ister made of tough fibre and he is not afraid of the royal displeasure. Since he left the liberal party ten years ago on the home rule question, he has been compelled by force of circumstances, to make good many queer somersaults, but he still possesses a sturdy backbone, and if in order to shield, persons near the throne from compliety in the Jameson raid, the case against Rhodes should not be properly pressed before the commis- sion, the colonial minister might kick over the traces and the results might be temporary political chaos here and civil war in South Africa.
 Rhodes the Sun reporter happens to be in position to know, is absolutely con fident that the future belongs to him, and he has no more intention of retiring from public life than he has of committing
 
 evidence not only in South Africa, but in England as well. With that end in view, one of his devoted partisans, MT. George Wyndham, M. P. formed six to eight months ago an organization now known as the South African League. The chief plank of the leagues platform is "the formation of united South Al riea" which is an euphemsm for policy involving the conquest of the Transvaal and the capture or purchase or Portu- guese territory on the dark continent.
 The league has a membership of 1O,00J, which is likely to be doubled in the course of the present year. but it is not likely
 to prove political factor of any import
 anee in this country, at any rate, ana
 only when Rhodes money will keep It going. l.
 Lord Wolsely, ommander-in- chief of the British army when he succeeded the old Duke of Cambridge in that position, was expected to make clean sweep or the antquated regulations and use the reforming broom vigorously right through the service. He has not come up
 to the expectations, however and in some respects has proved more Of pure aucrat than his royal predecessor.s inc latest step taken by him is to issue a. general order solemnly featuring young officers who have lately shown liking for clean shaven upper lips, contrary to the uueens regulations. which enJoin the wearing of a moustache. Why 1t should be a sin in am army TOT an olncer ID shave where it is a virtue officially insisted upon in the navy, nobody has yentured | to explain.
 l A somewhat remarkable labor dispute l in which Americans are interested, is | about to assume an acute form. Some l time ago Lord Penryn, owner of the l world-famous slate quarries in Wales, l became involved in a dispute with his | workmen and getting the worst of it, | he closed his quarries in defiance of the government, which had endeavored to | make peace. Several thousand humble l folk, in consequence, are now on the verge of starvation. The questions at is- | sue involve the rest of workpen to com l bine for self-protection and it is not surprising to learn that the great trades unions have taken up the matter and in- tend to support his lordship's victims un- til the arbitrary aristocrats shall be brought to his knees. American interests | lie in the fact that now that the Wales | quarries are closed, users of slate will | have to turn to Pennsylvania as the only alternative district where they can ob- | tain good material, and already very | large orders have gone across the At lantic. If American quarry owners knew l their business properly they ought to | reap permanent benefit from Lord Pen | ryns assinine policy.