New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-12-12

A.r.t.nd them except the irresponsible Mark
rAn,evs governing India. who recently aston
,shed the Chancellor Of the Exchequer by fore
eating the speedy introduction OF the gold
standard. t#- f'tf.
The temporary deficit in American revenues
has been godsend for the English Free Trad
.rs and has enabled them to condemn Presi-
dent McKinley's Message with faint praise or
nne irony. The weekly press takes up to-day
m. narable of the daily press. 1.-THE Spectator"
nnds the Mesa &c wordy and lacking in definite
ness and nerve. THE Speaker considers 1t
satisfactory on the Cuban question. but def
c,snt in evidence that President Mckinley In
tend. to deal earnestly with the currency oues-
tion: THE Economist" is too we'll informed not
70 admit that the deficit may be explained by
the excessive importations made In advance OF
the passage Of the Dinsley tariff. but 1t con-
elders the prospect OF currency reform hopeless
Although 1t discusses Secretary Cages plan
critically, and approves 1t. with certain reser-
vations.
The truth seems to be that President McKin-
law az a thoroughgoinx Protectionist Is dis
trusted in England, and that his credentials az
4 currency reformer are compromised py MS
record as persistent advocate OF character'stic
American policies. English journals refuse 10
believe that q statesman who has strenuousiy
opposed the Free-Trade system can be reahy
IN earnest about currency reform. or sound ana
reasonable in his ideas Of finance. Their logic
may be faulty but their prejudice Ii natural
ana ought not to surprise Americans. who re-
member that the same English press had not q
single word to say In praise OF Lincoln until
he was In his grave Moreover. 1t must never
he forgotten hat the English press does not
faithfully represent English opinion In it, CEN
serious criticism on American AFFAIRS. The
English people are far more sympathetic ana
lust than their press in treatment OF American
questions fine proof Of their friendliness was
offered few nights ago. when large audience
OF the Royal Geographical Society," assembled
TO welcome Lieutenant Peary. cheered for two
minutes the picture Of his northernmost signal
two American hags flashed In colors on the
screen
While English financial experts lay mucn
stress upon the Treasury dehcit and the posi-
b,lity of Fall River cotton strike. they have
ample reasons Tor being preoccupied with the
perplexities of their own situation. England has
ceased to be creditor nation 50 far a. America
10 concerned, and when the steadily increasing
balance Of trade is critically examined. there is
ground for sober reflection. as some OF the most
candid writers admit. Good times have passed.
and the competition Of Germany ana America 10
causing widespread uneasiness among iron
rnasters and cotton manufacturers. The stua-
ton must be serious when employers are delio-
eratAly planning the destruction Of trAdes-un-
ionism A q policy Of self.defence for English
industries against foreign competition Mr. John
Burns sums up the crisis in the engineering
trade when he declares that the men must either
subuit TO the hard terms dictated by their en-
ployers or raise $4,000 weekly for supporting
the strike for the next six months The men
will probably 30 back to work. sullen and dis
contsnted.
rhA railway servants do not dare to 90 on with
their proposed strike. and the cotton operatives
revolt In Lancashire also hangs nre Traces
unionian has received in the engineering striks
q staggering blow. and English employers seem
inplacable Many Of the most influential as
sociations Of employers are bent upon paraiys'ns
II Altogether. and the trades-unions themselves
apHear to bs meditatins self-dtstruction.
Ambassador Hay is already accepted BY literary
audiences In London as the real successor OF
Inveu. who taught the English how to make
.tter-dinn1r spseches. His speech this week be-
fore the Omar Khayyam Club IL described by
vetAran members as the best ever delivered De-
fore that unique body Of worshippers at the
airline Of the Persian poet That 10 the hish
nrais<. because nearly all the most eminent men
~ ,st,ers In England have attended its dinners
His spAech was 4 masterpiece OF literary art
ana vas delivered In rich. scnorous voice. The
dinner was q brilliant affair. Mr.. Henry Nor
man presiding with distinction and speaking
.raA>fully and humorousiy. Ambassador Hay
VA prevented. by invitation to dine and sleep
at Windsor nom speaking At Cambridge last
night.
The ladies' dinner Of the New Vagaeond Club
lat night was bewildering In tts anomalies.
II was q Christmas dinner. but the chair
man was not Q Christian. but . Hebrew re-
.oieine In memories Of the Ghetto Mr.. Fang
win made . brilliant speech. with some slash
ine passages on the Little Highlander line The
russt of the evening was Lord Charles Beres-
ford and hs astonished the audience by deliver
inr \ weighty remembrance against the abuses
Of the money power and the alarming growth
OF the sordid spirit In ENGLAND. He was In
t>nssly in earnest and declared that money
could buy its way into the best society IN the
land, ana that birth and manly chivalry were
powerless without hard cash. The New VaSa'
bonds misht have been dismayed by these
Christmas homilies II Mr.. George Grossmith had
not been on hand to propose the toast OF The
Ladiss." and to impersonAte the mythical per-
sou billed tn the menu card for responding to It.
The most brilliant social incident OF next week
VIII be the Duke and Duchess Of Portland'i
house party at welbeck Abbey. where large
Company, including the Russian Ambassador
II Hoods Sarsaparilla