The herald., 1897-08-08
BRITISH
POLITICS
Are Not Satisfactory to
Anybody
CONSERVATIVES ARE ANGRY
AT SURRENDERs TO AMERICAN
DEMANDS
Fear Expressed Of German-Russian-
French Alliance in opposi-
tion to England
Associated Press Special Wire.

Associated Press Special Wire.
4 LONDON, Aug. THE close Of the
session of parliament leaves neither of
the political parties in an altogether
enviable frame of mind. The latent
antagonis'm of the different schools of
ministerialists has threatened more
than once during the past six months
to bring about war in the Tory camp,
and the recess leaves considerable num-
bers of Conservatives in a state of high
indignation and resentment. The mall
contents claim that the legislation has
been reactionary and socialistic. Many
of them are angry at what they declare
| 10 be the huniliating surrender of the
national honor on the demand of Amer
lea. The Marquis of Londonderry, rep
resenting the big class of Tory land
lords, has added to the discontinue by
publishing yesterday letter in which
Unionists, saying in so many words that
he cannot stand the Irish land bills nor
| Mr.. ChamberlaiDs pet measure, the
workingmen's compensation bill, which
latter he dubs socialistic. The marquis
| adds that the Conservatives would never
| have permitted it to become a law if 1t
| had been introduced by Chamberlain be-
| fore he changed his politics.
| The members of the opposition are In
no better mood.
| The rank and file are Indifferent and
quarrelsome, while the leaders seem to
be lost in the shuttle. Lord Rosebery
| occasionally leaves his temporary re-
| tirement in order to make humorous
speech; John Morley is seldom heard,
except at academical lectures; Sir
Henry Fowler and Sir Henry Campbell
Bannerman are quiescent, while H. H.
Asquith has been earning Tory cheers
for his speeches in behalf of the work.
ingmen's compensation bill. Sir Will
lam Vernon Harcourt is alone visible,
though Henry Labouchere has tried to
push to the front by issuing manifesto,
early during the week. suggesting new
Liberal program. HE so-called pre-
sumption, however, has been snubbed
| by the heads of the Liberal federation
and, his manifesto has fallen flat. AS
matter of fact, the Liberal party seems
]
CONTINENTAL AFFAIRS
| The leading question in continental
political circles is, will the visit of EN-
peror William of Germany to st. Peters
burg result in a German Russian
French understanding direct or against
Great Britain? Such a consummation
is undoubtedly devoutedly wished for in
Germany, where the renunciation of the
treaty of commerce between Great Brit
ain and Germany has rekindled anglo
phobism.
The Deutsche Zeitung voices the gen.
eral hope, saying: 1.-The emperor will
achieve imperishable renown if he sue
ceeds in creating an alliance aiming at
the annihilation of England's power"
| Continuing, the Deuteche Zeitung sug-
| geSts that the emperor should endeavor
to obtain the closing of continental ports
against English goods. The fact that
the German emperor is accompanied to
st. Petersburg by the imperial chan
cellor, Prince Hohenlohe, and by the pre-
sumptive foreign minister, Baron Won
Bulow, indicates the importance which
is attached to the visit.
Advices from Paris, however, show
subject of the suggested anti-English
alliance, the impression being that
France, in entering into such an ar
rangement, is only playing Germany s
game, and it is very doubtful if France
will derive material advantages there
from On the other hand, Great Brit
ain, judging from the tone of the press
is absolutely Indifferent and is content
to continue in her position of "spiend.d
isolation satisfied that either the drei-
bund or the Russo-French combin alton
will receive her with open arms if she
ever desires to join them, even though
maps are already published showing the
approaching partition of the British
empire.
LABOR TROUBLES
The troubles in the engineering trades
! is apparently no whit nearer a settle
ment. The employers declare they will
not permit the union men to return tc
their shops unless they undertake tc
work amicably with the non-unionists
The attitude of the postoffice teleg-
raphers is becoming threatening. The
answer of the postmaster general, ths
duke of Norfolk, to their demands. is
not forthcoming, and if the telegraph
operators carry out their threats an al.
most complete stoppage of the service i:
probable during the coming week. Tht
delays in the transmission of MESA sc.
are already scandalous The newspa
pers are most scathing in this comment.
on the mismanagement of the postoffice
MINOR MATTERS
Antarctic expeditions are becom;ns
thick. In. addition to the Belgian ex
pedition and the suggested British ex
pedition to the south pole, Prof. Neu
meyer, president Of the German Antarc
tic committee, is organizing an expedi
tion consisting of two ships
The vatican, including the pope him
self, is actively engaged in campaign
to stimulate the revenue from Peter
oence, which shows a serious decrease
The spell of hot weather was broken b,
thunderstorms on Thursday and Friday
in which several persons were killed an,
number of buildings were damage.
and the crops sustained serious injury
The thermometer registered 80 on Fri
day and at Cambridge the heat was /
4 degrees above the average, which ha
only thrice been reported during the las
quarter of a century. There were owe
] 200 prostrations from the heat treatet
in six London hospitals on Thursday