The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-10-03
MAJOR HANDYS THREAT
OUR COMMISSIONER DISSATIS-
FLED WITH SMALL SPACE.
SALISBURY is OBlTTERLY .,,ATTACKED
His Araignment by Liberals Approved by
Consciences of Many Conservatives
England is MOI Ready to An
swer WooIcott.

Copyright 1897 by the Associated Press
London, Oct. 2.-The question ironic-
ally asked by the Conservative press,
relative to the whereabouts of the Lib
eral leaders, has been answered in trip
hammer style during the past week by
the speeches of Mr.. John Morley, the
former Chief Secretary for Ireland; Mr..
III. Ii. Asquith, the former home seere-
tary, and Mr.. George w. e. Russell,
former Under Secretary of State for
India. Disgrace abroad" and dis
aster at home," were the tenor of all
the speeches, as was to be expected,
but it must be admitted that the arraign-
ment is approved by the consciences OF
many Conservatives, when they recall
the record of the last few years. Mr..
Russell, in dealing with the subject, re-
called Prince Bismarcks verdict of Lord
Salisbury as being Hath painted to
look like iron," and Lord Randolph
ChurchilPs later estimate of the Pre-
mier as being "the greatest funk In
Europe" Mr.. Russell added his own
opinion of Lord Salisbury, namely,
"frailty. thy name Is Cecil"
The recent by-election in East Dem
bighshire, resulting in a greatly in
creased Liberal majority, seems to be
a warning that the people are weary:ng
of the blundering which has marked
Lord Salisbury's policy. Mr.. Russell re-
called recent instances in which he said
the Premier always started with fine
display of yigor, which "oozes away so
soon as his opponent shows fight" Con
t:nuing, Mr.. Russell said Lord Sails
bury backed down before Secretary Or
ney and Is now backing down before
Secretary Shermcn n and that during the
course of the peace negotiations between
Greece and Turkey the Car and En-
peror William handled Lord Salisbury
80 effectually that he was made to eat
his own pronouncements.
Unless the signs are deceiying, trouble
is brewing in West Africa between the
British and the French who, since 1889,
have trebled their protectorate in West
crn Soudan, and the great bul OF the
accession to French territory has been
carved out of country generally regard
ed as being within the British sphere of
influence. There are mysterious stories
afioat of disturbances at Lagos, on the
west coast of Africa, and the move
ments of British troops to that part of
the world from adjoining colonies, coup
led with the news that the French CO.
lonial minister is going to Senegal
Coast and other signs lead to the belief
that the situation is dangerous and that
the conflict if interests is becoming
A high colonial office official said
to representative of the Associated
Press:
"The native ferment amounts to
nothing; but, the fact is the French are
hemming us around Lagos and cushing
us into the sea and unless we are re-
habilitated by a commission to delimit-
ate the Anglo-French frontier, more sue
cessfully than formerly, there is bound
to be trouble"
The Chancellor of the Exchequer, Sir
Michael Hicks-Beach, returns to Lon
don next week, where his arrival is
eagerly waited by the United States
monetary commissioners. While the
Chancellor of the Exchequer may COM
municate n message Immediately to the
commissioners, it is not unlikely that 1t
will be a notification that the govern
ment is still unable to give them def
mite reply to their proposals, but hopes
to be able to announce its conclusions
at some specific time.
Public men who are In the best posi-
ton to judge, think that recent devel-
opments foreshadow n negative answer.
Maj. Moses p. Handy, the special
United States Commissioner to the Paris
Exposition of 1900, has had cordial in
terview with the French Minister for
Foreign Affairs, NJ. Hanotaux, in re-
gard to the objects of his visit to Eu-
rope; but he and his associates are dis
satisfied with the small amount of
space allotted to the United States and
threaten to withdraw. 1t is practically
impossible for the authorities to extend
the space. Apart from the fact that the
ground has been definitely chosen. the
horse car and railroad lines approved and
the concessions granted, there is no
available space whatever in proximity
to the building.