The sun., 1897-06-13

Ths Whelo Programme or Events Is at sixes
and Sevens-Cenrusien Rverywhers.
Speciai Gable pe.potoA 70 THE Sur.

LONDON, Juno 12.-As far as the official pro-
gran,me Of the jubilee events is concerned there
is q scandalous state OF unpreparodnoss- It 10
usually the case In this country that great cere-
monials in charge Of the court officials are hopo-
lessly bungled, but the jubilee celebration prom
iscs TO bo the worst ever known.
The official order Of tho procession, issued yes
terday, assigns places only TO tho troops. Moth
ing il yet decided about tho arrangements for
the vast number of guests who are to appear
somewhere in the parade.
There is tho same confusion in regard to the
decorations and illuminauons. There is no gen.
erel plan such as always governs such display
In Continental capitals. Artists Of the Guild and
the Academy offered to volunteer committees
to take the matter in hand and arrange har-
monious plan, but the authorities refused TO ac-
cept the offor, and 1t Is already evident that the
result will be not only inartistic but positively
hideous.
The publication of the programme has called
out to-day n great chorus Of protests. 1t 10
pointed out that the royal procession. instead OF
representing tho Elories of tho Victorian era.
will be almost exclusively military. Science,
art, and craftsmanship are all unropresented
The colonial visitors arc tho only civilians. All
the rest are rodcoats. The popular effect OF this
is well portrayed BY such language the follow
ing in to-day's Westminster Gazette:
The impression which will be left by the pro-
cession will certainly be that the empire is the
work Of redcoats in so far as II is not tho work
Of royalties. There 10 only one exception. which
is special compliment paid to the colonial
Premiers Otherwise the blackcoated throng
who have borne the burden and heat OF tho day
ia Science, Art. Literature. and even politics
will find no place.
THE statesman who has been larger part of
the two generations to be commemorated than
any other man living, Mr.. Gladstone. will not DO
seen on the great day"
Partisan bitterness against Mr.. Gladstone, by
the way. has been revived to the fullest extent
by his persistent denunciation Of the Sultan
and tho policy of the powers. His letter this
week suggesting that the representatives of Tur-
key in the jubilee procession will not be well re-
ceived has been construed by the Tory press
! into an Indictment to public insult. This is
! absurd, but even a sober newspaper like the
| Globe says tonight:
I'VE do not wish to be disrespectful, but really
it would conduce to the gayety of nations II some
one would, until the jubilee is over. put Mr..
Gladstone in bag. or better still. II the Turkish
| Embassy would demand his prosecution for in
citement to commit breach of the peace and
get him bound over for good behavior for q
| month"
1t 10 difficult to imagine more striking ex.
| emplification of the moral degeneration of the
English race than such language by the most
dignifled supporter Of the present Government
in Londons evening journalism.
| There are important reasons Of State why the
jubilee is to be- above all things, great military
and naval demonstration. to the exclusion Of tho
arts and sciences. Some of these reasons are OBJ
vious, and have discussed them in O letter
which will reach THE SUN In the course of tho
post
No opportunity will be lost during the next
fortnight to impress upon foreign visitors tho
vastncss Of Great Britain's military and naval
power. This display began yesterday, whom the
Duke of Connaught reviewed the imperial
| troops, who have come to take part In the royal
procession. The spectacle has callad forth this
| language. which Is fair sample Of what will be
spread out In the public prints during the next
few days:
Never oven In the palmiest days Of old Rome
spectacle than that which took place yesterday
afternoon at the Chelsea Barrack5. His Royal
Highness, the Duke OF Connaught, representing
the Queen, inspected and reviewed the repro
| sentative contingents Of the army Of Great
Britain.
There were drawn up in line colonial soldiers
from the four quarters of the globe. Many
there were from lands and continents unknown
TO the Roman Empire. There stood in the ranks
men from the far north. the far south, the far
east, the far west; men from Europe, Asia
Africa, America, and Australasia; types oil
many races. white and black