The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1897-12-19
GERMAN EMPEROR
OBJECT OF PITY
All England Laughing at His
Conduct at Kiel.
RECALLED METZ AND SEDAN
In Bidding Prince Henry Keep a Stout
Heart on the Voyage.
PAPERS ARE FULL OF COMMENT
The Nickname of civilian the WitIess'
Is No Longer Adequate.
THE PARNELLITEs ARE JUBILANT
At Statements Made by John Dillon, Chair
man of the NatIonalists, Suggesting
Conference of Irish Members Be-
fore Parliament Convenes.
The Nickname of "WiIIiam the WitIess'
Is No Longer Adequate.
THE pARNELLrrEs ARE JunILANr

London, Dec. S.-The general opinion OF
the recent occurrences at Kiel is voiced by
a diplomats remark: ut is a great pity
that Germany having an easy, safe and
simple, though slightly piratical piece of
work on hand should not be able to per-
form it without causing the whole world
to laugh"
The papers are full of comment on the
subject. The Times says: 1.-THE august
utterances are worthy of heroes of melo-
drama, and would seem hight to mod
ern minds if uttered by Phillip II. as he
dispatched the Armada, or by Columbus
as he started on the discovery of America
The emperor had to recall Metz and Sedan
to bid Prince Henry keep a stout heart as
he faces the dangers of the Suez canal and
the terrors of the China sea- Prince Hen
rvs grafton was type of Byzantinium
ESTABLISHMENT unequalled in the annals
of modern usage"
The Saturday Review thinks the nick
name of civilian the Witless is no
longer adequate, adding that 'he is stark,
staring mad"
Continuing, the Saturday Review re-
marks: "In spite of the ominous fact that
he has alienated the newspapers and pro-
fessors and insulted the great mobiles when
they ventured to disagree with his extraor-
dinary activity until the court is deserted
and known throughout Germany as the
court of parvenus, the poor creature con-
tinues to take himself seriously as sort
Of drill sergeant of providence
Sugar Tsounties
The indications point to passage in the
queens speech at the opening of parliament
referring to the sugar interests of the COL
onies. 1t will probably announce that the
government has decided to postpone a con-
ference of the powers interested in sugar
bounties. 1t is understood the government
is prepared to announce at such confer
ence that unless the bounty system is
abandoned Great Britain will impose coun-
tervailing duties. The colonial office has
been greatly exercised since the West In
dian commission reported and since the
discussion in the reichstag, in which the
chancellor says that If Great Britain should
follow the United States and tax bounty
fed sugar, the death-knell of bounties
would be sounded. Signs are not lacking
that both Germany and France are anxious
to abolish the bounties, but neither will
abandon them SO long as the other is free
to maintain them and to monopolze the
English market. The objections of the free
traders to protective measure would be
greatly overcome by the provision that the
duties would be removed as soon as the
bounties have ceased.
ParneIIites Jubilant
The Parnelltes are jubilant at state-
ments made by John Dillon, chairman of
the nationalist party. at the meeting of the
Irish Federation at Dublin last Monday,
who, upon that occasion, said he agreed
with John Redmond, the Parnellite leader,
that all sections of the nationalists should
arrive at an understanding upon the-1ead-
ing Irish questions before the re-assem-
bling of parliament and suggested con-
ference on the subject between the Irish
members. These remarks are interpreted
by the Parnellits as being confession OF
the correctness of their attitude towards
the liberals.
Mr.. Redmond said to a representative of
the Associated Press: "Mr. Dillon at last
admits that the liberals at whose orders
Mr.. Parnel was deposed, have abandoned
home rule. But he must go step further
and repudate unequivocally and openly
any alliance with the liberals Unit! he
does so no union of the Parnellites with
him or his party is possible"
To Retrieve Prestige
The Westminster Gazette voices the lib-
eral sentiment saying: "1he party viii
have to free itself from the thralldom,
which Mr. Dillon seeks to impose upon it,
even at the cost of ineurring the displeasure
of his friends. This paper also states that
If the liberals gave Mr. Dillon the pledge
demanded they would not have the slender
est chance of returning to power.
The reverse suffered by General Westn,a-
colts brigade in the Bara va ley is in the
nature of a disaster. When the euphemisns
are translated the story appears to be that
the most powerful force ever sent to the
border has been bundled out of Afridiand,
neck and crop. On top of this comes the
news that it is the intention of Sir William
Lockhart, the British commander in chief.
to invade the country in another direction.
The reasons are obvious. The government
feels that something must be done forth
with to retrieve British prestige.
IN the meanwhile the worst impression