Birmingham state herald., 1897-01-24
ENGLAND WRAPPED IN SNOW An Unusual Scene Reported
 From EngIand'S Metropolis.
 LIBERALS UP IN ARMS
Will Urge an Investigation of the Jameson
 Raid and South Africa Affair.
THREE-oUARTERs OF A MILLION DOLLARS
Have Been Raised for Plague-Stricken In- dia- Great Preparation for the Queens Jubilee e-Mr and Mrs. Bayard
 Off To Sandringham.

London, Jan. 23.-(Copyright by the Sun Printing and Publishing Associa- tion.)--All London Is of the opinion that the weather is the most important of hu- man interests today.
 Since noon yesterday there have been several brisk f1urries of snow with the result that there is a thin blanket aver aging an inch in thickness in the parks and gardens of the metropolis So ex- traordnary is this in London that the papers describe it as blizzard, and ev- erybody is talking about the terrific snow storm. Sensational telegrams from all parts of Great Britain describe in vivid language the ravages of the snow The most startling dispatch of all comes from point in the far north of Scotland when a rash correspondent aff1rms that the snow lies six inches deep on the level. h. creduious Londoners accept such state ments only with a grain of salt. It is more than five years since snow has been seen in London in the present quantities and it's appearance is regarded in the nature of a phenomenon. It has, indeed, worked wonderful transformation of the blackest, gloomiest city in all the world. London architects, even in the brightest weather, wears the universal hue of ashes and charcoal and it's most famous buildings are dressed in perpet- ual mourning. Now in spite of towering skies, the city has put on a gala attire and the solemn old town is almost gay. Even as 1 write, the clouds have sudden ly broken and flood of rosy light is bathing the great dome ofNSt. Pauls in wonderful splendor. It is no longer an imposing black silhouette against the sky, but great ping glowing dome which seems to shine with an incandes- cence all it's own.
 Turning to a more sordid and pre- sumably important event, the opening of parliament, I can find nothing to say of even moderate interest to American readers. It is expected that the session will prove of considerable domestic im- portance, but the only topic in sight whichsis likely to attract the attention of outside observers is the solemn but inevitably farcial investigation of the Jameson raid and South African affairs generally. The secretary for the colonies on Wednesday made a virtuous show of anxiety to obtain the re-appointment without delay of a parliamentary com mittee of inquiry. He waited in the house of commons Wednesday until an hour after which opposed business could not be taken up and then moved the re-appointment of the committee. Sev- eral members objected and the minister with a great show of surprise and irri- tation then postponed his motion. When 1t comes on again, probably at the end of next week, there is likely to be a tre- mendous row. the liberals being firmly convinced that the government is anxi- ously waiting for a decent excuse to break their solemn pledges to make a thorough inquiry MT. Chamberlain may protest as much as he likes, but it is undeniable that a majority of her maj estys ministers do not want this inquiry proceeded with and they have managed to let their supporters in the house of commons know something of their feel ings Otherwise, there would not be the strong movement against an inquiry which is now observable in the govern ment party. The friends of MT. Rhodes, too. have not been active and they are both numerous and influential The re- suit of all this is that everything one hears people asking what is the good of this Inquiry? MT. Rhodes made mis- takes, but surely he can condone them by bravery in the field during the rebellion in Rhodesia, and sagacious diplomacy with the Matabele, which, as much as anything, brought about peace.
 Furthermore the Rhodes party never tire of urging that a condition of the Cape Colony legislature has already in- vestigated the matter and probed 1t as far as desra ble to British interests to go. It is difficult to see how it is possible in decency to avoid such form or pre- tence of investigation, but if anybody expects that the real facts regarding this great national crime against a friendly state is at last to be brought to light they assuredly will be disappointed. MT. Rhodes, in an interview printed today, virtually acknowledges what he denied a year ago on his word of honor, namely complicity in the organization of the force of raiders. The only point he now deniesIis that he gave Jameson the final order to march. It is hardly necessary to repeat what I have several times said in this connection, that Cecil Rhodes will never be punished by any British trb- una1 for his now confessed guilt in con nection with this great conspiracy.
 The blue books issued this week detail- ing the progress of the negotiatio be- tween the powers in reference to the Turkish question at last brings official confusion of the news first made public in ca ble dispatches to the Sun early in December that Europe had finally agreed to use force if necessary to secure the in troduction of reforms in the Ottoman empire. It is shown to the credit of Lord Salisbury that he persistently urged upon the continental governments the neces- sity of resorting to coercion until a sud den change in the attitude of the czar late in November at length brought success to his efforts. have reason to believe that the situation has now advanced con- siderabfy beyond the point indicated in the dispa tches which Lord Salisbury has made public. There have also been side issues Involved in the understanding which has been arrived at between cer- tain of the powers, to which, of course, no reference has been made. For in stance, it is believed that the ezar who held the key to the whole situation did not grant his assent to coercion until the part which Russia would be allowed to play in such operations had been clearly conceded by Great Britain. The belief expressed in some quarters that Russia will still manage to prevent an actual in- terference with the sultan is not shared in the best informed circles. It Is fully believed on the other hand that genuine reforms will be actually forced upon Tur- key and that too, as speedily as the slow moving diplomatic machinery will allow. Iy Public interest in the plague and famine ir, India cantlnues una abated. The re-