The Topeka state journal., 1898-04-02
The Pressure is Becoming Too
Great to Be WithstOOd.
Will Remain Premier But Give
Up Foreign Office.
MIR. GEORGE N. CURZCN
Joe Letters BrOther-in- Law
May Succeed Him.
A Crisis in the UniOnist Party
is impending.

London. April 2-The crisis between
Spain and the United States is hard
pushed for first place in public interest
mere by the question as to whether or
not the Marquis of Salisbury will retire
from office and the consequent reorga-
nlzation of the cabinet. The conser-
Vat1Ve newspapers, particularly in the
provinces, are in open revolt. The Ma
tlonal Review sums up the bitter. de-
nunc1ations by quoting the late General
Gordon'S saying:
The British race is a race of lions
led by asses''
The discomfort is so widespread that
the idea is rapidly gaining that crisis
In the history of the Unionist party
will soon be reached. The concensuS
OF opinion inclineS to the belief that the
Marquis of Salisbury yielding to the ad-
vice of his friends will retire from the
foreign office but will remain premier.
A certain amount of color is given to
this belief by Fridays semi-off1cial ru-
NOR that the queen will confer upon the
marquis the lord lieutenancy of Mid
dleSex and the investion of his success
sor is debated in the most lively man
ner.
The enemies of Mr.. Joseph Chamber
lain the secretary of the state for the
colonies, are diligently circulating the
report that he aspires to succeed the
Marquis of Salisbury which is farthest
from his thoughts at present, Mr.
Chamberlain knowing that his liberal
unioniSt friends would desert if he
tried for the foreign office. Political
club circles consider that as the Duke
of Devonshire is assured the premier
ship if the Marquis of Salisbury retires
altogether Mr.. A. J. Balfour, the first
lord of the treasury, acting secretary
of state for foreign affairs and govern
ment leader in the house of commons
will succeed his uncle in the foreign Of
flee. This is considered undoubtedly
to be the outcome if Mr.. BalfOur can
overcome his objection of elevation to
foreign portfolio will probably be Of
fered to Lord ChOmer the British min
lister and consul general at Cairo, with
tbs possible reversion to Mr.. George N.
| CurzOn, the parliamentary secretary for
| the foreign office, who in spite of his
! cOnceited mannerlSmS, has greatly i'm
proved his parliamentary position, i'm
| pressing his colleagues with his admin
| istrative ability.
The marvellous tardiness of the for
eign office in receiving official news
from China, which is first published by
| the newspapers, drew from Mr.. CurZon,
replying to Mr.. John Dillon the leader
of the Irish Nationalists, an amusing
explanation. He said he would hesi-
tate to say what are the functions of
the modern journalist, adding: But 1
imagine they do not exclude intelligent
anticipation of facts, and in this Some-
what unequal competition. the journal-
ist. whose main duty is speed, is liable
some times to get the advantage of the
diplomatiSt, whose main object is accu-
racy."
During the debate in the house of
commons on the British prison system,
Mr.. John Redmond, the Parnellite lead
er, advocating more humane treatment,
, especially of political Offenders, gave an
elaborate and eulogistic account of the
| prison system of the United States,
| showing by comparison that the
| English system is the most brutal and
! brutalizing in the world"
Queen Victoria is thoroughly enjoying
! the fine weather in the south of France.
| She is in good health and charmed with
! her surroundings. Her majesty drives
out twice daily and has given number
| of small official dinners. The queen has
! sent to the wounded Indian soldiers at
! Nattley, framed portraits of herself.
| one for each ward and has also ordered
! couches for the disabled soldiers as well
! as the finest artificial limbs for those
who have lost their own.
| Princess Henry of Battenberg sends
! a portrait of her late husband as 1.-The
gift of a widow of a soldier to soldiers
+ who have fought for their country
Piper Findlater, who distinguished
| himself at the storming of Dargai
ridge and who is now at Nattley re-
| ceives hundreds of letters daily from all
parts of Great Britain, offering theat-
| rica1 enga gements, marriage, a home
| for life'' and so forth