The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-10-22

Copyright by the Associated Press.
LONDON, Oct. 21.-The stirring de-
yelopments Of the week form vivid
contrast to that wearisome period of
proerastination and suspense which pre-
ceded the outbreak of the war, though
parliament has quickly and dramatically
sanctioned the momentous action of the
cabinet. The first battle worthy of the
name has been fought, and an army
corps, England's military effort In this
century, is now on the way, bent upon
administering an eternal quietus to
South African unrest.
The thrilling scene in the house of
commons of a member of the cabinet
making an impassioned defense of his
own honesty against the imputations of
deliberately involving the country in war,
the far-reaching significance Of the in
timation by the cautious prime
minister that Englands rule throughout
the whole of South Africa must be abso-
lutte, and many other striking points in an
epoch-making week have been almost en-
tirely obscured by the overwhelming in
terest of the short, meager bulletins bear
ing date at Ladysmith, that tell of vic
tory, and how many dead to gain it. His
torians may dismiss as insignificant the
military operations which so far have
marked the progress Of the war, but Tor
the people OF England these, and those
of the Immediate future, have transcen-
dental Importance. Glencoe and Lady
smith trresistibly rivet national attention,
and when the average Britfsher tires of
lauding the pluck that won the days bat
tie. end still keeps the flag flying over
Mafeking, he reverts to the universal
query, What will White do next?"
Sir Redvers Butler, last week. idol, has
almost passed out Of the popular mind,
although that general, despite the fact
that he is IL midocean and unaware of
what befell he Beers at Glencoe appears
to be the main factor in the situation.
The Associated Press is reliably informed
that his last act before leaving was to
cable Gen. Sir George Stewart White, for
bidding any British advance pending the
arrival of the army corps.
1t is believed in army circles that Gen.
White believed himself quite strong
enough to advance through Laing's Mex.
Sir Redvers Buffers prohibition, If car
led out, resolves the situation into the
statement that upon the arrival OF the
British achievements depends the num-
Der and extent of the engagements that
are to be fought within the next month
MODUS vIVENDI.
The Saturday Review, commenting upon
the Alaskan modus vivendi. says:
The talk of Anglo-American good will,
which has been INDUCED in even more
freely than usual during the week, is
mere moonshine so long as the Alaskan
4 boundary question remains unsettled.
American obstinacy has resulted in tenn
porary arrangement, which Sir Louis Da-
yies, the Canadian member of fisheries
and marine, says cannot be dignif1ed by
the name of modus vivendi. Such an
Arrangement in itself is j menace. 1t
may break down at any moment and
what would happen then? So far as
diplomacy Is concerned we are at an abb
soute deadlock"
Despite the foregoing, there is no doubt
that the Anglo-American entente has re-
ceived much impetus by the action of the
United States agreeing to look out for
British interests in the TransvaaI, and al
though Americas refusal to-perform that
function would have raised a howl, It
does not deter the general feeling from
being one of satisfaction and gratefulness
to the United States.
LONDON's CONDUIT SYSTEM
The London common council has adopt
ed the conduit system of electric street
cars on the projected large extensoins
This is the first time an English cor
poration has adopted this method, over
head wires being in use throughout the
United Kingdom. The innovation was
only accomplished after considerable op-
position
CUP CONTEST.
Sir Thomas Liptons failure to win the
Americas cup has caused hardly less thin