The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1899-04-30

Chamberlain has. to my certain knowledge,
within the last few days made an earnest
appeal TO Lord Salisbury to give the fullest
practical support to the outlanders, and. no
doubt whatever he himself is quite pre-
pared to do now what he was prepared to
do in 1896 in the way of an appeal to
force, but Lord Salisbury, with all his
quiet stubbornness, blocks the way. do
what you will. Mr.. Chamberlain he says.
but no breach OF the peace, mind"
That is the position today, and the Out
landers can only hope that the ominous
news arriving from Cape Town, Kimberley,
and Johannesburg, and the pressure of
sympathy which has been invited, from
Canada and Australasia, may stir the Eng
lish premier into more bellicose mood. II
they succeed you will one early morning
read that Mr.. Chamberlain has in a public
speech delivered one more ultimatum to
President Kruger, more caustic and en-
phatic than any that has gone before, and
that SO many British redcoats are on their
way to the Cape on emergency service.
Waiting Snlisbury's Sanction.
The tales current in London this week
that the South African garrisons have al
ready been increased this year are quite
mistaken. For four years the number has
been and still is 5000. II is just for Lord
Salisbury's sanction to increase these 5000
that the South African crisis waits before
breaking. Meanwhile news from independ-
ent quarters at the Cape point to a growing
| movement among the Dutch in Cape Colo
ny, the Orange Free State. and the Trans
vaal toward a federal republic. The result
OF the approaching conference of the States
is awaited anxiously here, and not few
say that Mr.. Rhodes himself is angered by
| what he deems the niggardly treatment
which the Imperial Government has melted
out to his Cape to- Cairo railways, and may
! be tempted to shake hands with the Dutch
once more and leave British paramountcy
J TO look after itself. That, however, may
be mere threat, designed TO bring Eng
/ lands Unconditional Chancellor of the Ex-
! chequer into line. All things considered.
South Africa is giving the Ministers sleep
I less nights just now.
There still seems to prevail in the United
/ States a notion that England is Fastening
toward protection, and the persistent agi-
/ tation OF group of West Indian merchants
here for countervailing duties against
] French bounty-fed sugar is used to support
( the motion. For the benefit OF the credu-
! lous II may be well TO quote what the
! Chancellor of the Exchequer said last night
! in the House OF Commons in relation to the
new wine duties and Australia's demand
for exemption. He said: THE return to
differential duties would be a change of
! great Importance in our fiscal system Even
! II the principle of such a change were ac-
cepted, do not see why the benefit should
| be extended 10 colonies which levy highly
/ productive tariff on the manufacturers OF
] the United Kingdom" Mr.. Chamberlain
would be quite willing to impose counter
vailing duties or inter-imperial preferential
! tariffs. but is held back by that section OF
the Cabinet which even his persistence has
failed to overcome.
The WOman's Suffrage Movement.
The woman's rights movement makes
small progress in England, chiefly because
no ministry yet has been found with cour-
1 age to say either a fiat "yes" or fiat
no Thursdays debate In the House OF
Commons well illustrated this. The ques-
ton before the house was whether women
are competent under the new London gov
eminent bill 10 become mayors. aldermen
or councillors of the new London munich
palities. Now Mr.. Balfour. personally
fayors womans suffrage. though he de-
clared on Thursday that the possibility OF
women becoming members of PaTliamen,
lis an extension Of the privilege which
would be absolutely intolerable." The
house visibly shuddered at the thought
and the Cabinet is, like Mr. Balfour on this
subject, all at skies and sevens. Thus the
House first rejected the motion tina. women
be not allowed to serve; secondly, decided