New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-06-25
THE NEWS OFTWO CAPITALS
LONDON.
WAR WITH THE TRANsvAAL NOT YET
IMMINENT
AN INOPPORTUNE CHURCH OF ENGLAND
BILI-THE GREAT CHARITY BA-
ZAAR-ART SALES r.
Inv CABLE To THE TRIBUNE. ]

Inv TRIBUNE
London juno 24-The air has been thick with
rumors Of preparations by both England
and the Transvaai. but these have the hollow
sound Of stage thunder The War Office evi-
IDENTIFY Is planning FOR a possible contingency.
and the officials will act rapidly and decislvely
when the signal for heavily reinforcing the gar
risons Of Cape Colony and Natal is raised; but
the time for aggressive tactics has not yet
come. and the rumors with which the press is
filed premature and exaggerated. Certain
journals eager for war In South Africa. and
the Government. or possibly Mr. Chamberlain.
is willing 10 make use OF irresponsible agencies
Of coercion. in order TO frIghten President
Kruger and subject the Beers To powerful
pressure. II is clear that while the Ministers
have not made up their minds bring war.
they are not unwilling to have KRUGER suspect
~ they may have done 80. and that he cannct
act too promptly in redressing the just griev-
anccs OF the Outlanders.
This seems to he the natural explanation of
the active newspaper campaign against the
Beers carried on here which has paralyzed
business with South Africa. The Minister'S.
with the aid OF tn. press are doing their best
to overcome the inertia OF Krdger. and con-
vince him that England is united in in
flexible determination 10 have the wrongs of
her citizens In South Africa rghted. War how
ever is not yet in sight. and. while the Liberals
are silent and not guilty OF the unpatriotic con-
duct Of aiding and abetting Kruger in resist
ing the demands for redressing Just grievances.
they likely to find their voices II there be
deliberate breach of faith under the convention
made with the Beers.
These menaces OF do not accord with the
cuckoo song Of universal peace which is rising
from the parliament of man at The Hague and
the action Of the Government in taking the first
step toward raising loan OF S20Oo0OI0 for
various purposes OF a military and naval char
acter makes fresh discord. Mr.. George Wynd-
ham has justified the latter course in a singular
ly able and we-reasoned speech, with which 80
critical expert Sir Charles Dixie. easily
the best-informed member OF the House on all
questions Of imperial defence had no fault TO
find. The Peace Conference Npursues with un-
faltering patience the high ideals set before It:
but the wicked world goes on voting money for
fresh armaments. defences. more guns and bar
racks
Sir Henry Campbell Bannerman has waited
quietly for an opportunity to show that he pos
sesses the instinct OF leadership. and at last he
has found IT, His speech in opposition to the
Rating Of Tithes bill has thrilled the Liberal
IL
how fight when a contentious and unpopular
measure Is forced upon the Commons under the
ten minute rule. What he describes a fresh
endowment for the richest religious body in the
world is proposed at time when opinion with
in and outside the English Church is turning
strongly toward disestablishment the only
practical policy for enabling It to govern itself
and preserve its essential character. The dole
is small one. only $1,000 but it is proposed
at the wrong time and In the wrong way. The
matter ought TO have been deferred until the
Royal Commission had reported on local taxa
ton and the Ministers were prepared to sub
nit general scheme Of reform.
The Government after sending a porular
measure aimed against the telephone monopoly
to committee which will be exposed the
pressure of persistent lobbying. has taken up
and attempted 10 force through with a rush a
bill in aid OF the benehced clergy whose incomes
are drawn from tithes. Even the rank and file Of
the Uniontst party resents untImey the in
PRODUCTION Of this bill. and the Liberals under
a greatly invigorated leadership prepared
to obstruct it at eve-y stage. so serious is the
Government bunder that the bill may be with
drawn for repairs after passing the second
reading. The Liberals. in any event, will profit
by the bad tactics shown by Lord Salisbury.
PRODUCTION of this bill for the relief OF the
benefited clergy. They have also taken heart
from the hattering evidence of two by-eections
in Edinburgh that Scotland is loyal to the Lib
eral cause
American questions still in the back
ground The negotiations continue respecting
the Alaska boundary. but the end is not yet in
sight The best that can be said is that the
- fau
additional months OF diplomacy over small
points.
The Philippine situation is a profound mys-
terry. which the English press does not attempt
to understand. The action Of the Samoan Com
missioners has excited little adverse comment
except from The Manchester Guardian" which
charges them with upholding Illegal decision
OF the Chief Justice, and then abolishing the
kingship without shred OF right, and compen-
sating the Samoans with the free gift OF bur-
lesque House OF Commons That journal seems
unable to forget that Mataafa was the friend
OF Robert Louis Stevenson. who thought him
the only in Samoa NJ 70 be King.
The news that Russia has placed great or
der for steel rails in America is received with
searching OF heart by the provincial journals In
the North OF England. and eXcites more interest
than these diplomatic tangles. American su-
premacy in the iron trade is proved. not only
nv the immense contract for 10000 tons OF
rails for China and Siberia. but also by the
prices FOR armor plate paid by the United States
and European Governments. The American
Government is obtaining armor plate for
the vessels under construction for the Navy at
far lower rates than the British Admiralty.
Germany or any other European Government ID
having for the same class Of war material
The launch OF Sir Thomas Liptons yacht 10
announced for Monday but she will probably
slide into the water Unexpectedly, when there
d. liz r,ro,n harA