New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-05-21
THE NEWS OF TWO CAPITALS
LONDON.
GROWING BELIEF IN THE SINCERITY or
THE CARS PEACE PROPORTIONS.
MR. CHAMBERLAIN LOSING PREsTIGE-rHu
SUNDAY PAPER AND POLITIcs-KEN.
sINGToN PALACE RESTORED.


sINGToN PALACE RESTORED
fBr CABLE TO THE rRIBUSEl
London. Nav 2O-The optimists have taken
Holland. Diplomatic Europe, murmuring What
FOOLS these mortas beg' affects to look on with
langud Amusement while the international
camp-meeting Is held In the woods: but the
moral dignity Of the assembage impresses ordi-
nary spectators. and the Russian programme.
based on the eight points OF Count Muraviefrs
circular, proves to be broader in conception and
more practical in detail than the most hopeful
observers have expected. The fact that the
initiative lies with the most backward country
in Europe is now dscerned to be a source OF
strength since the remaining Powers are there.
by forced to meet Russia high moral ground.
Sagacious writer's for the English press frankly
admit that no other event OF the century now
closing vies in ethical significance with this
unique parliament OF man. and contend that.
iusory as may be the hopes of universal peace
through disarmament arbitration. the fact
that the congress has met, with the moral force
OF the enlightened opinion Of the world behind
it, to discuss the gravest issues Of modern civill-
zation is OF momentous Importance.
The Car. moreover has offered on the Open
ing day OF the Congress convincing proof OF his
own sincerity the champion OF progress His
order for a special commission 10 consider the
whole question OF the deportation OF criminals
to Siberia and the substitution OF some other
penalty than the horrors Of exile and degrading
labor In the mines strikes at one OF the greatest
scandals and the most wasteful administrative
evils In Russia. There may be long delay IN
reporting the alternative scheme. and the re-
form measure when proposed may be a pallia-
tive rather than remedy. but the fact that
the Car has taken this stand and personally
interested him7elf IN the humane cause of abol-
ishing the monstrous system OF Siberian exile
attests his right to be regarded as something
more than an idealist dreaming OF the millen-
mum In summonng the nations to a council OF
peace After this sudden sunburst In beniehted
Siberia, pessirnists only beg the question when
they croak about the Cars insincerity and the
facility with which he lends himself as a dupe
to the 'ricksters and intriguers by whom he 10
constantly surrounded.
What is described with unseemly haste az the
Transvaai crisis comes inopportunely to remind
the optimists that millennium has not vet
opened. The Importance OF this incident has
evidently been magnfed by Mr.. Cecil Rhodes
and the Hotspurs in the English press. The In.
triguers under arrest appear to be of little ac-
count and their plot. II It be a serious one. will
not break OF the conference between President
Krtger and Sir Alfred Miner nor provide a
decent pretext for the indefinite postponement
Of necessary reforms. The most sinister feature
of the affair is the eagerness with which many
journals throw of the mask and seek to fasten
quarrel upon the Beers. in order that mill
ionaire speculators may get full possession Of
the Transyaal. strong protest is made by
"rle Manchester Guardian against the rough
aid ready way in which certain clauses OF the
Convention are screwed up and twisted against
the Beers while the moral force OF other clauses,
binding England to leave them the free man.
agement Of their internal affairs by themselves.
is ignored. II not repudiated. Mr.. Chamberlain.
with all his shrewdness. finds it difficult to
prove that the dynamite monopoly is a breach
Of Article XIV Of the Convention. and that tho
redress of the just grievances OF the Outlanders
is not compulsory under the treaty
Sir Alfred Miner has a most difficult and DELI
cate diplomatic mission and the utmost that
can be expected is some relaxation Of the oner-
Gus laws which stand IN the way Of the rapid
development Of the gold industry. The mining
companies may be relieved. but political griev-
ances will be left they are, with some possible
makeshift which will not settle the questions
of the franchise and the independence Of the
courts.
Parliament has risen for the Whitsuntide holi-
days. with a fair record of industry in getting
the London bill through committee, where II
has been completely transformed into the vestry
Reformation bill The session has been tire
some, but Mr.. Balfour has succeeded in I'M
proving his reputation for fexbty and tact
His control over the House is perfect. yet he
does not drive with a tight rein. Nobody now
believes that Mr.. Chamberlain will ever displace
him as the leader OF the House. The influence
Of the Birmingham leader has declined, owing
TO his failure TO ou.man9uvre Kruger and TO
the absence in the House Of Commons Of
foeman worthy Of his steel. Like that other
great imperialst Lord Rosebery he Is under
cloud. Lord Salisbury, the other hand, has
emerged with such distinction from the tangled
maze Of the years diplomacy that the rumor
Is revived that the Queen has offered him q
dukedom a birthday honor but he is believed
to have refused 1t once before. and may do 90
again.
One OF the minor questions Of politics has been
half settled by THE Daily Nails suspension Of
It's Sunday edition This is regarded a VIC
tory for the Nonconformist conscience, but In
reality politics is at the bottom OF IT, Mr.. Al
fred Harmsworth is able and ambitious man
N the prime OF manhood. and he wants TO enter
Parliament as a Conservative member The op-
position TO Sunday journalism has proved unex-
Dectedly strong. and. after availing himself Of
Lord Rosetery's mediation and seeking to draw
The Daily Telegraph" after him. he has bowed
% the religious sense Of the nation and with
lrawn the Sunday edition OF The Mail" In
his way he protects himself against cross-voting
n the general election. and. as the owner OF
string OF thirty or more journals and periodicals.
AN afford to lose the pronts on seventh-day
.dtion of one Of them.
Sir Edward Levy Lawson also has a political
ambition and may follow suit In Withdrawing
he Sunday edition OF "rhe Daily Telegraph"
specially as he may be heckled by Nonconform-
Il voters and unjustiy taunted with his Jewish