The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-03-04

character for thrills. the week closes today
with Two fresh sensations. No Parliament
is more jealous Of its traditions and cere-
monies than the British House Of Com
mons. and a long-cherished tradition is
that budget night shall be the one full
dress occasion OF the session. well herald
ed for weeks and well led up to.
Judge. then, into what whirl Of conjec-
lures Mr. Balfour has thrown the politi-
clans by suddenly announcing in the House
of Commons last night that the budget viii
be taken at two days notice that is, on
Monday
Dissolution. said many members. as
they rushed intosthe Hobbies to send des-
patches to their constituents. and their ex-
PLANTATION is widely echoed in the press to-
day The Government, it is declared, sees
the country flushed with joy over the sue
cesses in South Africa, and means to seize
the moment TO appeal 10 the electorate,
for mandate to carry the war through 10
Pretoria. or unconditional surrender on the
part Of the Beers. and to remake the map
of South Africa on the principle OF no
more republics.
But as a matter Of fact dissolution is the
one thing least likely to happen in Eng ish
politics just now. The probability is that
the Chancellor Of the Exchequer hurties
orthe budget in this way because he wants
TO checkmate the merchants Of wine,
spirits, and tobacco, who are Withdrawing
large quantities OF excisable goods from
bond to escape the inevitable increases of
duty by which, in part, the cost Of the
war must be betrayed. There is. moreover
a general desire on the part OF the govern 4
ESent. as well as on that of the taxpayer /.
himself TO have done with the suspense. % I
paralyzing TO trade, and TO let the country .
know how it has to bear its provisional
war bill of $500 zoe 600.
The income tax is now already at the
war level Of eightpence in the pound-what
a contrast TO Mr.. Glsdstone's twopence in
lS14,-and must Of course. 90 up. but each
added penny only brings in two millions
sterling, and the Chancellor wants sixty
millions sterling. Lord Derby used to lay
that England drank herself out Of the Ala
bama difficulty. The excise upon Englands
prodigious beer barrel paid that bill and il
viii doubtless help TO pay this years war
bill. Beer taxes hit the workingman The
plutocrst may be got at by wine duties and
increased estate duties, but after all posi-
bic sources Of taxation have been tapped
the Chancellor must borrow largely trust
ing to a war indemnity from the Republics
to recoup him later on.
Old taxes increased, rather than new
taxes, are expected. though one Govern
ment supporter is heard to ask. signif-
cantly enough in the circumstances Of the
moment, how much could be made out OF
in the way OF taxation.
The second attempted sensation with
which the week closes arises out Of the {
vague Australian and Canadian {
dispatches to the effect that Mr.. Cham I
berlain has under the pledge Of secrecy, I
asked the colonial government TO supply {
further troops for South Africa in the .
event OF the British soldiers now there be /
ing required elsewhere" t
1t is impossible to say what exact weight !
should be attached 10 such messages. even I
II sent. Anxiety as regards Russia's
armed threat upon Herat seems. so far as d
The public knows, to be removed this week ;
by the Cars declared refusal to allow =
lis Government to take advantage Of Eng d
and's preoecupation in South Africa
On the Pacific side of Asia fateful April =
approaches, with the breaking up Of the "
&c and the loOsening Of Japans hands for !,
whatever designs she may have From !,
Morocco, too. have come. this week. vague. v
ominous reports Of long dreaded French -
aggression. But when all this loose talk
las been sifted down il seems most prob y
lble th6t if Mr.. Chamberlain has made =
hese enquiries il is owing not to the "a
probability Of immediate business for the
British Army elsewhere. but to the dis
ussion now proceeding in Government 3
ircles as to the means Of maintaining or 50
Ter and inaugurating new forms Of gov y
rnment during the interregnum which I e.
aust succeed war in South Africa
Tommy Atkins the 'verdomde roodnek' in
Z the Boer, viii not DO for this regime N
martial law and peaceful reconstruc- dI
lon, and suggestions have been earnestly III
ressed upon the ministry. from South ba
ERICA and elsewhere, that after the war 81
be republics should be left in the hands. iii
OF OF English garrisons. Of regular sol IA
iers. but OF the citizen soldiers Of Canada. Of
australasia, Cape Colony, and Natal un- Ike
er the command Of two commissioners. fu
no shall be more than soldiers, and who ",
ould be trusted alike by the Dutch and sh
ritish; such men, for instance. as Sir su
harles Warren. Plenty Of young Eng le
shmen would gladly volunteer for such mi
task. So. no doubt. would young Ca en-
adams and other colonials but would 0el
anada and the other colonies needing %
emselves all the young life they can get, ~,
elcome such an exodus, for two years. -
least and probably forever 10
hereEer one goes among politicians one -,
allies the keen interest and haif-conceaI- "a
anxiety Win which they watch the an / 'i'
coaching Residential campaign in Amer an
a IN its bearing upon the Angio-Ameri- cor
IN entente. Remembering the SackviIle lea
est case they are today through the car
Times, strongly urging the Government Of
)t to displace so cool and experienced an wi
AMBASSADOR as Lord Pauncefote on the cor
lestiOn of age at this critical moment "A IN,
residential election. remarks the
Times puts severe even q danger
IS strain upon political virtue" and Int
Ids we cannot leave our Empire al the he
ercy Of changes and chances Of politics Ia
any other country" When the Times" tOI
ader writer penned that last sentence he OFF
obably had in his mind as most British raj
liticians have, the possibility Of an Z hol
caches from President Mckinley. uader lea
e stimulus Of Mr. Montagu White aud | am
e Irish aud German vote to induce tho NO
-itish Government 10 close the war and the
the status Of the republics. lea
Trying to gauge British feeling quite i'm fea
rtially, it is believed that much as an hig
entente means to England, car
y such approaches in the present mood Of ext
is nation could only result in an en- bra
attic British MOI" A few months hence fue
may be different but today England lea
ans either 10 receive or impose uncondi- lie'
NAL surrender, and she does not dream EN-
replacing the Republics. She may be sys
mt on wrong, vindictive, or merely ical- is a
s Of her future security. but estimating m
bile feeling as it Is expressed today. thai OF
Ems the only solution that the peopIe
ought up as the English people have n
n in the past four months, would toler- ~
son
The Only Honest WAY ny