The sun., 1900-06-25
ENGLAND'S TROUBLES.
Many Diverse Problems Are Keeping
the Nation Busy.
COUNT MURAVIEFF'S DEATH.
The Pncificntion of South Africa Go
ing Along slow1y-Bobs' Changed
FrOnt-A New Sight For Wis.,
itors to London.

London, June 24-Never at any time
h in her history has Great Britain been in
N volved in so many diverse issues that vi
\ tally affect the future of her empire. And
though there are still at stake in South
n Africa military, territorial and financial
considerations that in their magnitude
n have scarcely been exceeded during the
II century Great Britain is no exception to
u the rest of Europe in being wrought up
to Il pitch of intense anxiety and antici-
patton To the exclusion of every other
topic by the drama now being enacted in
the far east.
In the excitement of the moment the
relief of Mafekng seems a little thing
compared with the relief of Vice Admiral
4 Seymour and the international forces.
Spion kop, paardcberg and Colcnso sink
into nsigniicance compared with the
Spectacle presented by the land and sea
a forces Of the six greatest powers in the
world fighting side by side against COM
mon enemy With keen sense of the
srelativc proportion Of things Great Brit
e ain quickly turned her eyes to China not
80 much perhaps on immediate develop
N ments as upon the possibilities of the
NepOch making war or wars which may
arise out of the present crisis.
Count MuravieG's Death.
s# The death of Count Muravieff, the
Russian minister of foreign affairs, evOk-
y ed no canting obituaries or expressions of
x regret here, for the British press, in spite
of the equanimity of the foreign Office,
was unanimous in realizing the gravity
y of the present turn of affairs. To quote
N staid and humane weekly, "the death
N of Russia's minister removes an obstacle
.q to the cordialty between Russia and
a England" and though this summarizes
the comment of the leading papers there
is little hope expressed that Russia's ag-
gressive policy toward China will be
much modified. Apart from the material
# view of the result of Count Muravieff's s
\ n death it is generally referred to as one of
n the most pathetic happenings in political
careers, for, according to the dead mans
% critics, he seemed, owing to the crisis in
China. on the verge of accomplishing the
"a object to which he had devoted his life.
M Lord Loch's DEATH almost coinciding
p with Count Muravieff's, also removes one
II whose name was much connected with
lt matters in the far east. Before he be-
| came a colonial governor Lord Loch as
sisted in the negotiations which resulted
'f in the treaty of Tien-tsin in 1860 and
only escaped execution at the hands of
h the Chinese emperor by 10 minutes
" grace. Like Muravieff, he was struck
N down when the dream of his life seemed
Is about to be realized. In his case it was
IVA British federation over the whole of
South Africa.
& Lord Salisbury's entrcaty last week TO
"A the missionaries not to have themselves
% murdered is one more instance of his un-
M common franknpsS, or, as 1T is referred
.s3 to- his thinking aloud phase" Among
a# the secular press the premier's remark
M will meet the appreciation of those with
{f common SENSE, but il will not add church
7 votes to the Conservative party at the
l5 next general election, which, by the way,
a is still further postponed owing 10 the
kB Chiuesp trouble.
tRN The south African Problem.
tE Great Britain's great army in South
Africa is slowly accomplishing the work
OF racifcaticn. The smoldering eWbers
l&of what once was fierce resistance occn-
siuuay flare up, but the hard fighting
seems to be practically over. The British
'8& military progress in the Transvaal is
& scarcely more interesting now than the
events in the Orange River colony during
Y the last two months. The Transvaal an.
f# neXatun proclamation is soon expected
VA Almost all reports Indicate that the Boers
N are rapidly realizing the futility of Il
's further struggle when opposed to such al
Ga overwhelming force.
W One of the most noticeable features OF
M the week in South Africa was Lord Rob
4# erts' abandonment of humane measures
H# toward the Beers, which he had so long
5& persisted in despite the criticism of tn,
M British colonists and many officers. Th'
4M stern vengeance that now will be visited
@ not only on those who give the Boer
' passive assistance, but on those who, aft
fasI 70 tyt prttic 81
7W arms, savors more of General Kitchene
3 than of "Bobs."
|AM Kumassi still awaits relief. Governo
M Hodgson is expected to hold out, bu
M even after the siege ends little can b
. done TO subdue the natives until the rain
# are over. In December a punitive expe
# dition, with corps of white troops, Wi
A% probably be sent The mortality anon
W the officers of Colonel Willcock's stai
M shows how useless it would be to sen
@ many white troops until then.
Several papers last week printed Ion
& articles alleging that London is overru
mn with gangs of American swindlers. Colo
.& mel Sir Edward Bradford, the commits
IN sioner of police of the metropolis, said
IM an interview:
I st is absolutely untrue. ] suppos
| there are American swindlers just q
81 er kind of swindlers. but to say tn
|M American swindler predominatcs is
|& libel on one of London's best class of VII
# itors,"
EN New Sight In London.
E& When Hertford House is opened to Il
f# public this week, London will becon
fM possessed of one of the finest collection
n of pictures and curos in the world. The
L ~ were secured by three marquises of Her
II ford and were left by Sir Richard Wa
E lace, whose widow bequeathed them
fx the nation. Hertford House was the
~ bought and is now added to the capital
IA great sights though it took the commi
E tee. which included Lord Rosebery al
III Lord Rothschild, two years to arrange.
Ia The London trades council is dete
mined not to be identified with the 81
~ Of a Ruskin hall to America. They d
& clare they know nothing about 1t, del
that funds are being subscribed by, in
NASH Trades unionists and are issuing c
faar warning the labor organizatlo
n &inst an appeal for subscriptions. L