The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-04-15

'Gatacre and the deputation of ministers
of Christian churches to Sir R. Miner. In
the past General Gatacre has done splendid
service and received the thanks of Par
lament. He served with distinction in
Burmah and Chitral, as well as in the
Soudan where he earned a reputation for
untiring energy and special care OF his
men, yet at Stormberg he courted disas-
ter by too ready acceptance Of what
proved to be inaccurate information, and
risked the safety of his entire force by
pressing on instead of falling back when
the mistake was discovered and the troops
were exhausted. For these and other
errors of judgment General Roberts deem
ed 1t necessary to supersede him. While
every sympathy is felt for General Gatacre,
General Roberts action is considered wise
and salutary. and finds unqualified APP
proval.
There is no demand popular or other
wise, for scapegoats or examples, but it
is recognized that even a general should
not be superior TO ordinary discipline, that
blunders should not be excused because
they happen to be committed by persons
in high command, and that a general who
has seriously Numbered once should not
be allowed the chance of doing so again.
The deputation of ministers to the High
Commissioner in Cape Town the represen-
tations made and Sir r. Miners reply will
no doubt have an excellent effect upon re-
ligious bodies here The tendency of GER
tain sections of those bodies has been to
deprecate the war to regard Sir r. Miners
policy with anything but an approving eye,
and to believe that they had the religious
opinion of South Africa with them. The
latter idea is now conclusiyeiy shown to be
without foundation.
Admiral Dewey's Candidacy.
Admiral Deweys candidature for Presi-
Dental honors is arousing considerable in
terest. British Ministers and public men
will watch with sympathy a contest for the
Presidency between a Republican imperial
list like Mckinley and a Democratic i'm
perialist such as Admiral Dewey is believed
to be. What English public men do not
like even to discuss is the possibility of a
Bryan at the White House. The Spec
tatcr" says today: by rather an odd
series OF chances 1t happens that the pivot
of the next election will be the relation OF
the United States to England.
The silver section OF the Democrats is
convinced with some reason that London
is devoted to the gold standard and sus-
poets against reason that il always paying
money TO bride American advocates of the
system. Bryan and his supporters, there
fore, desire to dlscredit England. They
Will. there is no doubt, say savage things
about us. and perhaps pass resolutions in
the Democratic convention calling upon
the Executive TO intervene strongly in be-
half of Kruger. We shall have shower
of hard words, and il may be even diff
cult and perplexed argument TO maintain
through Lord Pauncefote and the Foreign
Office"
The Spectator" adds that the better
opinion of the United States, including
considerable majority of the population,
is, ON the whole, friendly TO the British,
and there is no love for the Beers as
Beers in America any more than there
is on the Continent of Europe, and that
at heart neither nation desires anything
except TO trade in peace.
Prof Mivarts article in the North
American Review for April is much dis
cussed in the Protestant press. though the
Catholic press is silent. II is regarded by
the former as ellnigh irrefutable state
ment of the case for scientific truth as
against the authority of Rome Particular
stress is laid on Prof. Mivarts conclusion
viz, that the Roman Catholic Church
must tolerate the Transforming process OF
evolution. with respect to many dogmas
or sink by degrees into an effete and in
significant body. composed of ignorant per-
sons. mass of women and children and
number Of mentally effeminate men" By
q curious coincidence, almost simultane
ously with the appearance OF Prof. Miyarts