The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-03-25

the semblance Of an attempt. by political
mansuvre, TO displace the Dutch from p0-
litical predominance in Cape Colony.
The ministry have begun TO look after
heir friends. and as an inevitable sequel
4 shrewd politicians scent a coming disso-
! luton This week they have given a sol
/ 10 the agricultural lsborer by agreeing Il
q bill admitting him 90 compensation for
! accidents. while under the guise Of a new
3 elementary school code they have squeezed
+ in another dole TO church distinct from
+ uusectarian board schools. This means
says the parliamentary quldnuncs that it,
as Lord W0lseley predicts. Lord Roberts
hoisJs the British flag over Pretoria on
May H. they viii dissolve Parliament in
the hope that their opponents being lead
+ erless and without a united policy. they
may sweep the constituencies on q wave
Of popular eXultati0u Some even say that
Mr. Chamberlain has up his sleeve as a
further bait for the electorate a grandiose
+ scheme Of imperial federation. giving to
Canada Australasia and South Africa
when federated, seats in an imperial cOun-
. ell 10 be associated in consultation with the
Cabinet for the decision Of imperial mat
fers. Lord Salisbury has certainly this
week promised serious consideration" to
proposals OF this nature. submitted by the
Imperial Federation Defence Committee.
1T Is also admitted mat the armed Delp
given 10 the Empire in South Africa by
Canada and Australasia must find its Sc
quel sooner or later in some form of repre-
sentstion in imperial councils while the
recent speeches Of Sir Wilfrid Lsurier and
this week s message from the New Zealand
Government to Lord Salisbury. declaring
New Zealand unable 10 approve any meas
ure Of independence for the Boer Repub-
lies. are taken as indicating that the colo
MES themselves expect to take a fuller
share in the responsibilities Of Empire
The imperial War Office has, moreover
this week gone one step further in the di-
rectiOn OF military federation by Offering
ia commissions TO Australians in the
British infantry and Royal artillery regi-
ments while In is expected that the repa-
trlation OF the Royal Canadian Regiment,
on the lines suggested by the Canadian
Government will create a new military
link between Canada and the Empire
These and many similar measures Of
imperial cooperation. all point in one
direction. but Mr. Chamberlain has vet 10
live down the ill-repute OF his abortiye
imperial ZOllverein proposals, and the
English nation is hardly likely TO be eager
TO embark on strange seas of Imperialism
under his pilotship. Moreover, the Liber-
ais OF imperialistic stamp. such as Lord
Rosebery. Sir Edward Grey and probably
at lease one-half Of the Liberal party
would justly resent any attempt TO make
party capital Of such a national question
on the eve Of a general election.
Canada further tariff preference. an
nounced today. is gratefully received but
there is not the remotest chance Of such
reciprocity in the way OF British tariff dis
elimination against the United States and
other countries as the Canadian ministry
seem 10 hope for. England knows too well
the strength which free trade and the pol
icy Of the open door" give to her Empire
memorable sale Of rare books take
place at the Hotel Drouot. In Paris. next
week being 300 works from the library
Of Guyot de NilleneuVe the former Presi-
cent Of the Society Of French Bibliophiles {
IL comprises the cream Of the library Of
Nilieneuve's father. the Comte de Montali-
vet, the well-knoWn Minister Of Louis
Philippe. and includes a Book OF Hours. ex- 4
quisitely adorned with the finest NINA /
lures OF the period II was a present from
Henry ~ to the beautiful Henriette De
Balzsc Marquise de Verneuil The sale
also includes Bossuet's original edition Of
the Historic des Variations des Eglises .
Protestautes, with corrections and addi-