The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-03-11
LONDON NEWS AND GOSSIP.
The Queens Attitude Toward the
Irish Surprtses the EmnIrc

| inspiration or formal convention, the
Queen has driven through some of those
business streets which give to London its
position as the key of her Empire There
was no jubilee pageant to bring her. She
just came among her people in their work
a-day world, and no sovereign was ever
| greeted with more rapturous or spon-
taneous outburst of devotion.
But this visit is only one of a series of
popular surprises which the Quen has
crowded into the last few days Without
suggestion from the outside so far as
the world knows. she has thrown over her
visit TO the Riviera and announced her fn-
tention TO visit Ireland instead She has
also, again without official instigation,
commanded that, in recognition of Irish
bravery in South Africa. Irish shamrock
+ sha!i be worn by Irish soldiers on ST
Patricks Day, and has allowed her Min
/ isters to announce in Parliament the ere
alton of a regiment of Irish Guards to take
their place alongside those favored Brit
! ish regiments, the Grenadiers. Cold
! streams, and Scots.
| These momentous royal happenings,
! crowded one upon another thus, in land
where sovereignty has long been a thing
remote from the daily life OF the people.
| have raised all kinds of imaginings. II
has been suggested among serious men
| that they are intended to herald the
/ Queens abcication in favor Of the Prince
of Wales. 1t may be so, but it is far mere
likely that, hale though aged as she is.
the Queen will only relinquish her power
with her life. That would certainly be
her peoples wish.
Like every English man and woman. Her
. MlfA hos
spectacle Of one mute corner in rejoicing
empire in South Africa. Irish soldiers lead
her army to victory with splendid devotion
and at terrible cost of life. At home. in
ireland. and even in Parliament. Irishmen
remain not mute alone but openly allied
with England's enemies. With politics the
Queen cannot intermeddle, but all that
Qreenly tact and consideration can do she
means to do to remove Ireland's Ill will.
The presence of her son, the Duke OF Con-
naught. in military command in Ireland is
another incentive. She will visit Dublin
during Holy Week, the most solemn sea-
son OF the year for Roman Catholics, aud
Mr. Redmonds declaration in the House of
Commons on Thursday night is accepted
as foreshadowing the chivalrous respect
with which the Nationalist will greet her.
Nc one supposes that Irelands wounds of
a century will be healed by csc royal
step in the right direction. which must
make it easier for British ministers OF the
future to 60 fuller measure OF justice to
Ireland's political aspirations
Many Englishmen even those who a
month ago expected another year of war
fare in South Africa, are today inclined to
accept President Kruger's prediction that
the struggle probably will end within the
next month. In talking to LondoB bankers
10 81 49,
showed that he shared this expectation OF
an early close of the war President Kru-
ger talks as If he expected this ending to
be brought about by arbitration or inter
vention. Nobody moving among English
men can find evidence of their readiness to
acquiesce in either course. Leonard Court
ney's Cancellation committee and other
bodies are busy working to that end. lec-
turing and pamphleteering throughout the
country. and they have the Rev. Cron-
wright Schreiner as their campaign speaker
His South African associations should
command for him respectful hearing
anywhere. most of all in this land of free
dom of speech but his meetings at Edin-
burgh. Dundee. and Gateshead this week
have either been broken up by rowdies or
abandoned in fear of violence.
This war fever, no doubt will pass over.
but the predominating voice of England ,
and Scotland at this moment undoubtedly
calls for unconditional surrender and an
nexation. Liberal member of Parlia- /
ment whose own associations are anti !
imperialist, said yesterday that a careful |
canvass of opinion, even on the Opposition |
side OF the House. reveals an emphatic /
majority there in favor of the same de- |
cisive policy. not because of any vindic !
tive feelings toward the Beers, but be- !
cause of the conviction that a peaceful CO.
operation of Dutch and British in South |
Africa on the basis OF perfect equality is
impossible so long as the Boer oligarchy |
in power.
What English opinion has yet to realize, |
however, is that, in pursuing this policy |
of Britonizing the Transvaal and the Free |
State, they may have to face the opposi- |
ton of many of those very Outlanders in
whose behalf England has taken uH arms.
Nowhere has Downing Street rule BEEN less
nowhere is it less lowell than /
in South Africa. and the ideal Tory policy |
Of the Transvaal and Free State as Grown
colonies under direct and minute control
from London, would be regarded BY most
South Africans as no better and probably
worse than Pretoria rule. Mr.. Rhodes
himself would seem to realize this, for in
of his arrival in England in
a few weeks time, his solicitor. Mr. |
iiawksley. hints in a letter 10 the; press
that Mr. Rhodes favors a scheme that
would leave the republics their flags. and
Mr.. Hawksley. who is himself. or was. a
Radical candidate for Parliament, ella borates
his view thus: THE minister who, at the
conclusion of the war could formulate
provisions or conditions safeguarding
British interests. yet preserving the re-
,ubHcs and measure of independence for
heir peoples, would. indeed, be worthy
# the title of statesman"
But how? That is the question. Min
sters themselves are keeping discreet ST
ence until the factors OF the situation are
more clearly defined.
Little comment of note is made upon to-
lays news of what the Times CORE
pendent in New York fatty calls the wreck
ng of the Hay Pauncefote Treaty regard
ng the Nicaragua Canal. Lord Salisbury
imself is probably as ready as he ever was
o make concessions, but one hears that |
Their ministers have expressed themselves
on broad international grounds |
ganst what they deem the Amercaniza-
ion of a canal which should be for the free |
commerce of the whole world at all times |
he views of Canada and Australasia. as
aciic powers OF the future, cannot more
YER be neglected in Downing Street The
hambers of commerce here are likely TO |
axe the question up. and can bring great
ressure TO bear upon the ministry.
Dcmocrncy's Opportunity.