The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-01-28
LONDON newsstand GOSSIP
Political Activity Preceding the Re-
assembling of Parliament
The Ministerial Organs suddenly
Cease Their CIamor for Certain
in the Liberal Party's Ranks
Lord Rosebcry and Mr.. Morley.

LONDON. Jan. 27.-London is waking up
politically at the end of this week. in view
of the reassembly of Parliament next Tues
day. but so long as the war lasts no poll
tics but war politics will be taken seriously.
Now that the real working politicians are
coming again to close quarters, the hys-
terra has almost disappeared from the
English press. The ministerial organs.
which week ago were hcwling in turn for
the heads OF MIR. Balfour and Lord Lans
downe, and fer the call OF Lord Rosebery
TO Office as Conservative Minister. have
grown strangely dumb. So long, in fact. as
the government show that they have really
reused themselves TO bring the war to the
speedest possible conclusion, they will
carry Parliament and the country with
them. and when the war is done with ard
the British flag flies over Pretoria they
are expected in many well-informed quar-
tiers to call on general election. promising
recognized and reformed army and trust
ing for success to the leaderless and in
coherent state of the Liberal party.
The reality Of the line Of cleavage in the
Liberal party is made more clear than
ever this week by the speeches of Lord
Rosebery and Mr.. Morley. Clean up your
own mess and proceed scientifically, as
German would. to make your fighting ma
chine equal to the work of the empire,
and l will do nothing TO embarrass you
while you are doing it, That is in eff
feet. Lord Rosebery's attitude toward the
government Mr.. Morley's attitude is
rather, Clear out; the sooner the better.
and give place TO men not drunken with
Imperialism, who will give us back in
South Africa the peace which should never
have been broken"
Mr.. Moriey's strength.
1t Will probably be found when Parlia-
ment meets that Mr.. Morley viii marshal
at most thirty supporters, and perhaps
fifty 1rishmen in the House of Commons
who will go the utmost lengths TO defeat
the ministry. The rest of the Liberal
party will follow Lord Rosebery's tactics
and as the great mass Of the ministerial
lists Will support the government they I
seem safe enough in the saddle
This Rosebery and anti-Rosebery. or I
rather imperialist and anti-imperialist, line .
of cleavage in the Liberal ranks shows it. /
self in many painful ways. For instance. /
Lord Rosebery is being practically driven |
out of his long-held presidency OF the
Eighty Club. one of the fighting organiza-
lions of Liberalism, and, on the motion
of Sir William Harcourt's son. Mr.. Camp
bell BanneTman is to take his place. The
latter has hitherto tried 10 sit on the fence
between the TWO factions. and some now
suggest that by accepting the Eighty Club
presidency he merely tries in his osnny
Scotch way to keep Sir William HsrcouTt
from forming a party of his own.
Then, in Scotland, Lord Rosebery's own
land grave differences have arisen between
Lord Rosebery and the official Liberal
leaders; altogether, the Liberal machine
seems in a bad way. Never had sane,
progressive Liberalism a finer chance than
in England today, but the heart has been
eaten out of it by the personal jealousies
and chickering's growing more intense each
year since Mr.. Gladstone left.
The Nicaragua Canal.
The attempt Of one or two New York
correspondents to arouse English feeling
over the supposed intention OF the Senate
10 pass the Nicaragua Canal bill without
reference TO England's suscepubilities has
fallen fiat Today the Spectator" repeats
its plea of eighteen months ago for Eng
lands voluntary withdrawal from the Clay
ton -Bulwer treaty, provided that the canal
be open on equal terms to all nations al
peace with the United States. and urges
that British trade would greatly benefit By
the canal, especially If held by friendly
neutral power. Moreover, Canada will not
oesire TO block the way of the canal. which
is in the interests of the whole empire.
4 Dark Literary Week
In literary circles this has been the
blacklist week in the memory of middle
aged men. Mr.. Ruskin, of course passed
years ago from public gaze but he re-
manned, With Meredith and Swinburne. as
living links with all that was great in the
Victorian era Keen regret is expires ed
that his dying wishes should preclude his
burial in Westminster Abbey. which was
desired. Mr.. Blackmore unlike
Mr.. Ruskin. lived for English people almost |
entirely through his writings. in fact,
through one Devonshire novel. Lorna
poone, which has gone through forty edi- ,
tons. George Stevens. on the o her hand,
has died almost on the threshold of fame, !
attained in way only possible under the ,
changes which the past decade has made
in English journalism. He succeeded in
proving literature not necessarily divorced
from journalism.
Fever In the Army.
The ravages OF eDteric fever among the
besieged garrison in Ladysmith are at
trating much attention here to the reports
Of Prof Wright and other eminent
medical surgeons upon typhoid inocula- /
tions in India. Last year IL 900 cases
were under observation, 2S35 Of which ,
had been inoculated. OF the non-inocu- :
lated 20 per cent have since contracted !
typhoid; Of the inoculated the percentage
was Os5 per cent. The death rate from
typhoid In the two classes has been OBS
per cent and OF per cent, respectively, not
very striking differences at first sight. vet !
IL these relations are pre- /,
served, TO the saving in the British army
in India alone OF 200 lives and ]. 600 cases
Of typhoid per annum II must be remem-
bered that NEGOTIATIONS mostly are per-
formed upon young and unseasoned re- .
cruits. lDocuiations upon a large scale
are being carried out among the British
troops for South Africa. We ought soon
o have data for final judgment How vital
Is the matter TO England is seen from the
TACT that 81 per cent Of all the deaths in
he army in India are due to typhoid
which under the name of camp fever usu-
lily accounts for as many casualties as
he bullet or the bayonet during actual |