The Saint Paul globe., 1900-06-03
material failures the logic of the Liberal
protest is not quite apparent.

material failures the logic of the Liberal
protest is not quite apparent.
Lord Rosebery's latest utterance, con.
tanned in his message OF congratulation
to the Plymouth Mercury on the &C.
casion of its fortieth anniversary, as
cabled to the Associated Press, comes
rather as a disappointment as 1t HAD
been heralded as being a manifesto of
his views and plans, instead of which he
merely repeated the generalisms con-
tanned in his recent public speeches.
These might either indicate a desire to
assist the cause OF imperialism in the
role Of private individual or achieve the
same end by the active leadership OF q
political faction.
While the letter to the Mercury in no
way exposes his hand or prevents him
from consistently adopting either of these
alternatives, there is reason to believe
that Lord Rosebery is only biding his
time. If the internal matters of the Lib
eral party resolve themselves as he ex-
poets, he hopes he will be able to lead
the opposition when the government goes
to the country. But in this event the anti
imperialists will be able to form another
faction.
CHINA AND BOXERS.
China is a matter of public interest here,
yet the ravages Of the Boxers and the
ties nave scarcely caused a fiutter of ex-
citement, for Lord Salisbury, the Asso-
ciated Press learns, does not believe that
the latest outbreak will result in anything
serious. 1t will bring up acutely the ques-
ton of the partition of China, probably
at present considered too remote for any
expression of opinion. The attitude of
British opinion may be described as moth
ing less than phegmatic.
&c 11f+ in, Of
Hector Macdonald, our minister" said
one official responsible for the conduct
of these affairs. He is empowered to
requisitiOn the men and guns he needs
from the China squadron. All the minis
ters at PelIin seem to cooperate harmo-
niously. We know practically nothing of
the local conditions existing there and
never heard Of the Boxers till the other
day. 1 am inclined to believe we shall
not hear of them again in the near fu-
ture.
Lord Salisbury's weakest point. But, as
a matter of fact, England cannot have
any far East policy. The constant change
of government leaves nothing for the
foreign minister to do but to become an
oppOrtunist of the extreme type. With
Russia it is different She is an autocratic
power, whose foreign officer remains in
power as long as it pleaSeS the cZar.
During the lifetime of a ruler a consistent
policy can thus be carried out. In. Eng
land we have no such chance"
RUsSIA's INROADs.
This, perhaps, is the most truthful de-
scription of the British policy, or, rather,
lack of it, in the far East, ever given to
the public. The feeling among the Off
cials is that Russia's inroads on Japan's
prerogatives in Korea constitute a much
graver source of danger than the Boxer
outbreaks, though Korean matters have
temporarily ceased to figure prominently
in the press dispatches.
A colonial question which has come up
prominently during the last few days is
the reported desire of Newfoundland to
be federated with Canada. All the British
organs favor the project, but some of
them express doubt if the French-Cana-
dian premier will be willing to shoulder
the French share of the controversies.
Encouraged by the remarkable success
of the amateur charitable performances of
the past winter, London society women,
wearied Of other forms of excitement pro-
pose to appear on music stage, which
will not only afford themselves entertain
ment, but will give the public a chance
to view the fashionable gowns which are
ordinarily restricted to Ascot or the Sun
day park parades. The idea had its in
ception with a Mayfair modiste, anxious
to display costumes of her making. She
met hearty response from her fashiona-
BILE customers.