Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-03-17

unauthorized advisers of the public seem
to be inclining. But 1T will not do. These
gentlemen forget the Kaffirs, though that
1t not astonishing when so very few people
bear that factor of the problem in mind
less they have individual knowledge and
experience Of South Africa. Yet it is a fac
tor Of tremendous weight now, and assured
~ 1t Will grow heavier continually, as the
blacks not only multiply but gather wealth
and knowledge and power. Those best &C
quainted with the circumstances are least
able to guess what the future of South
Africa will be. But meantime to think of
diSarmng the farmers would be monstrous,
If the notion were seriously entertained.
The unbroken tribes Of Kaffirs, Basutos,
Swazis Zulus, Barolongs may BE con
trolled, as they have been hitherto. But
how could the thousands Of black servants,
the myrads of loose and masterless men
about the veldts, be restrained from out
nlunition always ready? The more one
locks into the problem the more difficult it
appears.
Funds for the War.
The budget is pretty much what people
expected. It Is not heroic and it is not
humdrum- 1t does not strike one an ex-
cepdonally happy blend of the qualities in
dtcated by either of the words. Yet it has
Its redeeming virtues of frank recognition
Of a crisis far from accurately appraised in
the autumn of 1899. The chancellor of the
exchequer finds himself face to face with
situation which he did not anticipate in
October last when the war broke out.
Neither, it is only fair to remember, did
any of his colleagues. At that time he
asked for and obtained fS, 900, 600 by way of
meeting military expenses, and the antici-
patton was airily entertained that the war
closed on the 31st of this month Since
then further sum of f13, 600, 600 has been
voted, and now 100000 has been voted.
The total expenditure thus estimated, in
nd Rfy,tr of to 60.
the campaign in South Africa and the de-
fensive preparations at home, though Sir
Michael Hicks-Beach distinctly says this
may be insufficient.
beers Share of the Debt.
In October the chancellor of the ex-
chequer expressed the opinion that the
Transvaal was able. and should be called
upon, to pay reasonable share of the ex-
penses caused by the conflict. To that
opinion he adhered last evening, and it met
with the approval of the house But a
good deal has happened since October and
Sir Michael does not regard the capacity of
the Transvaal to bear the cost of the war
appeared to him in the autumn Whether
the chancellor intends to impose his thirty
five million loan or his eight million loan
on the two Boer provinces has been much
discussed, though circumstances and the
chanceliors speech point to the eight mil
lions as the Beers portion of the war debt
Military Drill In Schools.
Sir James Ferguson's motion, affirming
that boys of school age should be instruct
ed in military drill is to be brought for
ward when the house of commons goes
into committee on the civil service estt-
mates. The member for Northeast Man.
chester will urge that school boys drill
is highly expedient for the physical and
moral development of the youth of the
country. and for the Of
tonal defenses. Thanks to the lessons
taught by the war, and to the enmity of
Europe, the motion tending it does to a
revolution in national sentiment and policy,
may not be so strenuousy opposed as it
would otherwise have been. That section
of the liberal party which is inspired
rather by the party traditions of the past
than by the realities and the necessities of
the present, which is therefore as unpro-
gressive as high and dry toryism, has
hitherto resisted all attempts at compul-
sorry military drill in schools. In such pro-
posals it has seen the thin edge of mill
tarism. Its suspicion has been shared by
a public resolute against CONSUMPTION, and
the permanent class ascendency to which
CONSUMPTION tends. The nation, however,
now perceives that" the physical energies
of our British youths had better be de-
yeloped in way that may tend to secure
the safety of the commonwealth than en-
tirely concentrated on pastimes.
Underground Railways.
Another link was forged last week in
the chain Of underground railway commu-
nication in London by the opening of the
extension of the City and South London
line to Moorgate street. This section of
railways is in some respects the most re-
markable that has ever been constructed
certainly in London. 1t pierces the very
heart of the city, passes under portion
of the Royal Exchange and of the Bank of
England, proceeding below all the main
arteries of traffic connecting the east with
the west. The Royal Exchange station,
the principal rallying center of passengers,
is q curiosity In its way. 1t IL situated i'm.