The times., 1901-06-02
LONDON NEWS AND GOSSIP.
Lord Milher Decidca THAT lie VIII
Return to south africa.

LONDON, June Lord Miner has
been the man of the week. with small
group the man to attack with the rest
the man to applaud, almost idohze.
though always at certain distance.
Ten days. ago it seemed quite possible
that SouthsAfrica would see him no more.
He had left Cape TOWN. broken in health,
dispirited, and none toosceftain of the at
titude toward his administration of the
British Ministry and the British people.
An entirely new aspect is now put upon
the whole situation. The voyage has
made new man of him. The warmth OF
his reception by the King and Lord SANS
bury and the greater part of the press
has banished' whatever thoughts he had
of resignation and he is now resolute 10
return to South Africa to set the new
Transvaal and Orange River colonies wen
on the road to self government.
The Daily News" the Manchester
Guardian" and the minority they repre-
sent among the Liberals refuse him all
couutenance, for his policy is to them
unadulterated Characterization. but Sir
Edward Grey, who may be regarded as
Lord Rosebery's special lieutenant in the
House of Commons. has this week de-
clared from a public platform that Lord
Miner and no 5one else should administer
the conquered territories. Lord Miner
then Will go back to Pretoria two months
hence, and this is his mandate as Of
ficially declared by Mr.. Chamberlain, to
lay broad and deep the foundations or q
united South Africa, as free, prosperous.
and loyal as the sister federations of Can
ada and Australia -
1t is thorny path, beyond all ques-
tomas thorny path as any British
proconsul ever trod, and Lord Miner
knows It, for he this week described the
forces against him in South Africa as
''panoplied hatred, insensate ambitions,
and invincible ignorance" One wonders
how Lord Durham would have Jared in
Canada, sixty years ago, If he had started
his mission of conciliation by pinning
such epithets to the French Canadians.
Mr.. Carnegie did the British people bet
ter service thar probably ne knew when
he planned his gift to the Scottish uni
versities. Before his 100000 donation
was talked about there seemed some lit
tie foothold for the fluent young protec-
tionists, ever eager to indoctrinate the
public through certain sections of the
press with the marvellous efficacy of
shipping bounties, import duties. and
preferential tariffs in beating off Amer
lean and German competition. Their
voices now are drowned in the demand
which Mr.. Carnegies gift has accentuated
for saner and more progressive educa-
tional methods.
In opening a new grammar school in
Derbyshire. yesterday. the Duke of De-
vonshire, as head of the Education De-
partment, openly invited rich English
men, and especially rich coal owners, to
follow Mr.. Carnegie's lead. another Min
lister, Mr.. Balfour, has gone step fur
ther, indicating schools of applied science
as the best object for pFvate-munificence
The Liberal leader, SirsH Csfnpbell-B Ban
herman, last night enforced the moral
Of Mr.. Carnegie's gift upon ap Edinburgh
platform. while today Lbrd George Ham
ilton, Secretary of State for India, in
letter explaining to the English steel mas
ter why American locomotives have got a
footing in India impresses Upon English
capitalists the need of keener chemical
research and thorough technical educa-
tion.
All these moral lectures, be it noted,
are addressed by Ministers or ex-Min-
listers to private benefactors The sug-
gestion that the Government should go to
Parliament and ask for the necessary
millions to do the work themselves would
be secuted as ridiculous A few weeks
only of the present war expenditure would
do much, for six million dollars is still
the nations weekly bill for South Africa
lHtEe Is tlO ulSBulSlnB the Satisfaction
Of imperialist circles here over the in
sular decisions of the United States Su-,
preme Court. Journalistic comments are
subdued5 partly because exuitatiou might
have pre1udicial effect upon American
opinion. partly because imperialism by
the majority of one judge seems to Eng
lishmen rather a slender reed to lean
upon. but outside the public prints where
talk is unrestrained, quiet qualification is
expressed that America shows these tend
encies to walk, II not hand in hand at
least along lines parallel with English i'm
perialism.
One Minister declared 1t to be the best
possible news for Anglo-Americanism and
the English-speaking world. Yet it pro-
yokes ether feelings. Some recall
with suspicion the point of Seth Lows
warning TO Engiishmen. as quoted by Mr..
Bryce, of the dangers of the omnipotence
OF the Briti2h Parliament from which
Congress is freed by legal checks. They
hint at the grave opportunities of corrup-
ton at home and tyranny abroad which
these new and stupendous powers place
in the hands of Congress, which is not now
free from charges of venality and decad-
ence.
There is note of alarm also in the
comments of those who believe that
South America is destined to become the
centre of intense international rivalries
ere long. America can now, they say.
hold Nicaragua and Mexico as England
holds India. They fear the effect of such
expansion upon her relations with Great
friends" says the Spectator today, will
say they have no desire for conluests.
We entirely believe them. Still the open
road produces traffic, and we have little
faith that anything will stand in the way
of the ambition of the commercial people
and community which longed for Texas
and might long for more. If we were Span
iards of Mexico or Central America we
should feel that the judges at Washing
ton had, however uuintentionally, made
the sky for US perceptibly more full Of
clouds