New-York tribune., 1901-04-28

GANIZATION - THE TEMPER
ANCE MOVEMENT.
Copyright; 1901: By The New-Yorfk Trbune)
tBE CABLE THE rRrBUNE.l
London April 27.-English politics are in a
transition stage where the unexpected may hap
pen any day. The chief safeguard against a
crisis in the relations of parties or ministers is
the South African war Important changes in
the leadership OF the Commons or the Premier
ship are deferred. while the slow but steady
progress Of British arms is maintained, and the
Liberals, while deriving partisan enjoyment from
harassing tactics and the cutting down of gov
erninent ma1orities. are not prepared to take up
the responsibility OF winding up a campaign
which the nation is bent upon finishing, even if
the cost Of the war be doubled and the entire
free trade system be abandoned. The govern
ment is in no danger, even If the ma jority fell
TO 80 last night, with 21 Nationalsts absent:
but, while its supporters be rallied with bet
ter whipping, the party lacks unity of direction
and strength of leadership, and there is intense
dissatisfaction among the old Tories over the
staleness Of ministers and the lack of efficiency
in the administration. The rumors of Cabinet
intrigues are groundless. but the diplomatic.
financial and military methods Of government
are exciting harsh criticism and distrust.
NJ Delcasses mission to st. Petersburg is not
than a ceremonial incident of the Russian
French alliance The futlity of the Anglo-Ger-
man agreement as a safeguard to British in
terests in China causes much deeper concern.
What Is going on in China Is not understood.
Apparently the powers cannot agree upon the
indemnity, and the foreign garrisons cannot be
withdrawn until the money is provided for
settling the enormous claims The court VIII
not return to Peking while foreign troops are
III o,,I 10 re ca6dlnd n
while with the heavy cost of military occupa-
ton. The theory that Japan is bent upon pro-
tecting the Yangtse viceroys and forcing war
upon Russia is considered fanciful by close OBJ
servers. What humates Englishmen is the
subordinate part their government is playing in
this momentous drama in the Far East.
The financial administration Of the govern
ment also is harshly criticised by the commercial
classes While Tory politicians are grateful to
Sir Michael Hicks-Beach for resisting the agtta-
ton for the withdrawal Of the Budget proposals,
they conscious that enormous industrial IN
terests have been alienated by the new
schedules. The Monmouth bye-election comes
inopportunely for the government, and will be
fought on the coal tax in community which
IS embittered by the burdens imposed upon the
mining industry and shipping interest. The
mining districts and shipping centres are pro-
foundly disturbed by what is described a tax
trading and commerce, and the coal eX-
porters are demanding the exemption of 100000
tons OF coal, covered by existing contracts. The
sugar schedules are causing confusion and stag
nation In many allied industries Sir Michael
Hicks -Beach's methods of borrowing have
caused offence among bankers. who complain
that the Rothschid and Morgan groups were
unduly favored with the control of half of the
loan. and that all nnanciers not in those power
ful syndcates We're left cut in the cold, when
the general public would have absorbed the en-
tire loan without aid from America or the Con-
tinent. This seems hypercritical. since there
was an obvious advantage in the announcement
that half of the loan had been taken when sub
scriptions for the remainder asked; but
British pride is hurt by the evidence that the
Treasury distrusted the patriotism and
sources OF the nation and had recourse to
powerful foreign syndicates for floating the loan
and borrowing abroad large scale. Sir
Michael Hicks -Beachs preferential allotments
TO foreign syndicates offer less ground for crit
icism than the hand to mouth method pre-
viously employed for financing great war
There is also much discomfort among military
reforuers over the feeble manner in which the
government is playing with the issue of army
reform raised in the last elections. Mr.. Win
ston Spencer Churchill, who is coming to the
front with long strides has proposed an amend
rnent to Mr. Brodrick's army resolutions, and
ma, hiring on pn important debate. He takes
the sensible view that the proposals for six
army corps will involve heavy expense for bar
racks and other arrangements. when there is
no rea son TO expect that recruits can be obtained
and the skeleton organizations filed out. He
therefore suggests postponement of the army
scheme until ouieter times. when something less
iusive and panicky can be worked out II his
views are shared by a considerable BODY OF
Conservatives the bottom will be knocked out
OF the government plan for army reorganization
Mr. Brodrick meanwhile. is plodding on in the
War Office He has acted with discretion in ap-
pointing a strong committee Of inquiry into the
methods of military education at Wooiwlch ana
Sandhurst and the processes OF obtaining army
commissions but his main scheme lot the re-
organization of the service remains unreal and
of doubtful utility.
The spring meetings of the nonconformist BODIES
have been largely attended this week Ihe YVES
leyans Congregationalists and Baptists nave
avoided discussion of the South AFRICAN war as
far as possible but missionaries, like the Rev
Walter Friend have Disseminated between an
enapire Of ,ngoisn and an empire of Christian
brotherhood and have deplored the lack OF IN
terest here in the appalling problem OF oeailhs
with and converting the black races or south
Africa DR. Dunning has been the most promi-
nent American speaker at these reheious as
sembes
Tomorrow will be Temperance Sunday IN the
Church Of England and hundreds of academic
sermon. will be preached on social reform. The
most remarkable phase Of the temperance move
rnent IS presented at Glasgow, where q public
house trust has been formed by many OF the
most practical reformers for the gradual intro
duction OF the Gothenburg system The Town
Council this week, under the influence OF total