The times., 1901-03-24
LONDON NEWS AND GOSSIP.
\ Fight to Finish Looked for in
south Africa

south Africa.
LONDON, March 23-A fight To the
bitter end at whatever cost. That is the
moral that the Ministry and their sup
porters draw from the abortive peace ne
gotiations I}eHt the Beers till they cry
enough is t6da3's demand. The spec
tator' CufOrces this view by asking What
would now berthe condition Of the United
States if the North had patched mp peace
with the South on their terms and not
on the only conditions which 'uloN'd ol
permanent peace.
Truth to tell. a large body of Mihis'e-
riaists rejoice at General Botha re
fusa, for they learned yesterday WIN
dismay that even Mr.. Chamberlain was
willing. firstly. to concede the use ol
Dutch talk in the courts and Leelslh7
ture, thus perpetuating upon the 1orth
and south banks of the Naal RIVER lhe
racial intrigues which paralyze progress
at Cape Colony, and, secondly, 10 pay
one million sterling for goods requsitloneo
by Beers from Beers, thus encouraslhs
the enemy in their resistance; and, third
ly. to exempt the Beers from the war taN'
thus throwing the cost of the war on
the lovalists and British taxpayers ana
making them pay for loans to place the
lists say that peace would be too dear
at such price They dread lest these
terms. though withdrawn, should form
basis for ultimate settlement.
Spring began this week according TO the
calendar, but the biting east winds, the
black trees, and the generally nipped con-
dition of things make it difficult to reaIlZe
the fact With the spring come doieiui
tales from the English farming countries
The calling out of the reserves Tor the
South African war, on the top of the gen
eral drift into the towns of recent years
has left the farmer IaboTless. Local news
papers are fun of advertisements Tor
farm iaborers, and not even the eNcep-
tionally high wages for England OF - per
week. with free cottage and garden prlhs
applicants. Many farmers, consequently
are compelled to do away with their udI-
ries Here and there is talk OF mix
famine. though tOwnsfOlk know "ell
enough that imported Swiss condensed
milk will fill any gaps in the supply. NOT
a few of the London dairy companies ao-
vertise in today's papers for milk iii the
counties round London.
Meanwhile the imports of cheese Dut-
ter, eggs, and bacon from the four cor
ners of the earth increase by leaps anu
bounds and the official Board of AgrlcuI-
ture yawns itself to sleep in Whitehall'
In the farming districts there linger
hopes that the Chancellor of the tlX-
chequer may yet. in his extremity Tor
money. be induced to tax imported wheat
in some way or other, but all such eApec-
tation has died out in serious political cir
Cles Imported sugar may, however, nave
10 bear a substantial part of the new tax
alton, and this week friends of the west
Indies here have been busy attempting
10 educate the public up to the notion
that the West Indies ought to be exempt
ed. so that the full weight of the duties
may fall upon the bountyfed products OF
France Austria. and Germany.
To quicken the Chancellor, Sir Neville
Lubbock, Chairman of the West Indian
Committee, uses the report OF the Chicago
Consul upon the beet sugar industry in
his district. as an evidence that the United
States, with Cuba. soon will supply all the
sugar the United States needs, and the
West Indies then will lose their foothold
in the only market where they compete
on equal terms with Germany and France.
He virtuously protests against a British
colony being left thus dependent on the
good will OF a foreign country, and urges
that one-eighth of a penny increase on
each pound Of sugar is little enough for
the British consumer to pay for the IN
dustrial welfare of those emeralds in the
crown the West Indian colonies. For all
that. the Chancellor will encounter stiff
political breezes if he does alight on
sugar for behind the free-traders in this
matter stand the huge industries depend
ent on cheap sugar.
English Liberalism is inclined to take a
81
policy. The Government has new edu-
cati0nal bill awaiting Parliament in which
the general authority for all schools will
be created on a nominated basis, each
county council nominating its school com
mittee. The Liberal party is expected to
oppose this with a proposal for directly
elected educational body In each county
with authority over all grades OF schools,
primary, technical. and secondary, body
elected solely for educational purposes, in
other words, universal school boards I'm
large areas Anglicanism would strenu-
ouSly resist, Of course, but Angiicanism
is showing itself to be dying force in
popular education.
Mr. Andrew Carnegie has been much in
the public mind here this week. One
huruorist today presents him with a new
and glorious outlet for his alleged forty
nine superfiuous millions You believe.
SAYS the humorist, that Anglo American
ism is built 10 run the world. Instead Of
frittering your money away In odd mil
lions plunge right off and build forty-nine
battleships TO be at the joint disposal of
England and America for philanthropic
and police purposes. So give AnglO-SaX-
onry control of the world. and get for
yourself a glory and fame which would
put very much I'm the shade Caesar,
Shakespeare, and the present Mr.. Andrew
Carnegie. It is" he adds. quite simple.
You have the money. Waltz right in and
scoop the pool" The suggestion rldicu-
lous as it is, opens up unpleasant sug-
gestions of the possible uses of the CO.
lossal private fortunes OF modern times.