New-York tribune., 1901-09-29
NEWS OF TWO CAPITALS.
LONDON.
LEGAL oUIBBLING OVER PERPETUAL
BANISHMENT' FOR BOERS.
INTELLECTUAL ACTIVITY PARALYZED BY
DEPRESSION OVER THE wAR-NEWs OF
THE THEATREs-ARTIsTs RE-
TURNING TO TOWN.

TURNING TO TOWN.
ecopyr1ght; 1905 BY The Nev-York TriOune)
IBY CABLE TO THE TRIBUNEI
London, Sept. 2S-Lawyers are bewildered by
questions arising from the sequels to the tech
ncal end of the war, which declared by
Lord Roberts to be virtually about a year
ago. The date having been settled by proclama-
tion It was necessary TO make example Of
Boer officers who had not surrendered before
September IS Ten prisoners have been formal
" exiled from South Africa by the military
court and forbidden ever to return to the British
dorninions there. The lawyers are asking
whether any military tribunal has the power to
proclaim perpetual banishment from self-gov-
erning dependencies of the crown. and whether
a decree Of this kind will remain valid after the
substitution of civil for martial law. This pen
slty is imposed by a military court without re-
lease OF the prisoners from the ordinary fate
of confinement under guard at St. Helena, Cey-
lon or Bermuda until the close of the war, when
they will pass under the ban of perpetual exile.
II is considered doubtful whether the decree
OF banishment can be enforced except with
legislative sanction with adequate political
authority. The military argument is that guer
ria leaders remaining obstinately in the field
will be certain TO make trouble after the close
of hostilities when the military prisons are
opened and the Boer prisoners are released.
and consequently it is a wise safeguard TO shut
then. out Of South Africa altogether These
political exiles. however. will have the right to
an asylum in any foreign country. and they
cannot be taken from German other ships;
they cannot be kept out of Portuguese terri
tory and when once there, they will be able to
recruit bands Of raiders for a renewal of the
war.
Neither Mr.. Chamberlain nor the ministry
recourse to a proclamation means of end
ing the war and in following it with DEGREES Of
banishment by a drumhead court martial Yet
Mr. Chamberlain can afford to laugh over the
legal clubbing. and Mr.. Balfour can go on
placidIy with his golf, for the Lanark election
has shown that Iiberlism is system of or
ganized feuds and that the government is not
exposed to effective criticism from a vignant
Opposition.
Tragic as is the fate of South Africa, with |
en- irrepressible war OF races. inglorious |
British campaign with unceasing mortality and
concentration camps where women and chill |
dren are dying in swarms. the Liberals con- |
slider the farcical conduct of the Opposition a !
timely and patriotic exhibition, and the govern |
ment is carried Hstiessly as a comedy of |
political manners. The country. moreover, seems |
content with what is going There is out |
spoken criticism of the appointments OF COM |
rnanders in three army corps: the charge that |
General Butler ordered after Colenso the evacu- |
alton of Ladysnith under discreditable condi- |
tions is renewed by THE Spectator" and the |
ministers are reproached for not allowing Lord |
Kitchener free hand and for neglecting to re
inforce him with rough riders, fit for the work |
Of hunting down guerrillas; but these murnurs
Of dissent make little impression.
The Cup races are a godsend for the news
papers, which have seldom found the field Of
Continental diplomacy equally barren The /!
Times" which sets the style for dulness, is
even forced to-day to fall back upon Abdul |
Hamtd for a leader. There could be surer
indication of drouth in European news. Do |
rnestic affairs are equally commonplace. The |
Kings arrival at Balmoral the election of a |
new Lord Mayor of London the temperance |
Of Mr. Asquith among the Liberals in Fifeshire |
and the laying Of the foundation stone OF me- |
mortal cloisters at Charterhouse School. Co |
dalring 10 old Carthusians who have fallen in |
South Africa. are the chief events of to-day. |
General Baden-P Powell being the master or cere-
monies at the last function.
There are few subjects under discussion in the |
press. The changes are still rung upon Aneri- |
can competition in the steel trade, and CEN
trallized movements in the copper and tobacco
industries.
Mr. Arthur Chamberlain has introduced new |
licensing proposals at Birmingham. which are
perance men.
The street paving contracts at Westminster |
have created a sharp controversy rather than |
a public scandal. The gent-General of West |
ern Australia, whose Jarrah and Karri blocks |
have been generally used in the streets of Lon
don, has made a vigorous onslaught upon the !
award of the paving contract to the American
Red Gum Company, and a thorough investiga-
ton by the Westminster City Council will |
follow.
There is little life in public controversies, even
the extremists of the Church Congress, meet |
ing next week at Brighton. to have pro-
claimed a hollow truce and Mr.. Morley, Sir
Henry Campbell -Bannerman, Mr.. Asquith and |
Sir Edward Grey in their approaching cam
paign in Scotland are only likely to fight over
again the faction feuds of distracted Liberalism.
The depression caused by wearisome war
Seems TO paralyze all intellectual activities.
The Haymarket, and Mr.. wyndhams are now
the only important theatres unopened. The
Princess's will try next week the experiment of
reducing the price Of the stalls to shillings.
and other seats proportionately. The play Sc
lected is 1.-The Sin of a Life" founded upon
ouida's Wanda; and Cooper Cliffe Kate
Rorke and Janette Steere will try their hands at
what is called strong emotional drama Other
theatres are doing fairly well at the old prices.
me stalls being freely "papered" whenever
necessary. Mr.. Cartons 1.-The Undercurrent"
has been greatly compressed for the Criterion.
Mr.. Herbert Waring is rehearsing Under the
Red Kobe as a substitute at the Imperial for
A Man Of His Word" and 1.-The Whirl of the
Town has been subjected to hurricane Of re-
vision Sherlock Holmes" is drawing well at
the Lyceum. but MIR. Gillette is forced TO raise
his voice In order TO be heard, and the mys-
teries Of fnelodrarna are ran5ared frankIv OH