New-York tribune., 1901-02-12
LATEST LONDON COMMENT
TIE DECLARATION or DISBELIEF TO
BE MADE BY KING EDWARD.
MRS. MAVERICKS cAsE-ENTERIc FEVER
N SOUTH AFRICAN CAMPS INCREASING.

IN SOUTH AFRICAN CAMPS INCREASING.
copyright: 1901: BY The Nev-YorlS Tsibunep
IBY TO THE TRIBUNEl
London. Feb. l., i a. m.--One Of the most in
-erestng incidents in connection with the open
ing Of Parliament Thursday viii be the
formal declaration by the King Of his disbelief
N the characteristic doctrines of the Roman
catholic faith. Any person processing the
Popish religion is incapable Of inheriting or
possessing the crown, and the sovereign is bound
10 make the required declaration either on the
throne in the House Of Lords in the presence of
both houses at the first meeting of the first
Parliament after the accession or at the corona
tfon whichever shall happen first. This curious
survival OF a less tolerant age acquires particu-
lar significance on the present occasion, owing
N the fact that the Earl Marshal who will direct
the ceremonies at Westminster, is himself one of
the most devout Roman Catholics in England.
Though the profession Of the Protestant faith
e essential on behalf Of the sovereign. there is
no religious test 10 exclude Roman Catholics
from any office under the crown, except the
Lord CHARACTERISTIC and the Lord Lieutenancy
81 Ireland. In 1891 Mr.. Gladstone, then in op-
position, introduced A bin in the House of Com
mons specifically 10 remove those last remaining
disabilities. and the measure was dubbed at the
time by its opponents 'the Rpon and Russell
was Mr.. Gladstones desire 10 make the Marquis
Of Ripon, who had been Viceroy of India, Lord
lieutenant Of ireland, and Sir Charles Russell.
as he then was Lord Chancellor. The measure
was defeated but Sir Charles Russell before his
death enhanced the reputation attaching To the
Office Of Lord Chief Justice OF England.
Iondoners were startled yesterday by the an
nounoement from New-York that Mrs. May
was given 10 the report in official quarters, and
81 has since been authoritatively declared TO be
without solid foundation. Presumably the report
was based on a rumor that il was the intention
of the King to celebrate his accession 10 the
throne by act of royal clemency TO such Of
his subjects as are now incarcerated in prison in
the United Kingdom. Nothing is. however
known AT the Office OF the Home Secretary of
any such intention at this time. The Maybrick
case was the cause oelebre of its day. Then
the Prince OF Wales was understood TO have ar
rived at the conclusion that Mrs. Maybrick was
8 victim OF a miscarriage of Justice, but any
opinion which the Prince Of Wales may have had
VIII not affect the action Of the King. For in
stance, Edward VII as Prince Of Wales was an
ardent supporter Of the bin to legalize the mar
riage Of a man with his deceased wife's sister.
1t does not at all follow. however. that the royal
opinion on this question viii be embodied in a
Government bill.
An Official paper Just published gives some par
tculars Of interest regarding tenders received for
certain bridges on the Uganda railway. The con-
tract, il VIII be remembered. was given 10 Am
s1can firm, and the figures explain the reason.
Nine English firms bid for the full number OF
bridges required. and the best offer that came
from any Of them was 10 place the bridges on
shipboard IN sixty weeks al Price Of fl5 5s
a ton. The firm that won the contract. the
American Bridge Company, offered TO have the
bridges erected in forty-six weeks and the price,
delivered at any British port, was 10 be fl0 6s.
ton. Between two euch offers hesitation
was impossible
The long promised adaptation OF Marion Craw-
fords novel, "A Cigarette Makers Romance"
was successfully produced by Martin Harvey at
The Court Theatre last night.
Prom the casualty lists issued by the War
ofce last evening il would appear that enteric
fever is the increase in South Africa On
Saturday at Springfield alone there were sixteen
dangerous cases, while there were eighteen
dangerous cases at Kroonstad, sixteen at How
isk. twelve At Floemfontein. and so on.
l. y. F.