The St. Louis Republic., 1902-12-21
Doubts Thai Fight Over Education
Bill Should BE Called Re
li%ious Controversy.
SITUATION IN SOUTH AFRICA.
No Apparent Friendship Between
the British and Dutch Races
There, but England Hopes
1t Will Develop.
EY HERBERT PAUL,

| SPECIAL HY CABLE TO THE NEW YGRE
HERALD AND THE ST. LOUIS REPUBLIC.
London, Dec. 20.-tCopyright, 1892 Par
! lament. after a !aborious session of nearly
nine months stands proroGued till Febru-
airy L.
Since the adjournment in August to Octo-
her. the "dJcatiun bill. now the eiucatio
act has been the principal subject of de
bate. as it is likely to be for IA long time
hence, the chief topic of political discussion
in the country. l;ut in the Kings speech.
| which is by no means Il short one. it oc-
! CunleS only a few lines. which expires the
/ pious hope that the religious controversy
| If a controversy about religion can be called
| reliEiouS-wll soon Subsiic.
| The act cannot come into operation h"
| fore March l6. and the day may h" further
postponed by the Government for any period
| not exceeding eighteen months. 50 that il,
| as in the circumstances is not impossible
/ any flaw should be discovered. there will
| be time for an amending bill.
BISHOPS GAME OF GRAB.
But the passions the bill has excited are
not of a kind easily allayed. and the last
successful move of the bishops III the
game of grab is resented no less by lib
eral churchmen than by nonconformsts.
Ministers. however, can claim to have
carried their bill with few substantial
changes and Mr. Ealfours tact in conduct
ing the measure through the House OF COM
mons has been universally acknowledged.
The rest OF the Kings speech deals COM
prehensively with foreign and colonial af-
fairs 1t requires a mental effort to rcailZe
that the conclusion of the South African
war has been reached since the meeting of
Parliament, and therefore, receives notice
from the throne.
That all sections of the population in South
Africa may live together in friendship with
each other and loyalty to the crown is the
wish every Englishman must share, but if
the British and Dutch races i'll Cape Colony
are now imbued with sentiments of mutual
affection. it must be admitted they are re-
markably successful in assembling their
love. As, however, the High Commissioner
could discern before the war that apparent
friendliness concealed real enmity. so the
Colonial Secretary may be able to perceive
that superficial hatred is the mask for a
profound essential union.
Mr.. Chamberlain's visit to South Africa,
where it is expected his arrival will be fol-
lowed by a general amnesty. is coupled in
the Kings speech with the colonial confer
ence held at the time of the coronation. OF
that conference nothing practical has yet
come though there have been ominous
hints it may be used as a weapon against
free trade. = s..
CHAMBERLAIN'S PART.
Mr. Chamberlain's political friends and
some political opponents expect he will put
matters straight in the new colonies. His
opinion upon their financial condition and
prospects is sure to be worth having, nor
is he likely to sympathiZe with such an in
sane idea as the suppression of the Dutch
language. but in the self-governing colonies
any attempt at interference would be
scented. Cape Colony. in particular. would Z,
be brought to the verge, perhaps, of re- !
bellion.
Happily, Mr.. Chamberlain is a practical |
man. and if he does not make speeches. he !
may do something toward bringing discord !
ant elements into harmony.
His Majesty's Ministers congratulate te J
themselves upon having put an end to the |
grave inconveniences resulting from the ,
grant of excessive bounties the produc-
ton of sugar. !
From the free traders point of view. all
bounties are excessive, but these particular
bounties had the incidental advantage of !!
sugar for the British consumer.
The paragraph about Venezuela is judi
ciously cold and colorless. But. whatever
the German Emperor may intend, the Brit
sh Cabinet would be glad enough to settle
the dispute by arbitration.