New-York tribune., 1902-03-23
NEWS OF TWO CAPITALS
LONDON.
CORONATION THE ONLY AGREEABLE
THEME.
POPULAR PROPOSAL OF KING TO FEED THE
POoR-PARLIAMENT JADED AND
sTALE-AFFAIRs ON THE
CONTINENT
Copyright; 1902: BY The Tribune Assoolationo

Copyright; 1902: BY The Tribune Association)
Especial to The Tribune by French Cablel
London, March 22-Wearied by the inglorious
war and bored by stagnant politics, England
reverts TO the coronation s the only agreeable
theme. The Kings sagacity has been displayed
in popuarizng the unique ceremonial by the
entertainment Of half a million of the poorest
London subjects at dinner. The proposal has
been warmly approved in every quarter, and the
royal example will not he disregarded by the
provincial towns. where arrangements are al
ready making for entertaining the poor on an
unexampled scale. The coronation in this way
will be converted into a national fate.
While the King has been Influenced by the
Queens personal interest in jubilee dinners for
the poor he has taken effective measures for re-
storing the best traditions of medieval corona
tions While the court officials have been split
ting hairs the fine points of etiquette. and
the peeresses have been fdgetng over corona
tion robes and coronets. he has reminded the
nation that the ceremonial is not designed ex
clusivey for the development Of class pride, but
has been invariably made an occasion Of public
rejoicing.
Public interest in the splendid function has
already been deepened. is shown by the wide
spread evidence that the provincial towns will
unite with the metropolis in the week Of loyalty
and rejoicing. Even so old fashioned town as
Thomas Hardy's Casterbridge Is planning
unique public service. In the ancient Roman
amphitheatre there will be religious services.
There will be coronation professions. banqu-s
and balls in every great town. Everywhere the
soldiers families and poor pensioners will be re-
membered.
The London County Council has offered to
open the public parks and provide music for the
Kings dinners. and the board schools may he
used for the same purpose Novel schemes OF
decoration and illumination IN the streets are
proposed. and the city guilds are bestirring
themselves and placing members on coronation
balls and banquets committees. Parliament has
revived the Elizabcthan idea Of forming circuits
Of hillside boufres and beacons. Throughout
the kingdom the English imagination is lighting
up the prospect Of having a splendid dis
play of loyalty which will command the ad-
miration Of the world The imperial features Of
the event will not be neglected with Mr. Cham
herlain in the Colonial Office. Arrangements are
making for a complete representation Of the
colonies by military Contingents. mainly In
fantry. numbering twenty y-fve hundred troops
Canada and Australia will have the strongest
forces but Natal and Cape Colony will have
the guards OF honor Of seasoned war veterans.
Indian princes and troops VIII also be present.
| and everything will be done 10 render the coro-
nation professions picturesque and impressive
It is fortunate that England has this royal
carnival in reserve. for every other subject OF
contemplation is depressing. The campaign In
| Africa IS at a dead halt, enveloped in silence and
| mystery. Prisoners are taken in dwndng
| squads, and attacks upon the conveys and
| bockhouse lines unexplained. and General
Delarey's victory is not yet offset by fresh driv-
ing operations in the Western TransvaaI
Parliament is on the edge Of the Easter re-
cess, jaded and stale with empty debate with
out having reformed the procedure or even i'm
parted fxity 10 the dinner hour. The education
bill IS undergoing a ministerial whiting
! process in secret. and so far as the voluntary
schools are concerned will probably turn out a
! feeble compromise leaving the control of re
| lgous education unsettled. The Irish land bill
| will be a companion piece. Mr Brodricks army
| scheme has been exposed TO diverse criticism
| and not advanced in public estimation. The
| storm raised by Sir Henry Campbell Banner
| mans trenchant criticism and Mr. Dillon's In
! frmity Of temper has quieted, and Mr.. Cham
| berlain has again proved his invincibity
! against attack in the Commons Now that Sir
! William Vernon Harcourts natural force has
! abated he has no foeman worthy of his steel.
| and when challenged he resembles Mr.. Glad
stone when exposed TO the onset If feeble
antagonist like Mr., Chaplin.
The Cabinet has again been discussing the ex-
pediency of proceeding against the United Irish
! League under cover Of the Crimes act. without
making out a Parliamentary case, but the result
! is in doubt The Times is egging on the
ministers with the plea that the league cannot
be tolerated when intimidation is Mr.. ORren's
| manifest purpose The ministers naturally
! finch where the revival Of the Crimes act will
he jarring undertone Of discord for the coro-
nation anthem and Mr.. Wyndham hesitates and
! the two Bafours are undecided Old Tories like
| Sir Michael Hicks Beach not prepared to
have Mr.. Chamberlain settle the Irish well
the South African policy for them.
While there is hardly ripple on the surface
| of foreign affairs. there is a strong undertOne
| in the direction of coalitions in the Far East.
| One dual alliance runs counter to another. and
| Germany in the emergency will naturally sup
! port England and Japan. The silence Of the
Berlin Foreign Office does not alter the fact that
! German commercial interests are involved in
| England's obligation to support Japan if Russia
| and France attack her France accepts loyalty
| the commitments of the Dual Alliance but is
| not likely to be drawn into a with Japan
| If her own feet is exposed to immediate attack
| by two British squadrons with the German
| navy somewhere in the offing. The importance
Of the revolt in South China is still uncertain.
The German tariff situation remains a lottery,
| with blanks for the Agrarians.
| Sehor Sagasta, in reshufTiing the ministerial
cards. has retained General Weyler as the
| strongest trump, thereby securing control of
the army and the peaceful accession of the boy
| King to the responsibilities of reigning next
| May. The Finance Minister may be unable
| to force a compromise with the French capitaI-
! lists behind the Bank of Spain, and the religious
| questions involved in the suppression of Illegal