New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-08-16
NEWS OF TWO CAPITALS.
AFFAIRS IN LONDON.
Lord SaIisbury's Illness = Nezc
Pope's PoIicy-Russia and Balkans.

,,,e him the chief guest at the Anglo-Amerl-
can dinner in recognition of his services as a
.,-,,tirsl. peacemaker, but Lord Cranborne ana
@,her members Of his family vetoed the project
&C no was too feeble TO make the journey from
Hatfield even II excused from the Obligations u
speecb making The loss Of strength ana a SUI
ooeefo7 of minor ailments were the symptoms
which indicated the approaching close OF a great
career. but more alarming TO his sons was ti'e
apathy with which he regarded public aHails'
While he never regained his vivacity after '"e
death of LADY Salisbury. he retained his interest
in dfpIouacv and the Unionist policy even aIleI
his retirement from power, but recently TINS
has waned Lord SaIisburys authority was
never challenged while ne was Prime Minister
and his influence suffced to keep the divergent
ambitions of his colleagues under restraint
The friends of Anglo-American accord must
ever hold his conduct in the first Venezuelan al
fair in grateful remembrance. he opened liie
vav for international good feeling by conclIia-
tory proposals when both nations were excited
and resentful This was memorable exhibition
Of farsighted craftsmanship
The Pope's illness has been temporary. but
,,.re are grave fears that his health may suffer
from confinement in the Vatican and the 1oT-
t,.,.s which are distasteful TO him. 4 Pope
.,r.d with infallibility in dogma ought not to
end il difficult TO modify the rigorous etiquette
NJ the Vatican. Apart from his strong prefer
ences for democratic simplicity In his relations
With his coHeag CUES and the visiting delegations
pins Y has not yet disclosed the trend OF me
r,oicias of the new reign. The Austrian En-
T,eror T. reported 10 have suggested critical ex-
animation Of the finances Of the Vatican, but
this will he done without pressure from any
catholic power Cardinal Satolis influence has
Greatly increased at the Vatican. and Monsgnor
.sarr,, del Val has become a great personality
there. hut Cardinal Rampolla's power is not yet
undermined.
The religious questions in Rome seem large in
con7parison with the petty issues raised in Eng
land bv the passive resistance offered to the
Education Act and the legal proceedings for dis
traint There is nevertheless wide rolling
wave OF opposition to the law, and those refus-
ing for conscientious reasons TO pay school
rates have considerable moral support in pubic
opinion When house furniture is aucuoned or
in halls guarded by the police Nonconformlty
commands sympathy.
Russia has taken tentative measures for Sc
curing control of the Balkan situation Man
churia has been virtually handed over TO the
new viceroy of the Ameer Province and hWan-
-,1ng districts. leased from China. Admiral
Alexeeff. one Of the boldest representatives OF
the militant Russian policy. is invested Win Win
the dictatorship of Eastern Esia, and the MIN
listers al St petersburg are released from the
responsibility of directing affairs in that quarter
and are enabled TO concentrate their attention
upon what goes on in the Balkans The result
is Disappointing to the optimists who have be
uevad that the Russian promises that Manchu-
ria should be evacuated would be kept The dc
tatorship implies that diplomatic resources have
been exhausted and that Eastern Russia in
stead Of being governed from distance will be
administered on the ground by a commander
IN chief adequately supported by the army and
navy. The imperial ukase explains the recent
conferences and military activity in Manchuria
and empowers a most aggressive viceroy to keep
watch over Japan and if necessary TO strike
while the iron is hot.
Meanwhile Russia Is the only power which can
keep the princpality Of Bulgaria under restraint
and force the Sultan's government to restore or
der in Macedonia. The situation there is unin-
relligible Since The insurgents have cut the
telegraph lines and broken railway communica-
tion it is impracticable 10 decide whether the
great military movements and the big battle de-
scribed in the dispatches are in reality minor
skirmishes whether the revolt has become
general and is Under the direction Of Sarafoff.
The leaders Of the inSurrection are evidently
desperate, and are neither showing mercy nor
expecting IT, They no longer hope to drag the
principality into conflict against the wishes of
The car but are bent either upon goading the
Turkish troops and Albanians into a massacre
or instigating Russian Intervention through
outrages directed against consuls The failure
of the Kussian-Austrian scheme of reforms Is
complete. Macedonia has been kept in a state
or anarchy and panic by the presence Of an i'm
mense Turkish army. and reduced to utter hope
Iessress. and is on the verge Of some terrific
catastrophe Russia Is the only power which
can intervene with efficiency, but there are now
signs that the Car is ready 10 take the re-
sponsibility for reform measures which will Sc
cure the pachcation of the country The an
pointnent of a Christian governor general of
Macedonia. II made quickly. might bring the
present intolerable situation to an end hut there
is no evidence that the British Foreign Office is
urging ii. and there are strong reasons for the
belief that the only action taken 10y Austria and
Germany VIII be the occupation Of Salonica bv a
naval force if the revolt extends from Monastir
10 the sea. The interests OF the United King
dom are not primarily affected as much as those
OF other powers, but. as The Economist Justly
remarks. British nonor is concerned IN the situa-
tioH OF enormous difficulty and responsibility
which has grown out ef the Berlin Congress ana
Lord Beaconsdeld's diplomacy
The prorogatiou Of Parliament has cleared The
political clubs and released the Prime Minister
from daily cross-examination respecting tba
fiscal inquiry. He has gone to Gloucester-
shire for = weeks visit with Lord and
Lady Elcho and. after keeping few
lninor engagements win settle down to golf
IN Scotland. He has succeeded. with The
Kings help. in holding the government together
until the end Of the session but has not pIavad
a dignifed part in evading responsibility for
Air Chamberlain's fiscal proposals and IN
neglecting TO enforce the collective opinion ~
the Cabinet. The Unionist Ministry has un-
doubtedIv been saved bv the Kings anna.