New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-09-21
LONDON NOTES.
The AUTUMN Congresses-His Maj.
esty's Theatre.
London. September II.

London. september Il.
Mr.. Chamberlain has turned the English
world upside down lie las transformed both
political parties into schools Of economies and
has drawn the labor unions and the learned
societies into discussion Of fiscal policies. The
Church Congress will probably persevere In
thrashing out ritual practice and ecclesiastical
theory and the choir festivals win be occupied
with Oratorios and religious music without the
disturbing effect Of protection themes and free
trade harnonies; but otherwise the autumnal
conferences are already distracted with tarS
controversy The Trades Union Congress has
opened its session a. Leicester with debate
on the taxation Of imported food. and the
British Association has been entertained az
Southport with a presidential address which
was plainly inspired BY the policy recommended
by Mr.. Chamberlain. Sir Norman Lockyer. be-
ing distinguished astronomer. who Is ordinart-
" employed in exploring stellar spaces and
hunting about for eclipses. might naturally have
been expected TO explain In the opening at-
dress the mysteries OF his own branch OF SCI
ence. He did not glance far afeld toward the
dawn Of astronomy. nor calculate anew the
suns place in nature. but set for himself the
commercial problem Of the partial eclipse Of
British trade and enterprise through neglect OF
scientific education. Instead OF magnifyins the
Importance Of his own work and discoveries he
n
gers to which England was exposed through the
brain power and superior energy Of foreign
countries. The title Of his address was suggest
ed by Captain Mahan's Influence Of Sea Power
on History" but the theme was inspired By
Mr.. Chamberlain's proposals for fiscal reform
and Lord Roseberys jeremiads on national tn
efficiency.
Sir Norman Lockyer finds IN material pros
pertty more evidence OF scientific progress than
of the successful operation OF fiscal systems and
tariff schedules. He does not consider II res.
sonabIe to attribute the whole course Of the
modern world &c the presence or absencs Of
taxes on certain commodities. He contends that
the great fall in the price Of food did not Occur
for thirty or forty years after the abolition q
the corn laws. and that the initial supremacy
Of England as a manufacturing nation was re-
duced by the applications OF science to produc-
ton and carrying power. He warns his coun-
trynren that they have fallen behind other ma
tons ia applying science to industry. and that
brain power is wanted in all departments. as Is
abundantly proved BY the report Of the royal
commission on the war. While Germany and
the United States have been promoting the IN
terests OF higher education and stimulating the
growth Of the scientific spirit. Enslishmen have
been neglecting from sheer ignorance OF It's I'm
portance this side OF national life. They havs
superiority in battIeships and army corps to
meet the requirements OF war. but they have
not been convinced that the struggle for
istence in modern communities Is a strenuous
one in times OF peace. and that there must be
equality or superiority IN universities. scientific
organization and everything which conduces
to greater brain power. Sir Norman Lockysr
tustffes his conclusions by citations from Lord
Rosebery's and Mr.. ChamherIaln's speeches and
emphasizes the truth that England Is suffering
from the lack OF the scientific spirit which other
and wiser nations foster.
These are wholesome admonitions. cut the
long suffering. patient British public has heard
them for fifty years. The leaders OF science be-
ing the witnesses. Vaccinations OF a similar TN
port have been sounded more than once n pres
idential addresses before the British Assoeia-
ton. and appeals for reform IN scientific meth
ods of education have been disresarded genera
ton after generation How does the president
Of the British Association. who himself has
been the founder and editor Of Nature" the
greatest scientific Journal IN the world. intend
to convert a general public that has been In
different alike to statistics and warnings7 The
first suggestion is not promising one He
proposes the formation OF a British Science
League with half million sixpenny subscribers
which will create an irresistible public opinion
from the court to the parish council In favor OF
scientific education. II Is hard to understand
WHY the resolutions adopted by a science league
of this sort should have more weight than the
presidential address Of so eminent man as
Sir Norman LOckysr himself. second sugges-
ton Is more practical albeit not uncontrover-
siaL The remedy proposed is an increass IN ths
number and efficiency Of British universities
even If primary. secondary and technical schools
are temporarily neglected A comparison De-
tween British. on the one hand, and American
and German universities. on the other. opens ms
way for the conclusion that eight more uniVsr-
stiles and an expenditure Of S24OO0VO0 aFe
necessary in order to place the United Kingdom
on terms Of equality with its rivals. The pohu-
cal importance Of research Is emphasized oy
reference to Mr.. Carnegie's gift OF S2.OVOOoV"
found a system Of original work and discovery
which will secure for the United States leader
ship in scientific work, and the national govern
rrent is called upon TO supply similar sndo"-
ment. Without such help" remarks this ou'
spoken critic Of British decadence, both OUT
universities and our battleships viii become q
rapidly dwindling importance" IL viii De "
teresting to observe whether anything N u'
form Of legislation will be proposed next yeaF
IN aid of universities and research work az.
also whether Mr.. Balfour. the next president %
the British Association. will take up the SUI
ject at the Cambridge meeting and convert
into a political issue OF the highest value
The Trades Union Congress has not Wail'-
for the production CT Mr. Chamherlan's seheH'
of fiscal reform. but has condemned IN adVsnS
the taxation OF imported food as a policy OF
posed 70 the welfare Of the working millions
The influence Of organized labor Is now thr0"A
al