New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-07-03
NEWS OF TWO CAPITALS.
AFFAIRS IN LONDON.
Tributes to e.. F. Watts-KingS
Return.

rondon July 2-The death of George Fred
.rick Watts in the serenity of old age brings out
q series OF noble tributes from the art critics
and leading writers. He remained at work al
-oost until the end. and there no decline in
his power OF imagination. lowering of high
,deals in art, if the Venetian sense of color
called and the draughtsmanship lost beauty of
line All the eulogists Of his life and character
agree that the highest ambition OF his art was
,ot 10 charm the eyes with beauty. Greek as
he was but to appeal to the imagination and TO
urge men TO higher thoughts and things. Nu-
nervous as the gifts already have been to the
National Portrait Gallery and other institutions
large becuests expected In the painters
will Among the portraits which will go TO the
nation are those of the King when Prince o.
Wales Mr. Gladstone, the late Lord Sails
hurry the late Duke OF Argyle and himself His
friends assume that the large canvas on the
theme Of Love and Death will be bequeatheo
10 the United States: Time, Death and Judg-
rn.nt" TO Canada and the remaining a!legories
In paint to the nation. Ii is not likely that
watts's studio works and the fixtures OF his
lumber room VIII be auctioned off bargains.
as Burne-Jones's unfinished. pictures were
Til. war news remains mere contectures and
contradictions. with wild rumors that the Rus
SLAMS have recaptured important pass and
the more probable reports that the japanese are
slowly continuing to advance on Liao-Yang
and forcing Kuropatkin TO retreat to Moukden.
Military critics talking about a battle of
despair as final throw Of the Russian dice but
Kuropatkin. with 10000 fighting Slavs under
him, Is not vet reduced TO extremties. The
WASHINGTON runofs Of negotiations for peace
are not credited here. Berlin or Paris Will be
the capital where trial balloons Of this kind will
be first sent UP.
The Tibetan news IS Unexpectedly favorable,
hut IL is not yet clear whether the ENJOYS sent
bv the Lama 10 confer with Colonel Younghus
band at Gyang-Tse are sincere peacemakers
or are merely gaining time for putting the cap
,tal IN a better state Of defence.
The anti-German writer's find consolation IN
the reflection that harm has been done by the
Kings visit 10 Kel. German opinion OF Eng
land is expressed with Jess asperity than for
long period. That is great gain for European
peace. The German press also is less suspicious
and sullen IN discussing the objects Of German
diplomacy. That also counts advantage.
The cautious judgment OF diplomatists is that
fll will would have been created if the visit had
not been made and this has been avoided by
the Kings journey, even IL he had several
quiet talks with the Emperor about the war
In Manchuria and the Anglo-F French agreement.
The correspondents bring back the story that
the German Emperor's health is good
the Berlin dispatches have indicated. and that
there IS much uneasiness among officials over
the proba bility OF the recurrence OF the recent
groTths in the throat. The King IN high
spirits al the opera last night chatting rnerrily
with a large party Of friends and watching
Nine. Calves acting with immense interest. He
has started to-day a weekend visit TO Lord
Gerald, near Ashford, and has a full list OF
gagements in town, at the racecourse and IN
the country nrntil the close ~ tho CourAs
gatta. when he will probably go TO Marienbad.
Partisanship is running riot in the British
House of Commons. The Tories forget their
own exploits obstructionists in Opposition,
and profess 70 be Mortified by the fragrant and
nihilistic methods adopted by the Liberals In
blocking the business OF the House. The Lib
erals fail 10 remember that closure by compart-
Inent was Mr.. Gladstones invention for carry
Eng the Home Rule bill through the Commons.
and condemn Mr.. Balfours use OF the guillotne
rs an outrage without precedent. Westminster
IS not worse than it has been IN principle, but
rnly a little more lax in practice. Obstruction
is as old trick partisan defamation. but
Winston Churchill. with the zeal OF a Liberal
recruit. has carried II beyond discretion in
blocking the Aliens bill in the standing commit
tee. not allowing more than a single line word
TO be reported at a sitting. Closure by sections
when a bill is overloaded with amendments is
indispensable when the Opposition challenges
the governments control over the business of
the House. but the guillotine falls in this in
stance when the Licensing bill has been in
committee only six days Partisan spirit has
Increased in bitterness when the Liberals feel
assured that the country is with Them yet can
not overthrow the government and when the
Tories. with majority of ninety-fve after all
OBJECTIONS, are forced TO muster in full strength
daily for exercise in the division hobbies The
same old tools used on both sides Sir
Henry Campbell-Bannerman has anerily met
Mr.. Balfour's reconstructed Gladstone guilIotine
with the menace Of early repeal OF all meas
ores carried by violence This threat drives
into the Tory camp the ale brewers and the
hquor sellers. for whose benefit Mr. Balfour has
oeferTed dissolution and insisted upon passing
the Licensing bill. Winston Churc hu initiates
'ne Chlonlsts more than the sharpest tongue on
the front Opposition bench. They agree In de-
sc1p:ng him as a spoiled child. who ought to be
Wen cameo. like the Elton boys who sneaked off
70 the horse races when they had the privilege
OF seeing q good game OF cricket.
The Liberal Union Club an organization anal
ogous TO the Eighty Club. has been broken
up by the secession OF free traders but Mr..
Chamberlain continues TO attend hygienic and
otner cinners and to smoke strong cigars and to
look cheerful. Lord Rosebery also is in high
spirits. drawing parallels from the Salvation
army and describing the political mission to
the city as rescue work even when the Radicals
IN the smoking room of the House of Commons
are excluding him from the Foreign Office of the
he1t administration and leaving him to whistle
Tor birds In a lonely furrow