New-York tribune., 1906-04-08
WORLD EVENTS AS SEEN BY OBSERVERS ARRo4n7
TIE Transition PERIOD
N EUROPEAN AFFAIRS.
rsp,rial by French cable TO Tho Tribune.l
,,-,,vr,rh,. 1906 hv The Tribune association.

-,,-srh, 1906 hv The Tribune Association.l
.aon April THE transition period in Eu-
afTairs is passing without close observa-
although great events are looming up in
uOi ,acl,rround The formation Of electoral col
- u bx which the members Of the Douma will
,osea aiscloses strong trend in Russia
Vs constitutional democracy. The new rep
tive body in spite of military pressure
,sss 10 be controlled by reformers bent upon
80 she empire a parliamentary system. The
s.-a,,ert of Count YVitte seems incredible when
,et an experiment is in progress and when
-os+o~atiou of financial order is the most ur-
=. s,tv Of creative craftsmanship. The COM
&c effected in Hungary is a temporary
p.asisn+ which cannot be regarded as a safe
- arainst the division Of the dual en-
So the death Of the Austrian Emperor
u .-uor.snce Of minor incidents relating to
a,5 Montenegro is exaggerated by the
.a,,oral writer's. but great changes in the
- Pas. must follow the enlargement Of Ger
,,a.ence there. This is the paramount in
~ H. 4or which the German Emperor has been
- =, sacrifice his ulterior ends in the Mo-
rocco affair
TgF NEW PEACE PARLIAMENT.
-,,-,,e ~ the new conference at The
- rae not been taken seriously by writer's
nae e,I,,,,,orio subjects II President Roosevelt
" ..,,,s5 the power Of initiative great re-
10. --trr- have been expected from the assem-
-. ~ the Peace Congress. for the western
s-s NJ Europe would have supported the
.,.-ica7 proposals and the German emperor
..,,5 not have opposed them. The transfer OF
.-,.so-t,a 70 Russia has greatly impaired the au-
.so~it, n the summons and the chances OF I'M
o--er4 reforms in the usages OF warfare on laho
- seq and Of safeguards Tor private property
have diminished. Possibly somethng may De
ss,nre the definition of contraband,
1t, = now interpreted by every maritime ma
,,on 70 suit its own traditions and convenience,
IN, there is little faith that the powers with
..ro,e navies will consent TO have any limita-
lions placed upon beIigerent rights. The situa-
ion would be transformed If the unique person
i,,,- and prestige Of President Roosevelt were
behind the new parliament Of peace.
THE SOUTH AFRICAN OUTBREAK.
The revolt Of Bambaata. in the Greytown dis
,-,c- n Natal is attributed by partisans TO the
excitement caused by the recent futile inter
e.-s1ca o4 the Colonial Office with the eXecu-
linn NJ the death sentences Of the black muir
5s-ers but 1t is more reasonable TO explain II
ss the result Of the premature disarmament OF
the local field force. The raid is small AFFAIR,
bich can be easily suppressed If the Colonial
Ground Winston Churchill continues TO e1-
cite the opposition benches but he lacks neither
discretion nor power and is rapidly be-
ror7inF one Of the best debaters in the
House Of Commons. The Pilgrims were greatly
dissnpointed Iast night when he failed TO ap-
near at the Curzon dinner, where he was expect
ed 70 speak yet he would have been III an
embarrassing position. as the sentiment OF this
International gathering WAS strongly Imperial
istic The cheers which followed a casual refer
ence 10 Lord Miners services showed where
Fympathies lay. Lord CuTzon's own speech was
worthy Of & really great viceroy. and was de-
Hrered IN his most brilliant style. 1t was
commentary upon the responsibilities of en-
pire ana the spirit in which foreign dependen-
ces should be administered for their own good
and the interests Of civilization. No greater
speech has been heard in London for a long
tire II was q proof Of the broadening and ele-
waiting effects Of vast responsibilities in the de-
velopmenr Of mind and character. Everybody
who heard il was convinced that Lord Curzon
IS still destined 10 play great part in imperial
affairs if not 70 carry the burdens Of political
leadership The Pilgrims dinner was brilliant
affair in every respect
STUDYING MUNICIPAL OWNERSHIP.
The American Commission on Public Owner
various British towns. Mr.. Sullivan is in Glas-
gov. Mr.. Crawford working in Liverpool, Mr..
Winchester has Joined Mr. James and Mr..
Klumff al Manchester and MI Maltbie returned
to-day from Birmingham
These towns with Sheffield and Leicester.
have supplied thorough studies Of the practical
operation Of tramways and gas and electric sup
plies by municipal or private corporations. and
good tests for a comparison Of the results OF
the preliminary survey have been made in New
castle but the ground has not yet been broken
IN Bristol. and other cities may be substituted
FOR each as a subject Of inquiry. The commits
Eioners have been well received everywhere and
have exceptional facilities for the systematic ex-
animation Of the results Of municipal ownership.
The new motor buses are recognized as a men,
ace 70 municipal investments in tramways.
Some TOWN. councils refuse 10 license them, but
competition is generally allowed. Experts as
sert that their day may he short in consequence
Of the wear and tear Of the mechanism by sud
cen stoppages in crowded streets and the neces-
sty for constant reconstruction. The motor
buses are seriously reducing the receipts of the
London underground railways. The new Baker
Street tube lacks patronage and is retrenchinG
expenses
NOTEWORTHY WORKS OF ART.
Edwin A Abbey is sending TO the Academy a
brilliant picture illustrating the landing Of Col
umbus IL the New World with the flags of Ferdi-
nand and Isabella unfurled. II is a fine work
IN color and composition His huge decorative
works for the dome Of the Capitol at Harris
burg are approaching completion and will proba-
oiy be shipped 10 America before autumn. An
other series win require several years Of con-
unuous labor. sargents drawings are among