settling the problem which we are fumbling over in our Old Age Pensions, and it also consumes all the bodies of enemies who are slain on the field of battle. The results, from a physical point of view, are declared to be so admirable, that it would seem as if the cosmic forces which lead to the survival of the fittest would tell in favour of the cannibals of that tribe. This, however, is only seeming, for cannibalism has a fatal disintegrating tendency. Union is the secret of Progress, and the experience of mankind shows that your brother never quite trusts you when he has at the back of his mind the thought that you are wondering whether he would taste better roast or boiled. The other paper was that by Mr. Flinders Petrie, in which he deprecated the excessive zeal shown by some civilised people in thrusting their opinions down the throats of every race with whom they come in contact. Mr. Petrie's paper led to quite a demonstration against clothes. It would really seem as if we were at last beginning to learn that morality and civilisation cannot be exactly measured by the amount of dry goods we can hang round the human person. A Japanese Apropos of our duty towards the coloured Warning races with whom we come in contact, about Opium. there is a very instructive passage in the report of the peace negotiations conducted between Li Hung Chang and Count Ito, which has been sent me by a correspondent in China. The plenipotentiaries were discussing the future of Formosa, when the question of opium came on the tapis. The following is the report of the conversation which took place : H. E. Li: Formosa is very malarious. You lost many lives there before. Most of the Formosans smoke opium in order to ⚫ counteract the effects of malaria. H. E. Ito: When we take Formosa we shall forbid opiumsmoking. H. E. Li: It is an old habit with the Formosans. H. E. Ito: I discussed the question of the prohibition of opium with Minister Yen, and he heartily agreed with me. H. E. Li: Great Britain insists on bringing opium into our ports. We have increased the duties, but what more can we do? H. E. Ito: The duty is much too low. Treble the amount would be none too much. H. E. Li: We have spoken of it frequently, but Great Britain will not consent. H. E. Ito: Opium-smokers are all indolent; you cannot make good soldiers of them. H. E. Li: Great Britain has forced opium on us, and we cannot stop it. H. E. Ito: If you devised methods to stop the consumption it would soon cease to be imported. If China were to act on the Japanese hint it would be awkward for India. The anti-opium people, who ( The In Home politics there has been an Lull in Home extraordinary lull. When Mr. Balfour Politics. left Downing Street, almost his last remark was that he was going to Scotland to play golf, and as far as possible to forget all sublunary things. He seems to have succeeded, and everybody else seems to have succeeded in this praiseworthy effort to secure a perfect holiday in the perfect weather we have had in September. The You might look Liberals have been perfectly dumb. through the newspapers in vain for a single utterance by any of the Liberal chiefs. After the general election every one rests. Mr. Morley abode in his tents in the North of Scotland. Lord Rosebery went to Dunrobin, Lord Spencer has gone to India; Mr. Asquith, Mr. Acland, and Mr. Campbell Bannerman seem to have disappeared into space. On the other side, the only speeches of any note were made by the Duke of Devonshire, and they were important chiefly because of the calm but merciless fashion in which he put the extinguisher upon the sanguine hopes entertained by some of his colleagues as to the possibility of heroic action in the direction of Old Age Pensions It would seem that we are going to witness in the Unionist Cabinet the old duel that used to be fought day after day in the Gladstone Cabinet between the Duke of Devonshire and Mr. Chamberlain. Mr. Chamberlain is a light weight, but he hits hard. The Duke of Devonshire is a heavy weight and a great stayer. As Mr. Chamberlain used to remark in the old days when they used to have their tussles in the Gladstone Administration, "Lord Hartington is, slow, but keen, and he always hits the nail on the head." The One Of course, at present all seems peace, Hope of the but you only need to pierce beneath the Liberals. surface to find how rancorous and bitter is the feeling on the part of the Tory rank-and-file against Mr. Chamberlain and “the Birmingham gang." Mr. Chamberlain has certainly taken care of his own, and the appointment of Mr. Findlay as Solicitor-General was almost the last straw which broke the back of the Tory camel. For the moment, however, the word has been passed that even a majority of 150 does not justify open sedition; but there are many slighted politicians At all At the meeting of the Trades Union Congress, at Cardiff, it was definitely decided to make that body more strictly representative than it has been hitherto. previous Congresses, many of the Unions were represented twice over-first, by their delegates, and then by the delegates of the local trade councils of which they form a part. It has been decided that henceforth the trade councils are not to be entitled to direct representation, and it was further determined that no man, who was not working at his own trade, should be eligible as delegate. Mr. Burns, among others, will no longer figure in the Trades Union Congress. John Burns is in Parliament, but as for the others who failed to secure their election to Parliament, they are left out in the cold, and are wandering around in a somewhat disconsolate fashion. The proceedings of the Congress do not call for much remark, and it is to be feared that, although the new regulations are logical, they may have the effect of diminishing the popular interest in that Parliament of Labour. The meeting at Cardiff was attended by Mr. Gompers, who was representing the American Unionists. Mr. Keir Hardie was not present, as he was at the time engaged on tour in America. He spoke several times at Chicago, where the Trade and Labour Congress, after his departure, passed what was in effect a resolution of censure, although Mr. Hardie had been very careful to avoid saying anything uncomplimentary to Chicago and its citizens. [August 29, 1895. Croke. Judg ing from the bye-elections, Healy's Mr. influence in the Irish electorate is not so great as might be imagined from his pertinacity, his assurance, and his activity in the House of Commons. It is a thousand pities, when nothing divides the Irish parties except personal questions, they should not agree to act together in opposition. Sweet are the uses of adversity, and a couple of years of Tory government will probably do more to unite the Irish ranks than the eloquence of all the Liberals. Mr. Price The Archbishop of Canterbury has sumHughes' false moned a private conference of the friends start. of denominational education, in order to concert for common action in the assault that is to be delivered on the Treasury. It was unfortunate that, while the denominationalists are rallying their forces, Mr. Price Hughes should have deemed it expedient to throw a bone of contention into the opposing camp. Speaking at Grindelwald, Mr. Hughes put forward the astonishing suggestion that the Church party should merge all their schools in a national system, managed, it is to be presumed, by the School Boards, and that, in return for this surrender on their part, the Nonconformists should assent to the Apostles' Creed being taught in all public elementary schools. A more fatuous proposal was seldom launched with such an air of confident simplicity by a clever man. To begin with, there is not the slightest intention on the part of the Church party to surrender their schools, and, even if there had been, their opponents would never consent to what would be equivalent to the State establishment and endowment of the Apostles' Creed. The only effect of airing such an extraordinary proposal was to create a sore feeling in the Liberal camp, and to encourage the denominationalists in their demands on the public treasury. EVENTS OF THE MONTH. Sept. 1. Parcel Pest Convention between France and Great Britain gazetted. Memorial Church of the Emperor William I. consecrated in Berlin. 2. Trade Union Congress opened at Cardiff. Anniversary of Sedau commemorated in Germany. Conference of the Institute of Journalists opene 1. 3. The Shahzada left London for the Continent en route to Afghanistan. Serious riot between Hindus and Mohammedans at Dhulia. 4. 'Sir Arthur Havelock appointed Governor of Madras. Committee appointed to supervise the construc- Tasmanian Legislative Council rejectel the Quinquennial International Metric Congress 6. Khama, the Bechuanaland Chief, arrived at Plymouth. Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress left London for United States Government decided to make an 7. Trades Union Congress closed. Antwerp Communal Council petitioned the King to withhold the Royal Assent from the new Education Bill until after the Elections. Defender beat Valkyrie III. in the first race for the America Cup. 9. Princess Alexandra of Saxe-Coburg betrothed to the Hereditary Prince of HohenloheLangenburg. Sir West Ridgeway appointed Governor of Annual Roman Catholic Conference opened at St. Mary's Canal, the new Canadian water-way connecting Lakes Superior and Huron, was. opened. 10. Annual Conference of the Library Association. The second race for the America Cup was awarded to the Defender on a foul, although Valkyrie III. beat Defender on her time allowance. 11. Annual Meeting of the British Association opened. The Bechuana Chiefs received by Mr. Chamberlain, at the Colonial Office. MR. JOHN JENKINS, President of the Trades Union Congress. (Photograph by London Studio, Cardiff.) SIR FRANK LASCELLES, British Ambassador to Berlin. (Photograph by Elliott and Fry.) 11. Sir Frank Lascelles appointed British Ambassador at Berlin. Mr. Stoddart's Australian" team defeated the All England Eleven at Hastings by 218 runs. 12. Sir W., O'Connor, appointed British Ambassador at St. Petersburg. South African Government appointel a Commission for the thorough exploration of Cape Colony. Lord Dunraven gave the third race for the America Cup to Defender, and declined again to race in American waters. 13. Knighthoods conferred on Mr. R. B. Finlay, Q.C., M. P., and Mr. H. B. Poland, Q.C. Transvaal Volksraad decide to extend the Pretoria Railway to Pietersburg. 14. Election riots between Parnellite and AntiParnellite mobs in Limerick. International Press Congress opened at Bor r deaux.. Count Badeni was instructed by the Austrian 16. Fatal fire broke out on board the London and .:. Edinburgh Shipping Company's steamer Ione, off Clacton; seven lives lost. Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress returned to Envoys sent by Gungunhana to Cape Town Consular Commission of Inquiry at Ku-cheng stated to be obstru ted by Chinese Officials. Lord Beaumont, whilst out shooting alone, was killed by the accidental discharge of his gun. 17. Monument of Bishop Harvey Goodwin unveiled in Carlisle Cathedral. Legislative Assembly, at Sydney, passed the Sir James Stansfeld presented with the Hono- 18. Pamir Delimitation Commission completed its work. Spanish forces in Cuba gained a victory over Seven Chinese leaders concerned in the Ku.cheng 19. Netherland Company's Atlantic liner Edam run down in a fog in the English Channel by a British steamer: passengers and crew saved. French troops reviewed by President Faure at Mirecourt. Dutch Budget Statement submitted. 20. Denouncement of Treaty (1854) between Great Britain and Chili gazetted. Celebration of the Anniversary of the entry of Austrian Emperor pardoned Hungarian Rou- 21. Moorish Government officially recognised the British Vice-Consul at Fez. Lieut. Peary, the Arctic explorer, arrive at International Athletic Contest at New York 23. H.M.S. Minerva launched at Chatham, French troops gained victories over the Hova 24. Col. Gerard Smith appointed Governor of Western Australia, and Sir H. H. Murray Governor of Newfoundland. Placards denouncing foreigners and Christians posted up throughout the Province of Chekiang. Irish-American "Physical Force" Convention at Chicago opened. French Council of Ministers discussed the campaign against the Hovas. 25. Conference of the Irish Agricultural Organization Society. Annual Meeting of the Highland Land League Landslip in the Province of Yemen, Arabia; 26. Chitral Campaign brought to a fiual conclusion; 15,000 troops were withdrawn. Legislative Council, at Sydney, shelved the News to hand of the death of Magato, the 27, Centenary Convention of the London Missionary Society closed. 27. Tasmania agreed to co-operate with New South Wales in equipping an Antarctic Exploring Expedition. British Columbian Sealers asked for Arbitration re their claim against the United States on account of the seizures of vessels in Behring Sea. 28. Lord Lamington appointed Governor of Queensland. Sir Walter Wilkin elected new Lord Mayor of Great Britain sent an ultimatum to China 30. Autumnal Meeting of Congregational Union. British Ultimatum accepted by China-the Viceroy of Szu-chuan to be degraded for ever, and subordinate Officials to be arraigned. National Temperance Congress opened at Chester. Lower House of the Hungarian Diet passed the remaining Ecclesiastico-Political Bills; and the Budget Statement was submitted. BY-ELECTIONS. Aug. 31. Inverness Burghs : Mr. R. B. Finlay, Q.C., on his appointment as Sept. 2. Dublin (St. Stephen's Green): On the appointment of Mr. Kenny as SolicitorGeneral for Ireland, a by-election was held with the following result: 6. South Kerry: 12. Limerick: Mr. John Daly being declared unfit to sit as a Member of Parliament, a by-election was held with the following result : F. A. O'Keefe (A P).. J. Nolan (1). AP majority 1,851 1,764 87 At the General Election Mr. Daly (1) was returned unopposed. passed all its stages. Parliament was prorogued until Nov. 18th. HOUSE OF COMMONS. Sept. 3. Report of Ways and Means. (Aug. 31st) agreed to. Appropriation Bill read first time. Canadian Speaker (Appointment of Deputy Bill read third time. SIR DOUGLAS GALTON, K.C B. President of the British Association, 1895. (Photograph by Elliott and Fry.) |