Captain Middleton and Mr. Hudson are now the masters of the situation until August, when the new House of Commons will assemble to vote the necessary supplies. I discuss elsewhere both the record of the late Ministers and the personnel of the new Cabinet; suffice it here to say that the expectation is universal that Lord Salisbury will come back from the country with a sufficient majority to carry on until such time as circumstances precipitate a breach between him and Mr. Chamberlain. That gentleman, who is now Secretary for the Colonies, is the most conspicuous member of the Cabinet after the Prime Minister. The death of Walter and distinction, having served brilliantly through the Civil War, from which he came out a BrigadierGeneral. Returning to his Indiana home, he rose rapidly as a lawyer and a Republican politician. In 1892 the Republican nomination would have filled the cup of his life-long ambition; but it did not come to him, and he was asked to accept a nomination from the Populists, whose convention was held at, Omaha. His hesitancy before declining to become the Populistic standard-bearer-a circumstance which kept the Populists anxiously waiting for some time-showed how lightly the party tie held a man who had all his life been considered one of the foremost of Republican leaders. Later on, in that same campaign, it was announced that Judge Gresham had concluded to vote for the Democratic candidates, and Mr. Cleveland gave the country a surprise by selecting the " man without a party" as his Secretary of State. His career as Secretary of State began with the unfortunate blunders of the Administration's Hawaiian policy; and for more than two years the American people, regardless of party, have evinced a certain uneasiness and anxiety touching the wisdom of the Administration's treatment of foreign questions. It is, however, quite too early to pass any final judgment upon the conduct of the State Department under Mr. Gresham's headship. He has been succeeded by Mr. Olney, the legal adviser of the Cabinet, a lawyer of high standing, especially among "solid" men. CAPTAIN R. W. E. MIDDLETON, The Conservative Agent. Insurrection. Secretary Olney's first important act in The Cuban the State Department was the issue of a proclamation warning American citizens against participating directly or indirectly in the Cuban revolution. This proclamation was evoked by the reports of considerable activity, on the Florida coast and elsewhere in the South, in the fitting out of small expeditions in aid of the patriots who are trying to throw off the Spanish yoke. The action of the State Department was immediately followed by a corresponding display of energy in the Naval Department, and Secretary Herbert forthwith dispatched a vessel to patrol the Florida coast. Spain is more alarmed than ever, and is sending many more fresh troops. She is also purchasing a fleet of small steamers, which she will arm and place upon Cuban patrol duty. The hopes of the Revolutionists grow higher every day, and if Spain should prevail in the end her victory will have cost her far more than it can ever benefit her. Prospects of Trade. Business is distinctly looking up. In America there is an unmistakable revival of trade. The alarm occasioned by the Silver Party has to some extent died down. The prospect of crops is better than the average, and a more hopeful feeling is general. In Australia also there is a better prospect. Our Australian colleague sees golden possibilities in the results of the Chino-Japanese war. He says: Both Japan and China offer markets of unexplored vastness to the chief products of these colonies, and as one clause in the new treaty stipulates that China shall be open to Western commerce, it is clear that commercial possibilities of a very golden sort are unfolding for all the chief Australian products. Neither China nor Japan, for example, can hope to grow the fine wools of Australia, yet they offer an almost limitless market for them. Japan, in addition, promises to become an extensive purchaser of leather and butter. wines, etc., and the Japanese, with that same mental alertness which has made them victorious in the field over an empire ten times greater in bulk than their own. are clearly awake to the commercial value of Australia. The Japanese Diet on February 7 adopted a report in favour of subsidising great lines of communication with Europe, America, and Australia, but these lines are to be subsidised in the order of their importance, and the Lower House declared the Australian service to be of the greatest immediate urgency, and recommended the expenditure of £60,000 in the establishment of a direct service with Australia. The World's Women sent as delegates from no fewer Women's than twenty-three different countries Convention assembled last month in London under in London. the presidency of Miss Frances E. Willard to hold the third Biennial Convention of the World's Women's Christian Temperance Union. This informal international parliament of crusading womanhood was enthusiastic, unanimous, and jubilant. Lady Henry Somerset was the most influential woman present after Miss Willard, and the proceedings were characterised from first to last by a burning hatred of strong drink and a cheering spirit of self-confidence unusual in an assembly exclusively female. There were receptions to the delegates at the Mansion House and at Reigate Priory, crowded meetings in the Queen's Hall, and an immense demonstration and spectacular display in the Albert Hall, where deputations from all lands, clad in appropriate costume, defiled before the President. It was a memorable illustration of the unifying BETWEEN TWO STOOLS. The old story with the inevitable result. [May 25, 1895. power of an idea. What was it that gathered all these thousands of organising units, nerve cells and centres from so many lands to the Albert Hall? Simply the idea of an American farmer's daughter, that the time had come for concerted action on the part of women as women to combat intemperance and its related curses all round the world. Is it any wonder that, having achieved so much, these white ribboners should be speculating whether, after all, the Parliament of mau, the federation of the world, may, like man himself, have to come into being through a woman? Death of Professor Huxley. After long and lingering illness, the man who of all others was best known to the public as an exponent of modern science has passed away. A few years ago, when men talked of science, the names of Huxley and Tyndali always were the first to rise to the mind. Others Brethren of modern science, and what they said was regarded very much as the law and the testimony on the matter in discussion. Both of them probably owed this unique distinction more to literary ability than to the originality or profundity of their scientific study. As for Professor Huxley, he probably gained more attention by the vehe (From a photograph by the Stereoscopic Co.) may have made greater discoveries, and there may be many who would be considered much more impor. tant by the scientific experts; but to the man in the street Huxley and Tyndall were the great Twin tack-an attack which now, alas, must remain for ever undelivered. His death leaves a gap among our modern men which no one at present seems qualified to fill. EVENTS OF THE MONTH. June 1. Formal transfer of Formosa to Japan completed at Kelùng. Annual Convention of the Irish National League of Great Britain. THE DUKE OF GENOA, Commander of the Italian Fleet. (Photograph by Vianelli.) 3. Canon Awdry appointed Suffragan Bishop of Southampton. Hou. R. B. Brett appointed Secretary to the Officers. Italian Parliament opened. M. Zaimis elected President of the Greek House of Assembly, at Cape Town, adopted Mr. Umra Khan placed in strict confinement by the The Powers demanded of the Porte an indemnity 12. Bimetallist Convention opened at Memphis, Tennessee. Transvaal troops routed Magoeba's forces; the chief himself being killed. 13. Annual Fisheries Conference. The Tantallon Castle, with Mr. and Mrs. In the House of Assembly, at Cape Town, the 14. M. Delyanni submitted his Budget statement to the Greek Chamber. 15. The Tzar conferred the Order of St. Andrew on the French President. Spanish Government decided to send an additional 25,000 troops to Cuba. 17. Viscount Hampden appointed Governor of New South Wales. Portuguese Chamber of Deputies destroyed by Free State Volksraad agreed to join the Customs Harlem Ship Canal opened. Council Meetings of the National British Women's 18. The Porte made a second reply to the Powers re the Armenian Question. 19. Sigcau, the Pondoland chief, surrendered to the South African Government. King and Queen of Denmark entertained on board the Tantallon Castle at Copenhagen. Official Festivities connected with the Opening of the Baltic Canal began at Hamburg. Resignation of the Austro-Hungarian Ministry. Scenes in the Italian Chamber; attack on Signor Crispi. Baltic Canal declared open and christened the "Kaiser Wilhelm Canal" by the German Emperor. German Emperor entertained on board H.M.S. Sovereign. Fighting between Turkish troops and bands of Macedonians in revolt. Bill introduced in the Newfoundland Legislature to reduce the salaries of the Governor and Judges. New Minister of Foreign Affairs in Austria-Hungary. 25. Princess Hélène's marriage to the Duke of Aosta. 26. International Miners' Congress opened in Paris. Congress of Co-operative Societies opened at Huddersfield. 20. New Zealand Parliament opened. Capt.-General Primo de Rivera of Madrid shot New Austrian Ministry formed. by a Captain of the Infantry whilst receiving 21. M. Bachmann elected President of the Swiss 5. Congress of Co-operative Societies closed. Canadian Parliament rejected a motion in favour of Women's Suffrage. Legislative Assembly, at Sydney, carried the repeal of Customs Duties. Captain Cavijo, who attempted to assassinate Cloud-burst in the Black Forest district of 6. The Shahzada was entertained by the Corporation of London. Armenian Inquiry Commission closed. Statue of the late Sir John Macdonald, at New Commer ial Treaty between Greece and 7. Education Department issued a revised scale of charges for School Board ele tions. Canadian Government decided to reduce the permanent military force of the Dominion from 1,000 to 800 men. International Miners' Congress closed. German forces in the Cameroons inflictel severe losses on the rebellions Bakoko tribes. Japanese established headquarters in Formosa at Taipehfu. Mr. Richard Olney appointed American Secretary of State. 8. Djevah Pasha, the Turkish Grand Vizier, was dismissed, and Said Pasha appointed in his stead. 10. Postmaster of New Zealand conferred with the Festivities at Kiel closed. VISCOUNT HAMPDEN, New Governor of New South Wales. (Photograph by Russell and Sons.) New commercial agreement between Franco and Switzerland ratified. New Slavery Convention agreed to by Egypt. Maynooth Centenary celebrations began. International Railway Congress opened at the Imperial Institute. Sir Arthur Nicolson appointed British Minister at Tangier, and Mr. F. H. E. Elliot was appointed to succeed him as Consul-General at Sofia. Honorary degrees conferred, at Oxford, upon Lord Shand, Sir H. Loch and others. Admiral Saldanha da Gama, the Brazilian insurgent leader, committed suicide. Legislative Assembly, at Victoria, rejected Mr. Murray Smith's motion to establish a maximum ad valorem duty of twenty-five per On the resignation of Dr. Macgregor, a byelection was held with the following result:Mr. James E. B. Baillie (U) 3,164 Mr. Donald Macrae (L) .. Unionist majority In 1892 the figures were (L) 3035; (U) 2706; Liberal majority, 329. 17. Mr. Hall Caine, at Stationers' Hall, on Authors and Publishers. Court of Consignations (Scotland) and Post Office Act (1891) Amendment Bills read second time. 18. Professor Lankester, at the Royal Institution, on Biological Progress. Life Assurance Companies (Payment into Court) Bill read third time. 5. Lord Hopetoun, at Elinburgh, on the Colony of Victoria. 21. Inebriates Bill read second time. 6. Sir J. Stansfeld, at Halifax, 'on the Equality of Men and Women in Public Life. time. London County Tramways Bill read second 19. 20. 24. Mr. Bryce, at Tarland, on Agricultural; Depression. Lord Rosebery announced the resignation of the Government. Dr. Huggins, at the Royal Institution, on Spectroscopic Astronomy. 8. Dr. Waldstein, at Cambridge, on Art. Professor Cornu, at the Royal Institution, on the Extradition and Mortgagees' Costs Bills read third time. Sea Fisheries Bill read first time. 25. Sea Fisheries Bill passed through all its stages, Debate o the second reading of the Sea Fisheries(North Pacific) Bill. Mr. Shaw-Lefevre introdu.ed a Bill to amend Report of supply on the Uganda vote agreed to. the law respecting the use of locomotives on highways. Welsh Disestablishment Bill-Clause 5 agreed to. Welsh Disestablishment Bill-Clause 6. votes. Mr. Campbell-Bannerman announced an important scheme of Army Reform and the resignation of the Duke of Cambridge; but later on, the Government were defeated by seven votes. in Committee of Supply, and the Government, resigned next day in consequence.. 12. Mr. Chamberlain, at Mercers' Hall, on the House of Commons. Lord Salisbury, at Westminster Town Hall, on 14. Duke of Devonshire and Mr. Chamberlain, at the Hotel Métropole, on the Unionist Alliance. Lord Rosebery, at Clerkenwell, on London Goverument. 17. Mr. H. F. B. Lynch, at the Royal Geographical Society, on Armenia. 20. Mr. Asquith, at the Hotel Métropole, on the Civil Service. 22. Mr. Henry Vivian, at the Society of Arts, on "What Co-operative Production is Doing." 24. Mr. O. H. Howarth, at the University of London, on "Sierra Madre of Mexico." 25. Mr. Mundella, on Co-operation. 26. Mr. Balfour, at Ardwick, on the Political Crisis. 27. Dr. Parker, at the City Temple, on the General Election. THE LATE GEORGE SMITH OF COALVILLE. (Photograph by J. Powell.) 27. Court of Consignations (Scotland) and Post Office Act (1891) Amendment Bills read third time. Judicial Committee Amendment Bill passed • Committee. Royal assent given to the Seal Fisheries (North Pacific) Bill and several others. Lord Salisbury announced that the new Government would dissolve Parliament on July 9 THE LATE MR. GEORGE BENTLEY. (Photograph by F. M. Sutcliffe.) Naval Works Bill ordered for Third Reading. House Tax (Consolidation) Bill read second time: Friendly Societies, the Outdoor Relief (Ireland), and the Volunteers (Military Service) Bills were read a third time. Sir W. Harcourt announced the resignation of the Government. Seal Fisheries (North Pacific) Bill was passed. 24. 25. North British Railway Bill read third time. 26. Adjournment till July 1. |