BRITISH AND FOREIGN PAGE

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 205, 23 May 1908, Page 10

BRITISH AND FOREIGN PAGE

CURRENT TOPICS.

. 'Education Controversy.—When tho Bishop of St. 'Asaph put forth his Education Bill there seemed at first as if somo. compromise might be ■ arrived at. " Tho Times" : said: ■"A-variety of circumstances is? tending .-;to ' guide tho foot of educational disputants into ' a ,way of peaco. There is tholong-folt weariness of a.struggle constantly-,; acknow; lodged to bo somehow unworthy .of' the venerablo truths for which mon-fight, and ; yet"constantly maintained, just because "tliey feel tho .truths to bo so venerablo.- The Government," adds The Times, "would do wall to reflect' 1 that the ■ sacrifices which this Bill portends on the part of-Churchmen are at least evidence .of an • accommodating , spirit. For it proposes .that»all-/schools-.held under trusts may be transferred, to-the local authorities without any - consideration ox- - cept the facilities: named.' - It acqiiiesccs in a .universal Cov/per-Tompleism,- which, no doubt, would be afterwards defined as consistingo f the'admirable syllabus of the London County Council. '• Above''all; it r expresses a willingness 'on" tho part'of • tho denominationalistsv'to' pay for . the : special -religious instruction'' they desire to give; as well; as .to bo that.- which, however good of its kind; they deem td'bo by itself-insufficient. ' These are large concessions, and the details of any Bill involving principles of this"; kind will ,havo.to bo closely' scrutinised.",l 'I."-"-: - i The -Archbishop's Vievv.—Tho prospcct ~qf . pe&ce upon - the Education .question, - : is still unfavourable,"- ■ thinks the .-"..Chronicle..'' - '.' The. difficulties', are great.Some: of them . are''inherent, in; the; subject-matter; .-'others- - are imported b'y 'the. zeal' or ;passio}V, of ex-; tremists .on,: either sid^.! The hopeful-'sign-.is that' thero, .is also on each, side a large and, we believe,' a grooving body ofopinion'' which; earnestly/ desires a-settlement! ..which sees in present: .events, a "favourable opportunity for effecting fit;,; and which recognises : that any real 'settlement-'-must 'nican a' con-', ;cordat.'. »This, is.:the : spirit's.which,'."on-the; whole, seemed 'to prevail. in , the. .House..; of. Lords ~ when the' Bishop' of St. Asaph'3. Bill, was discussed...: Tivo;'questions-will,at ;l onco occur,;, to everybody.' What did the". Archbishop of Canterbury say. tp the Bill,"'and what.-was the'; Government's attitude towards -it ? :We think : that tho answer for tho 'two questions , niay ' fairly 'be given" in .the.- samei .general terms.,' Thore' was in. botfi quarters a- disposition'(to -regard the .Bill.iwith.,some: favour ■ as/.-;aff6rding:,matorial. : for a ...settlement.';;. This - Archbishop found"'. it 'impossible, to regard; :■ the Bill ;,with ; '.unfriehdly i eyes'; while - Lord; Crewe found .'a general rcisenft.. bianco', between it , and the Government .Bill, and .hopedthat 011 tho Government Bill . there woii!d.,bo-.a .full discussion of Jtbe ques-; cided. to 'adjourn tho . debato' is pcrhaps , : a good thing. Time is s needed in; order that both sides ■ may fully take, their.-.bearings; and it is just, as well at this stage-that nobody 'should-be'more, deeply, committed .Shan, is necessary." " v 1"':"-

; A Terrific Gun.—ls war now, or likely soon; to become impossible? The question which M. Bloch, the' rich ex-banker of AVar:saw, askod in his; world-famous work, "The Future of War," is repeated in another form of words by Colonel F. N. Maude, C.8., lato of the Royal Enginobrs, in a remarkable article v/hich he contributed to- the April issue of the " Conteriiporziry Review." . -In this article, Colonbl Marido-refers to; a weapon'which, ho says, is in existence,. and ;" can impart, by the 'application of clcctricity,. an initial.- velocity' of- 30,000 ft. a .second to projectiles, of all dimensions, which can be practically handled • under war : conditions, ' and on board ship,. or: in . permanent defences; 20001b;'-' weight'lies' fairly, with'iri these limits." .In a siicceisdin'g''passago.Colonel Maude declares ttu&'-.jf the rule with ; velocities up. to 2500 ft.';a I .second—viz:, that the resistance as tho/ square of velocity-r—holds! good 'at higher rates, : "then' practically there is nothing to'prevent these weapons—-one can hardly call them 'guns'— from throwing shells from London to Paris, or vice'versa, at-tho rate of a few thousand a day." -

A' Picturesque Ainericui.TrHeroi-is av man' whom " HunseyVMagaziije " calls., "one.-.of;, /the' most," picturesque - figures; in' American public, life" — Senator Beyeridge: —" He began his life upon a farm. He has known' poverty. 'Ho has .worked with his own hands as a ploughboy. . Ho has hauled lumber as a logger. .' Ho has lived the open-air life of a plainsman. He has been a college student, a . practitioner of law/. and at the ago of thirtysix he became a Senator of the United States. ; Everyone.recognises in; him' a"first-rato poli- • tician. : In his. forty-sixth year, ho/is ono of •the most picturesque figures in American public life, and_ stands in the vanguard of men .who aro doing things. Unless some untoward accident should intervene,, it is safe to say that his carcer has only well beguu. He, is a profound believer; in his own star. vHe is a man who 'can move o'nly '.in one! direction, and that''is forward. ■To retrograde •with him would; be death; 'By his studyoorf r men, measures,-and books,' by the'lessons:'of experience an<l the self-disciplino' of .hard work, he is'continually, adding to'his mental 'end political■, equipment^".

Rodin and Fresooos.—lt is 'annoiiteed that M. llodin, the . eminent- sc'ulptori v has "been given a comriiaud for . the decoration of : the : building which is to servetas the new home for the gallery of : art at'-tho' Luxembourg Palace.. M. Rodin has been-asked to paint; some frescoes, and is. overjoyed with the Tequest-. Tho. humble' 'observer'.:-will naturally compare the c'aao with , that ""of. Michael Augelo, who was-,, charged :..wi.th,'the dccoratioii of the . Sistino -.Palace wlien -well ,onin life, after having produced his,greatest, masterpieces in sculpturoj' but M.. Ilodiiij modestiy contents himself. with- the - compari.r. son of sculpture : with• fresco painting..- Ho has been experimenting at painting in.fresco, for several years, and. is now satisfiedthat ho has mastered ■ the - methods usod>.,by ! t-Ho, artists of ancient Greece and of the-Middle-. Agos. " I shall do much-, the. samo.: as-.in-sculpture, after all," he says,'" for in"tlift one art, as in the other, one is able to sirii-' plif.y attitudes, but one cannot make any. retouches."

Irish Universi;y Bill.—Referring to the Irish University Bill, Mr. Balfour I said .-lib* looked upon tho Bill with great favour. The proposals of Mr. Birroll ho regarded as far more reasonable than those put forward by Mr. Bryce. He agreed fully that it 1 was'im'-' . possible to leave, to .1 mere examining Uni- . versity .the great task of dealing with liigher education for the great mass of the population of Ireland. He held strongly, that a. teaching University was the . only form- of* University that, could train effectively--stti-i dente preparing for tho business of life, and, for his part, lie diu not believe that a bej>, ter plan than that'' of the Chief Secretary could be devised.' The fatal 1 blot/,on Mr. Bryce's scheme was the inclusion of Trinity 'College, Dublin. The Government had now shown wisdom by leaving that great institution alone. The one criticism lio.had to pass on,'thei scheme was .as .tp' the exclusion in; future years of the Crown from the work of selecting professors. The scheme as, a whole presented itself ; to-him'as.an absolutely "sirir cere effort to' solve' ft great difficulty* l , ;It would provide for Ireland academic, institutions in the best senso of the word,-institu-tions which would have the power to ibuild" up traditions of sound . learning. ,impro? judiced and unpolluted by religious bigotry. Mr. Dillon congratulated the Chief Secretary, thanked tho leader of the Opposition for his graceful acceptance of the measure, and declared that-a University, founded on the principles announced' that day would bo acceptable to the Roman Catholics, and that it would not be more clerical. in char'-' actor than any other institution for higher education either in Ireland or here. Ho criticised some of th« details ,of the measure, suggesting that tho funds set asido for the University in. Dublin were hardly adequate.

LATEST* NEWS BY; GTERSEA'MAILS

I ;Tho World's; Supreme. Port. —The Port ,of i London. Bill, "which -Mr. Lloyd-George introi'duped ■into''th6.''House of Commons on April 2, : ,4t prove ahothor such measure . as. . admirable Act • com'poUirig' the;, working of foreign patents in Great Britain (says the " Daily Mail"). The problem beforo Mr. Lloyd-George is one of '..'exceptional' difficulty and delicacy. One part of';it;lie''has already solved by his successTiil with the London and India," ~£li'o!^'Siifre.v,'; and the Millwalj Dock pfljiijjaiiipp""jiiij". purchaao of their prpThi)' terms arranged appear, just to- 'tli'o.' capitalist, "foi" they have been : received'Witti satisfaction. by the shareholders, and tliere lias "been no suggestion whatever of confiscation. Nor should tlio public suiter by' the . consolidation of the dock undcftakings. 'It: is vital that the port 'of Lonas possible brought up J.to' tjl)ery. standards, . and privafo. cpmp,i'i.m'es^ ! in view of tho uncertainty of their positiqh'and the vested rights which exist, could n<pyer''havc raised tho capital required for; thisj'oliject. The best appliances must bo:provided;'.the river, must .bedisponed; and the. obstacles in the way of the development 'gf,Loiidon's trade swept away. trpo.'jtha'tiitho' decay, in tho:'trade .of Londpn. has-been' only relative—-in comparison. .with' 'tbc-.progr&ss of Hamburg; and Ant.tyojfo'J'ahd; But it remains a : fact jvlierwjs'^fc^onty;. years ngo London handled' a' of, shipping than any olW'' -jSort,"'lQ-day: it is surpassed,.by Haml)ul-g..'ln!''.th,i?''value of tho goods ,i_mit is still supremo, with a;'; figiire^of : '\i2op'ooo,ooo. The, Englishman m^y : fie'cxeused' , ior registering the resolve supreme port of tho world.', " '

'-"ThS-WatßTluriiiin-'AnarchVj—A; Parliaraentary paper' issued by tho, Foreign. Office is World ") discouraging to tlioso who havo hopotl for' energotic concerted action "pf the' Powers to restoro order -find-;ereatoi 'good governmentin Macedonia. 'Sir-Edward Brey/iir December, made certain proposals to tho • Pciwors, among. them that ;ltho •.-teliamiGinerlrl' do , Giorgia , and the. foreign .-staff-' joffiocrs :of the gendarmerie j should, tljojoritnis'tod with a full measure of an adequate force; 'that' thq .'wit'stifuP expenditure on escossive TurkisH -garrisoilsi -should bo cut down, and ,thc.^saving r .he, dproted, to -an increased gen-, darmeribi" All the Powers declined to support ihe: proposals, and Sir Edward Grey , says-110 '£Hernatiye v sf)heme<j3'yet forthcoming to deal imperatively demands MmiriediatO; and ' energetic .treatment. His Majesty's" : - : Govbrhment ' rccognises the 'diffiany for re[iff''MSce'dbfiK unless',it has ; not only tho consent, b,ut the ■ willing'...and'' wholohoarted"'cooperation of all tho other Great Powors:'i Such an,.attempt: would • raiso tho 'Tlirklslf' , reforms in Macedonia bAjlosJt Jo o while the Turltish : qriosti6i.i,-nu%ht :: proye',a dangbr to, the peace ■of.'Europe;-Sir 'Edward suggests that wero a Governor; of . Macedonia appointed .who gi,Y§jvsflj'ee : harid and bq irremovable for' a term of years except v/itli tho ,bous6nt:of.:;the.v|(oweis,.-'and wero an. adequate forco of - genda,rmerio, and. European officers placed-at his-'disposal,"His'Majesty's Government aro convinced that the country might bo cleared of the bands and pacified in a short time.. Tho; Government earnestly recommend these proposals to tho favourable consideration of tho Powers. A Macedonian Congress held at Sofia has deeided to dissolve all tho: Bulgarian bands in Macedonia with tho object of furthering tho British proposals for .reform..-,. Should..effective reforms not,bo ititrqdudpd, ,'tljib Macedonian Bulgarians .will prepare for-insurrection."' " ; .

Mr, Haidsne's New Army.—The Territorial Army has risen phoenix-like from the ash.es of the\.'. \|olunteer forco • (says' tho "'Pafl^ ; a career which all .patnotic^meri' i: trust 'may brilliant; sucesss.Eoiv! the first time in British: history tlioi auxiliary forces" aro to 'be completely organised for war. -. Uniformity,: and order will be introduced where before there was chaos. It is as yet too early to say whether the expectations of Mr. Haldimehave been fulfilled, and whether the Volunteers; have enlisted - en niasse in the new Army. But it is earnestly to, be hoped that Volunteers will ? at..least, try the new conjli-. tions' r qf; sertyico'r, ■ (Thojr havo Mr., Haldane's; definite' prdmiso that tho terms will, be sub-; stantially., as of old), whilo this further h'oiv our has beon shown, them-r-that for tho first, time, they■ havo been treated seriously. Volunteers havo, always begged the War Office tog ive them an organisation for war'. Mr. Haldano lias responded to their appeal, and Has obtained from tho Treasury the funds required. If this,great experiment fails'^which ifpj-tuh'e forbid,, then ' universal service' becomes and ! inevitable.",

' - a • Railway,'jhveritor.—Mr.. Edward T. Hill has just died " at"-St. Leonards. Ho was a brother of Mr. Vincent Hill, of the S.E. and C. Railways. ; "His inventing proclivities soon displayed themselves,"' says "The, ■Tirofo". y ",A,,,fr)}a%y bundle of newspapers had every; r -mopiing'Ho.bo : dropped at Battersea Park'-Rqa'd.- : .Station: from' a train which "did -npt;;Bj»ft'- ! of - simply.. throT/ing-it; frefm/jtbo moving train was not found to.'pr'oduco ggod'frcsults-either 'for the. papers .piv.f<ir>?iliev;platform. : ' To meet the dilcu 11i 11-st'd :;a■ form of .- fastening 1 'jwhich long'as it Was under: strain, the strain'was rcf mpvedjraiidj; ,by-Sttaching the : parcel to'a piece of rbpe' : by mejiiis of one of these fastenings,- enabled tho[guard to deposit tho papers gently on. any desired part of tho'platform. Subsequently he ideveloped this device into'a safety appliance/for releasing the boats of a ship when-.iwung'-out from the rjavits,'which ha 3 been .'used /to a considerable extent' in 3ho mefc&ntilo ihhiYne. ■Ho ■ devoted special thio jury of that'section of the .Milan which was. concerned with tliem. HisMii-vxittions in this field included ''cqntrivancesgfbr /'.opening and ..closing - the ' various forms of coup;ling On .or do away with ;tho use,' and thus' to which shunters aro

.ir.To End"tSlo..Sll!rii.—Mr. John Burns has 'proparod X'rHtfiismg'' Billj 'which- Ml-.. George Haw in tho "Daily News" defines as having for its object "to stamp out tho slums at ono end, and to savo, tho suburbs at tho other. ToftnfUlamiing "-js pu t forward: to save tho. -suburbs. 'Increased inspection, among other things, is hailed-as the means of deliverance from slumdom. Hitherto rural authorities have been more or less helpless in face of tho overcrowding* in'rcountry cottages. By half a dozen lines Mr. Burns has made it possible to' put 'iiii eM to the saddening scenes in' tho villages'such as aro pictured'.in'Mr. Walter Crotch's 'Cottage Homes of England.' The "towiirplaiiiiing proposals are all to the good. .Instead,, tho suburbs to grow up in tho haphazard, piecemeal system of today, a system that has produced Tottenham and CannHig Town, the Bill empowors a local authority, to map out its undeveloped' areas on scientific? lines. Open spaces and recreation'grounds must bo considered before tho raids .of .the,speculative builder. Sovcral authorities' can - co-dpt-rato in carrying out a town-planning scheme. Tho idea is a Gorman 0110, but Mr. Burns has tried to avoid the .disadvantage ..to., tho working-class tenajits thht town-planning has produced in Germany. The systom. lias undoubtedly raised tho price 'of,land,' and made tho German working man's rent proportionally higher than is paid by ■tho'wofking"'classes in England. No such discouraging, prospects faoa tho tenants under ,th6"-town-planning schemes of this Bill. At any. rate, not if they keep thoir local authorities up to tho mark. For Mr; Burns proposes 'that, town-planning may ho accompanied' by" tho -purchase of tho land by tho local authority, eith-er b,y agreement oi- compitlsorily. Not .new legislation so . much as ' tho carrying out of'existing,legislation is the great-'thing needed. The Imperial Parliament that sits at-Westminstcr is less in needof conversion that the local parliaments that sit at our town, halls! Tho administrators of Housing Acts .have always lagged far behind , the legislators." . ,