The Globe. MONDAY, APRIL 8, 1878.

Globe, Volume IX, Issue 1265, 8 April 1878, Page 2

The Globe. MONDAY, APRIL 8, 1878.

Ix seems very probable that ere loug the western side of Cathedral Square will become a resort for tradesmen to display their wares. Already a move has been made in this direction, and if some means are not adopted to check what will become an intolerable nuisance, the whole frontage will speedily be occupied by stalls for the sale of goods. We have heard a great deal about preventing any thing that would be an eyesore in this particular locality, but here we have a state of things growing up presumedly with the tacit consent of the authorities which will certainly be most objectionable, The stand already occupied is that of a wireworker, and certainly the designs of his various articles are far from uupleasing to the eye. But what is to prevent a vender of fish, or a second. Laud clothesman setting up his stand. Jf opt? ii s aUflWfl to do so, all can claim figW Kg&r* tW ’A

ing iu our principal thoroughfare a sort of Houndsditch or Petticoat Lane. When it was first proposed to build the Government offices on the west side, there was quite an outcry on the part of a section of the people as to the danger of profaning the Cathedral by the proximity of such secular buildings. If this be so, what would be the feelings of these gentlemen if, as might occur, right opposite the Cathedral door should arise a series of fish and old clothes stalls. By the Act of last session, the square, in common with other reserves for city purposes, was vested iu the City Council. They, therefore, have the control and management of it, and it is to them we must look to put a stop to what, if allowed to go on, will soon get beyond control. They have no right to allow such an invasion of the rights of the public. Cathedral Square—that portion of course unoccupied by buildings—in common with other city reserves, is held for the recreation of the people, and to allow of it being occupied as now appears likely to be the case, is altogether out of the question. There is not the slightest ground for taking exception to any tradesman putting a stall if he so chooses on any site in the city, provided he obtains the site iu a legitimate way; but to convert one of the principal streets in the city into a sort of back slum, by allowing hawkers of all kinds to congregate and sell their wares on the edge of the side walk, is a nuisance which the public will not tolerate for an instant. No formal application for permission iu the case of the tradesman already iu possession has, so far as we know, been made to the City Council; but still, there he is, and we have not heard of any steps being taken to remove him. It is not, be it understood, an objection to an iudividual, but if we allow the occupancy of one to pass unchallenged, and allow him unchecked to established a stall there, we shall admit that of every one who chooses to take up a space. Besides, the reason we have adduced above, the sanction of such a use of the property of the public, would be giving a portion of the ratepayers an undue preference over others. Tradesmen in the city have had to pay large sums for sites whereon to erect their places of business. It is, therefore, manifestly unfair to allow others, perhaps iu the same line of business, to occupy, free of cost, one of the best positions in the city. There is nothing that could be devised which would so effectually spoil our best thoroughfare as what appears likely to eventuate. We have examples enough and to spare of the mean effect that some of the older buildings have iu our thoroughfares, and it can easily bo imagined what sort of a spectacle a line of stalls would present iu Cathedral Square. Wo trust the City Council, as the representatives of the citizens, will act at once, and decisively, in the matter. Of course there are some who will talk of hardship and oppression, but such arguments as these will not hold water for a moment. There can be no oppression iu conserving the rights of the public, and we trust that the Council will not allow themselves to be led away by any such ideas. They have the site in trust for the public, and it is their duty to see that no infringement of the terms upon which they hold it takes place. Therefore we hope that they will put a stop, once and for all, to any occupancy of the Square for the purposes to which we have referred. ♦ The news published on Saturday and this morning throws but little light on the aspect of affairs in Europe. Germany refuses to take part in the proposed Conference if England stands aloof. What effect this announcement may have on the prospect of peace, it is difficult to perceive. It is an admission, however, that a Conference without England being represented would be an utter failure, and is therefore an acknowledgment that British influence on the Continent is a reality still. The other statement made this morning that Russia will take forcible steps to disarm the Roumanian army, if her wishes with reference to Bessarabia are not complied with, will tend to open the eyes of those who still cling to the idea that Holy Russia entered upon the war with any other aim than the lust for territorial extension. Roumauia fought bravely on the side of the Czar, and aided materially in bringing about the fall of Plevna, which has resulted iu the complete collapse of Turkey. Yet her reward is to be the seizure of a portion of her territory, and a threat to disarm her troops. It is evideni that Russia will make a determined effort to gain possession of the mouth of the Danube and the key to the Black Sea—the Bosphorus. Writing on this subject iu January last, a Russian journal says : “ The key to the Black Sea and to the whole of our Southern provinces is and remains the Bosphorus; and so long as that key is not in her pocket Russia cannot bo at rest. At the end of the war Russia will be placed before the dilemma of either respecting the interests of all Europe and sacrificing her own, oxlooking after her own int rests, and leaving Europe to take care of hers. It ought not to be difficult for us to decide which alternative to adopt, especially when we look a little more closely at these European interests which are set up iu opposition to ours, ... It is stated that one of these Europeau interests is the Dardanelles; but is not that an empty phrase ? Neither France, nor Italy, nor Austria, nor Germany, have ever wished for access to the Black Sea, It is only England that desires it—England who aspires to dominion over all the straits in the world We should like to ask whether we have really made war iu erder to satisfy everybody —to emancipate the Slav, and to grant to England and all Europe an advantage which the allies after the Crimean war were unable to obtain from Turkey either by prayers or threats —namely, the opening of the Dardanelles and the Bosphorus to their fleets? Such a supposition is preposterous, . . If the Dardanelles are to be opened at all, they must only bo opened for the Russian fleet.”

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