The London Welshman

Notes of the Week. Mr. Chamberlain's Capitulation-At last Mr. Chamberlain has seen clearly that his fiscal cam- paign has been an utter failure, and he has done what a wiser man would have done long ago— he has decided to give it up. There is to be no -Highbury team in the field at the next election, he ashes of Preference are to be buried as Recently as possible, no Unionist Free-fooder is to be opposed by a Whole-hogger, with the ex- ceptions of Mr. Arthur Elliott and Mr. Gibson owles, and all the sections are to be united together under the Retaliation banner of Mr. alfour. We only wish the Opposition papers would recognise the indebtedness of the country to the Prime Minister for the manner in which e has defeated the reckless purpose of the man oni Birmingham. It is untrue to say, as some 0 them do continually, that there was perfect nderstanding between Mr. Balfour and Mr. amberlam from the beginning, and that the rirne Minister would have gone the whole hog if he thought such a policy would secure the approval of the country. We have the best of reasons for saying that it was not so. The Prime Minister is a strong Free-fooder, and has been all along, only he did not want to give Mr. Chamberlain an occasion to unfurl the flag of revolt until his power for mischief would have been destroyed, afterwards it would not matter, and the wisdom of Mr. Balfour's policy is quite evident to-day. Mr. Chamberlain can do what he likes now. His power is gone, and he knows it. Hence the capitulation. Whatever may happen at the next election and after, there will be no taxation of either food or of raw material during the present generation. Preference is more dead than a door mat. Playing Hide and Seek.—The great naval battle has not been fought yet, and the location of the rival fleets is still more or less a mystery. As far as can be judged the Russian Admiral is sailing slowly northwards along the coast of China, near enough to land to be able to run into the shelter of the three miles limit if the enemy were to draw near. But it is not all clear where Togo may be. He also seems afraid to strike a blow so far from home. It is stated that Japan has proclaimed a fresh base in Formosa and this may indicate an intention to enter into a trial of strength shortly. It was supposed that Rojestvensky meant to put into the French port of Saigon—where it was reported 70,000 tons of coal were waiting him--but that supposition is apparently to be falsified. Where further north he will be able to coal his fleet is an interesting speculation. A few days more will probably throw further light upon the in- tentions of the opposing admirals, though it is a great surprise to many that Togo has not attempted to deliver a decisive blow before this. The Education R.evolt.-It is becoming more evident day after day that Merioneth means to fight the Board of Education to the bitter end, and that it will be supported in its campaign by a practically united Wales. The attempt made by the supporters of the Education Act, especial- ly by the Western Mail, to create dissensions in the Welsh ranks by insisting that Mr. Lloyd- George and Mr. Haydn Jones, the Clerk to the Merioneth Education Committee, are at logger- heads, has ignominiously failed. Both gentlemen have declared in the plainest possible words that there is perfect understanding between them, and that they are quite at one as to the tactics to be pursued. What the Merionethshire line of action will be has not yet been made manifest. Those who are fighting the battle of the people there are too wily to disclose their plans beforehand. They may apply to the Courts of King's Bench for an injunction restraining the Board of Edu- cation from appropriating any of the Council School grants. They may carry on those schools as non-grant earning, and by that means deprive the Board of its only weapon of attack. But whatever plan they may adopt, they will not lack adequate support, both financial and other- wise. It is a thousand pities that things have come into this pass, and we hope even now that some compromise may be arranged. But the rights of the Welsh nation must be acknowledged. Until that is done no settlement of the case is possible, and those who refuse to do so will be held responsible for all the consequences of the quarrel. Easter.-Easter has come late this year, but the few holidays it brings along with it are all the more welcome for that reason. We do not remember ever witnessing so much joy at the prospect of a short period of rest and change. The early months of the year are always very trying in London this year they have been par- ticularly so. The ever-changing and often un- genial weather has played havoc with the energy of most people, and the influenza and kindred ailments have completed the work. We only wish business could be entirely suspended from the Thursday afternoon until the Tuesday morning, but we are afraid that is out of the question. But we do hope that the toilers will utilize whatever holiday they may get to rest. It is rest, even more than change, that is needed by the majority. We believe thousands of Londoners use up more of their energy on a bank holiday that on any other day throughout the year. If we desire to derive the greatest possible benefit from the holidays, the best plan would be to give railway travelling and places of amusement a wide berth, and spend the time quietly at home—shall we say in bed, after the fashion of the greatest playwright of the day. Mr. Evan Roberts.—The three weeks' mission of the Welsh Revivalist in Liverpool has now been brought to a close. Those weeks will be long remembered by the Welsh community. Hundreds of converts were made, and some of the meetings were most exciting, on account of opposition shown to the Revivalist's methods. Before taking his departure Mr. Evan Roberts was examined by four of the leading doctors in the city, and this is their certificate We" have to-day examined Mr. Evan Roberts. We find him mentally and physically quite sound. He is suffering from the effects of over-work, and we consider it advisable that he should have a period of rest. "James Ban, M.D., F.R.C.P. William Williams, M.D., M.R.C.P.. Thomas H. Bickeston, M.R.C.S. William .M'Afee, M.D. "April 15th, 1905." He has now gone to some secluded place in the country, the name of which is not to be revealed. We trust his friends will be wise enough, and his critics magnanimous enough, to allow him perfect peace and quietness for the next three months. The strain of the past six months on his sensitive nature must have been terrible.