Denbighshire Free Press

I THE STORY OF THE YEAR AT HOME AND ABROAD. By JOHN FOSTER FRASER. Events of interest have followed closely on the heels of each other during the last twelve months. There has been a dis- position for matters of great importance to overshadow those which under other circumstances would stand out prominent-!y in public attention. There have been wars and rumours of wars. The year closes with happy augury, and, being content with small mercies, we can take satisfaction in the fact that the thunders of war which have threatened to roll now threaten less. For the cause of this I think we may look at home. His Majesty has earned the title of "Edward the Peacemaker." When he was Prince of Wales the whole world appreciated his tact; but few men who let their thoughts wander beyond the death of Queen Victoria could restrain some sort of suspicion that under the rule of King Edward things would not go quite so well as under the gracious sovereignty of his august mother. Here everybody was mis- taken. Sinco last January the King has shewn the highest statecraft. Men have recognised of him more than ever that not only is he a monarch but a master of affairs. His visits to the Continent, his bonhomie among the Portuguese, his cordiality toward Italy, his warm friendship for France, his good-nature when, incognito, he visited Germany, all reciprocated by the visit of the King and Queen of Italy to our shores, the little holiday jaunt of the King of Portugal, the tromendous ovation given by London to M. Loubet, the President of the French Republic, have done more than a score of international conferences to main- tain the peace of the world. It was my fortune to be closely in the wake of King Edward and Queen Alexandra when, a few months back, they toured in Ireland. It was a revelation not only of affection for the Irish people, but of hearty, boisterous loyalty in districts of the Sister lile that for long had been considered rebel to the core. The King sauntering through the slums of Dublin, the Queen sitting by the bedside of those stricken to death, both visiting the humble cottages of the half-starved peasants in wild Conne- mara, provided proof that if their Majesties paid a few more visits to the "dear little, sweet little, green little Isle the British Parliament would not be long troubled by the Irish question. Politically, most of ns, a year back, looked forward to the past year being one vague in interest. As a matter of fact, it has proved the most thrilling almost in recollection. The l'eat Fiscal problem has overshadowed everything else. I happened to be one of the little body of men who met Mr. Chamberlain when he returned from his South African tour. He was worn he was haggard he was more sunken-eyed than I had ever seen him. The strain of his wandering over tho "illimitable veldt had told upon him physically. He looked like a man who had gone through a rough struggle, to whom repose was necessary. Yet before long he had the entire British nation in a whirl of excitement. It was at a meeting in Birmingham on May 15th that almost casually he unfolded the great programme. Great Britain was not doing so well commercially as it ought to do. Industries were waning to extinction, because our Free Trade policy made Great Britain keep open house to the industries of other lands, whilst those other lands barred the entrance of our manufactures by huge tariffs, which it was impossible in the course of ordinary commerce to over- oome, and the result was that year by year we were becoming more and more dependent on foreign imports, whilst our exports, the life-blood of the nation, were decreasing, HIS pian v Wfi-S to proanco: a S'Sir-cclitainet. Empire—for lis to give preference to our Colonies, in return for which our Colonies would give us preference, and that British manufactures and British labour should be protected from unfair competition by taxa- tion on imported foreign goods. This, he admitted, would mean the taxation oi imported corn, and consequently a rise in the price of broad. On the other hand, lie suggested a (lecreaso of the taxation of other commodities. Ho assured the workers that instead of casual labour they should have constant employment, and made it a firm plank to his programme that the actual oost of living would be no dearer than it is at the present time. This policy produced a tremendous political storm. The Liberal party was, and is, opposed to any departure from the principles of Free Trade, which have done so much for the industrial advance of Great Britain. There has been no hesitation in declaring that tho adoption of Mr. Chamberlain's scheme would be to plunge the country back into distress similar to that which marked it ;n the first half of the eighteenth century. Mr. Chamberlain's speech produced dis- sensions in the Cabinet. Mr. Balfour did his best to maintain peace. The Radicals at Westminster, having more than a sus- picion of tlTe state of affairs in the Cabinet, attempted to force discussions which would reveal cleavage in the Ministerial party. Mr. Balfour, however, adroitly resisted the onslaught. Whilst mcmy men think he has shewn weakness, others are certain he has displayed the highest art of statesmanship in holding together his party, when under a less amiable and more dogmatic leader it might have drifted on the rocks. He formulated a policy of hiu own, namely, that the Government should have til power, when a foreign country treated us with outrageous unfaiincs by having such high tariffs that our oods could not compete in thoir markets, whilst our markets were freely open to them, to threaten them that, unless they lowered the harriers, we would use tariffs to damage the importation of foreign articles. This policy the Prion, Minister developed fully in a speech at Sheffield in the autumn. It has been officially adopted as the issue on which the Conservative party will appeal to the country at the next General Election. While many of his own friends have been unable to see eye to "yo with him on the matter of retal;a.iinn, hi. ].a; lost from his Government not oniy Mr. Chamber- lain, who sought liberty to promulgate freely his policy by ceasing to b« Colonial Mini<f>r,.but aiso the Duke of Devonshire, Mr. Mitehie, Lord George Hamilton, Lord Balfour of Burleigh, and Arthur Elliot, who, as Free Traders, have thought that even 'u 1 supporting Mr. Balfour's programme—which some of them agreed I with ki theory—-they might be helping on the far-reaching, pregnant, and, as they consider, policy of Protect advocated by 31 • -'•'lajubeilaii. Yet there have »*^m- other issues before j the country. 1.iO Education Bill dis- pleMud a great. Rf,'ti::n of N oacouf or mint*, i sii much, indiind, hlit many of them have allowed tiinir to be sold rather than ccnLiifcute rates wnich they conceived would ^o towards thu mainten- IlPce of pI rely dellO¡IJinatiollal :!SchooJs. This eI-eSiStZA I LC -1 11 has nrousid much indi^nuiijn on the part of ottit-rs who I whilst conceding there is room for two opinions respecting the Edncatioll Bill, point out that if one political party is to refuse to pay taxes, because it disagrees with the policy of another 'arty, the time may come when such tactics can be pursued by the other side. The Arch- bishop of Canterbury wade a sv-^geation that the hoads of the Chun/h oi England and the leaders of Nonconformity should meet in conference to see jf it were possible to devise some friemUy scheme whereby the existing friction between religious bodies could be abolished. The conference, however, was declined by the Nonconformists, on the ground that the issue at stake was too great to be decided round a table, and that only the votes of the people at a General Election could be the arbiter on so momentous an issue. In the early part of the Session a dead set was made by a band of unattached Tories against the Army Corps system initiated by Mr. Brodrick. Perhaps more remarkable than the insistence of the attack was the wealth of unexpected oratory revealed among the younger members of the Conservative party. Here was a body of men who had been regarded chiefly as a band of well-to-do political dilettantes, displaying not only acute criticism, but great cleverness in tactics in forcing their views to the front. It required all the charm of Mr. Balfour's personality and the exercise of all his loyalty to colleagues to save his War Minister from a tumble. The report of the War Commission, which was issued in the autumn, created a tremendous sensation throughout the country ^n account of its revelations regarding the condition of the national defences at the outbreak of the South African conflagration. The evidence of Lord Lansdowne, Lord Wolseley, and officers of the headquarters staff, no less than that of Lord Roberts, Lord Kitchener, Sir Redver* Buller, and others employed in South I Africa, provided subject-matter for much comment both at home and abroad, and the Report had a considerable influence on succeeding events. The resignations in the Cabinet, conse- quent upon Mr. Chamberlain's programme and the necessary reshuffling of portfolios, has led to Mr. Brodrick being removed from the War Office to the India Office—- not, however, to the exultant glee of India. H is place in Pall Mall has been taken by Mr. Arnold-Forster, and it is generally expected that Mr. Brodrick's war policy will not be further pursued. A measure which for long occupied the attention of Parliament was the Irish Land Bill—almost forgotten in the turmoil of succeeding events. Here was a scheme where, by Great Britain lending about £ 100,000,000 and giving a present of £ 1^,000,000, the Irish landlord might be able to sell at a good price and the Irish peasant purchase at a comparatively cheap price. The scheme was to have the effect of making those hereditary enemies the Nationalist and the Irish landlord fall into one another's arms and declare each other to be the best of good fellows. There was practically no opposition to the billlrotting through Parliament, because naturally all the Irish appreciated the advantages of a bonus of £ 12,000,000; the Liberal party could find no fault, because they have always officially been friendly to the Irish; whilst among Ministerialists, though there was an undercurrent of criticism, it was kept within restraint, because it was gene- rally understood that a Great Personage favoured the measure. I The passing of the Irish L.w! i),ill was a Kigna! triumph for Mr. George Wyndham, the Chief Secretary. He is the dandy among Ministerialists Mr. William O'Brien once called him the Lydia Languish of tho Treasury Bench—but there is no man in the Government who bus such a graceful literary turn of phrase,and who can concede with a smile the non-essentials whilst ho j grips tight tho essentials. Now and then I little rocks of obstruction reared in the passage of his bill; but, with a smile, an adroitness, and an amiability which won everybody, he piloted it to the Statute Bvok. j Alas! however, the eternal friendship among all classes of Irish people—promised as a result of the Irish Land Bill—has I hardly been reached. The personal quarrels among the Nationalists m'e as rampant as ever. Mr.William O'Brien, a picturesque and somewhat theatrical figure, has dis- appeared and even Mr. John Redmond, phlegmatic Saxon rather. than excitable Colt, has shewn signs of disgust, and has threatened to throw up the leadership of the Irish Party. In Britain beyond the seas a quickening of enterprise is to be recorded. Canada is pushing aha&d with characteristic Trans- atlantic energy. Numerous inducements havo been held out to occupants of the Old World to become settlers in the New World. Emigration has Ween brisk; but in thie matter the zeal of some emigration in thie matter the zeal of some emigration agencies hes outrun discretion, and many poor people have gone to the Nortn-West Territory expecting to be settled comfort- ably on. farms, but disillusioned by finding I themselves dumped in a more or less in- hospitablo region, where, despite all their hard wuk, suffering and privation have been theirs. Accordingly, from disap- pointed emigrants we have heard stories ¡ by 1:0 moans pleasant. Though the flood of immigration into Canada is great, but a fraction of the new settlers come from "the I Old Country. The most valuable settlors are really from the United States—farmers ¡ who have dew well in their own country, I who have sold their land at a good price, and crossed the frontier into British territory, where they have been able to purchase three or four times as much land, ¡ equally jood, with the money. The patriotic Canadian has felt "sore" over the Alaskan boundary award. Exactly j what was the line of territory which the ) United States had purchased from Russia nigh a century ago, and what the British line oi territory, had long, been indefinite, j There was some friction because frontiers were in dispute. Canada was "the man in I possession respecting a great stretch of seaboard, and the result of the arbitration, presided over by Lord AWeratone, the Lord I Chief Justice of England, was that the United Stat-o3 -,A. a A given practically all it had contended for, and Canada was obliged to take two strpp to the reflr. A blaze of indignation swept Canada at the time; it way declarer] thai England had once more way declarer] that England had once more bartered the rights of Canada to curry favour with the State1-, :)Ol +;.(11:; her ambition to Imvo a grcuii l"Jr' !-»*• Pacific j seaboard in that part ot voiid had f' been frustrated. It was against the Canadian grain that she should have heen compelled to back dow;" to the Uusted States. Still, I it was clear to all impartial students of the dhp ite :,b.Jt the right lay with the Americans a-d not with the Canadians. Australia continues to struggle with adversity, but is crippled by the intermin- able labour disputes. South Africa is settling down to being a savviceable colony. True, be days of the booru are quite gone, ihwho hnvo gone out expecting to il-ow uks *ater have receive'! a rude shock of disappointment ti discovering it was 110L &0. But il tho ordinary ehaiuiola 01 industrial and com- aiercial progress tho t!.Y baa iittle -oIZ- ó-r r'i.son LO compia\n. ljora ivniner, wno has been home having a rest—and who di-dined the post of Colonial Secretary when Mr. Chamberlain resigned—has gone back to his work as High Commissioner, j The great problem yet to be definitely solved is the employment of Asiatic labour in the goldmines. On the one hand t;ere is the cry that only white labour should be employed, whilst on the other hand it is maintained that white labour is so costly that the mines cannot be worked at a profit. White labour replies that to import Asiatics will be to flood the South African labour market with cheap Chinese labour, to the detriment of British labour, and there must inevitably be the same trouble in Australia and the Western States of America. Feeling runs very strong on this matter. I:) Lord Curzon is remaining another couple of years as Viceroy of India, where, by his determination and settled policy, he has been an unqualified success. Once during the year he came into conflict with the home Government, when the proposal was made that India should contribute to the maintenance of troops in South Africa be- cause they would be there ready for the defence of the North-West- frontier of India should ever it be attacked by Russia. This was an arrangement India would not agree to. So the home Government had to give way. At present there is an expedition into Thibet, by way of a show of strength, to compel the Thibetans to keep to the treaties they have made by allowing the British to trade in the country instead of deliberately resisting all commercial relationship. Lord Curzon has been making a tour of the Persian Gulf, which may do something, it is hoped, to revive the undoubted waning of British influence in the land of the Shah. For years trouble has been brewing in the Far East between Russia and Japan. Russia has persistently been expanding her territory. Everybody in the world—except, possibly, the gentlemen in Downing-street —knows that the occupation of Manchuria is not temporary, but intended to be per- manent until somebody is strong enough and daring enough to force Russia to evacuate. Russia has "bluffed every nation on the earth's surface with her "intentions to leave Manchuria to the Chinese, and yet has never carried her "intentions" a step further. The extra- ordinary thing is that other nations seem to have joined in the game of being bluffed. Our Foreign Office is insistent on evacua- tion but as we have no interests worth talking about in that part of the world we are not likely to go to war with Russia Japan, however, has many interests in that region, and, indeed, it is just possible that before these lines are in print the two countries will be in a death-grapple. Japan is ambitious, and desires to expand. Most of the available territory in the East has been annexed. Japan has known exactly what the policy of Russia was, and has been in a fever heat of desire to tight her hucre Muscovite antagonist. Peace might possibly be maintained by Russia having Manchuria, if it is understood that Japanese supremacy is recognised in Cores. But Russia will make no promise to keep her hands off Corea. She resists Japan putting her hands there. Relationships are strained, and any moment tho fury of war may break forth. Russia, however, does not want to fight. First, she has not the money. Secondly, getting her troops across Siberia in dead winter would be a terrible task. Thirdly, her fleet in Asiatic waters cannot bear comparison with the Japanese Navy. The Japanese know this, and would probably inflict a severe reverse at the start. Full of this knowledge, the Japanese, who are not a modest people, but have big ideas about tli3ir own prowess, are thirsting to fight. So rampant is the desire to do battle with Russia that it is not improbable Japanese diplomats will find it impossible to stav a struggle much longer. We nave a peculiar in cue conflict. We have a formal alliance with Japan—which some far-seeing statesmen by no means appreciate—and it may be this very a 1: i anoe which will plunge the world into war. If Japan fights Russia ill one v.e cum stand on one side in benevo- lent neutrality. If, however, Japan is confronted with two nations we will be obliged to fight on her side. The nation that is expectod to line up alongside Russia is France. Whether formal or informal there is certainly an understanding between France and Russia. Naturally we do not want France to aid Russia, for we have nothing to go to war with France about. Much of the kowtowing to France these last few months, forgetting old enmities and renewing friendships, visits and return visits, has, I believe, been sedulously fostered by our British diplomats so that, when the relationship between Russia and Japan snaps, and Russia looks to her Gallic friend for aid, France will think twice and thrice before doing anything to bring her into conflict with Great Britain. The smouldering, spurtive unrest in the Near East has shewn several signs of blazing into a conflagration. It is the old trouble of Turkish misrule in the Balkans. There ia no doubt there are innumerable instances of Turkish infamy in Macedonia. But there are many watchers of affairs who believe that the recent grievances of Macedonia have, to a great extent, been manufactured in order that the sympathy of Christian Europe might be gained and the influence of the Great Powers be brought to bear in coercing the Sultan to grant autonomy to Macedonia. Though the ways of the Turk in dealing with those with whom ho comes in conflict are barbarous, we have good reason to conclude, from the testimony of impartial observers, that the Macedonian revolutionaries have themselves fomented disorder, increased rather than relieved the distress of their peasant countrymen, and have fabricated "atroci- ties with the object of rousing Christian indignation. In some quarters indignation has been aroused. But diplomats who know the situation have made little sign. Our own Government has wisely kept out of the trouble. The Governments that are I affected are those of Austria and Russia, who have been pressing a scheme of reform on the Sultan which he, with ill grace, more or less accepts. Whether the Sultan will give effect to the reforms is doubtful. Any way, there are not likely to be any more hostilities between the Macedonians and the Turks till the spring. The people of the various principalities in the Balkans are hot-blooded, savage, and I relentless. A ghastly evidence of this was provided in June, when the King and nf Servia were assassinated. King Alexander was a headstrong young man, and by his arrogance, suddenly stripping Ministers of their power and putting favourites in their place, and also his ex- travagance, alienated the loyalty of his people. Queen Draga was a lady older than I himself, about whom there had been scandal. Alexander was loyal to her, and, though in the murmurs of the people he was assured all would be well if he would put her away, he refused. Accordingly a plot was hatched. The palace was invaded one night, the King and Queen brutally murdered, and their 'bodies thrown out of a window. The same night, many Ministers were killed. The Royal house was wiped out. and tbr death of the nwnaroh and his Consort was celebrated by public rejoicings. Prince Peter Karageorgevitch, the head ot a rival Royal house which, had formerly possessed the Servian crown, was invited by the Servians to be their King. He was eivee joyous creeping, and Tor a time all things went placidly. But Servia is once more seething with revolution, and King Peter's life is by no means a happy one. Great Britain marked its horror of the regicide nation by withdrawing the British Minister from Belgrade and holding aloof from a recognition of the new monarch. At the beginning of the year there was more trouble with Venezuela. The Government ignored its debts to Europe; whereupon Germany and England, acting in concart,used force, blockaded Venezuelan forts, and bombarded some of the towna. j Among what can be U-,d the "little wars" we have had xnedition in Soiii-lililaiid against the- i. liah, who was causing trouble. It was means sue- cessful, and there is v o be another | effort to crush him. 0 West Coast of Africa wtf have had eN. t, io-.is against chiefs who were causing ?rouble, and these, by the argument of Maxim guns, have been brought into subjection. has been an | attempted revolution in /d'.cocco, and in that part of the world ohe influence of France has certainly been strengthened. The most astute coup d'etat was the revolution of Panama against the Colombian Government. The Unit—: .vStft»es have been negotiating for a long tun* with Colombia for the right to ctt-. a CKU-.I through the isthmus. Colombia held back her consent, expecting to squeeze more money out of the States. No agreement being come to, the powers at Washington cast no unfriendly eye on a rebellion in Panama to throw over the Colombian Government. When the new Panama Republic was declared Colombia was powerless, especially as she found the States were backing the new Republic. The Panama Republic has been recognised, and an almost instant arrangement made, by which there will be no more local difficulties when America thinks of proceeding with the construction of the Canal. The whole thing was a skilful bit of revolutionary engineering. It was on a level with the Jameson Raid, with the difference that it was successful. Within the last few months especially there have been growing evidences of de- pression in trade. Slackness has been in all our great industrial centres short time is the rule in a grel-t many works, and some of the steel firms have been obliged to damp down their furnaces. This depression is by no means limited to Britain. It exists in Germany, whilst in the United States it is rapidly reaching the acute stage. The great trusts in America arc beginning to rock. The Steel Trtist is decrepit, to say the least: whilst the great Shipping Combine, which was going to put the carry- ing trade the world under the Stars and Stripes, has become the laughing-stock of all commercial men. Tiera is a growing antagonism in the States between the representatives of capital &nd labour. Strikes are becoming increasingly common. Personally I should not be surprised at a great labour war in America within the next few months. The scourges of cancer and consumption have agitated the public mind. Led by the King, the British people are doing their best to combat the evils. Vast sums are being contributed for scientific investiga- tion. Mr. J. D. Rockefeller has given a million and a-half of dollars to be spent in endeavour to discover a cure for consump- tion. The German Emperor has undergone an operation for the removal of a polypus from the larynx but when it is remembered his mother, the Empress Frederick, died from cancer, and his father, the Emperor Frederick, from a malignant growth in the throat, there is room for anxiety respecting the health of Emperor William. As regards general matters, we have had a Royal Commission appointed to consider the question of our food supply in time of war. Viscount Esher, Sir John Fisher, and Sir G. S. Clarke have been selected to consider War Office reforms. Inquiries are in full progress respecting our national physique. London traffic is a problem being tackled. A report on alien immigrar tion has been issued. The motor industry has advanced, but legal restraint is being placed on reckless driving. The motor races in Ireland shewed that Germany and France were ahead of us in motor construc- tion. At the same time there has been increased interest in aerial navigation. Mr. Cody has crossed the Engliwh Channel in a small boat pulled by a kite; and Mr. Holbein has made another valiant attempt to swim the Channel, but failed. Marconi is perfecting his wireless telegraphy, so that now some of the big Atlantic liners are never out'of telegraphic communication with one country or the other whilst crossing the ocean from England to America. Sir Thomas Lipton took Sham- rock III. across to New York, hoping to "lift" the America Cup. His failure was more marked than on either of his previous attempts. There has been a long list of tragedies, crimes, disasters, and trials. Fifty lives were lost at an awful fire at Colney Hatch Lunatic Asylum; Madame Humbert and hr relatives, who had lived in grand style in Paris by pretending to be heirs to non- existent millionaires, are new in prison for several years; a blood feud has broken out among Armenian refugees in London, and the pistol of the assassin has sounded in the suburbs; ragging among officers in the Guards has scandalised socioty; the Midlands have been thrown intoexcitenwnt by the heartless maiming of eattIe; two famous murder trials have provided us with the grueome-the murder of Miss Holland I at the Moat Farm some years back, only I discovered after much mystery and in- vestigation, followed by the execution of Dougall, with whom Miss Holland had lived and the Peaaenhall murder,the killing of a girl and the unsuccessful attempt & burn the body, tho arrest of a preacher, and his discharge after two long trials. For weeks the whole country agitated by the disappearance Miss Hickman. a lady doctor. Alst every hedgerow was searched, and o(ly was subsequently accidentally d^COVftred by boys in Richmond Park. e had com- mitted suicide. Now I come to the: r;jil-cull. Many famous good men and* wrir>ien have gone from us. The llojnaB ^^boli. Church has mourned the death °pe Leo XIII., and has placed Pope 011% X. on the throne of Peter. The Cprrh cf England lost a sturdy champi I)r. Temple, the Arch- bishop of and has now an I energetic PriA,a'f-(' Br. Davidson. Non- I conformity the outspoken Dr. Parker, ft'" v. nole British Empire lost a noble in the passing away of the noble tJltlle in the passing away of the Mar-quill ()!. Salisbury. Dial-ri Farrar and Dean Sradioy are loat to the Church of EngllJud nt, Walford Green is lost to the Non'on^<>t'miots, and Cardinal Vanghan is lost o the Ronjfui Catholics. In the death of Sir Michael Herbert a charming man to be British Ambassador at Washington ia I gone. Scientists have to regret the death 1of Mr. Herbert Spencer and Professor j Mominsen; politicians the death of Mr. I Hanbury; historians the dMtth of Mr. W. E. H. Lecky; painters the death of James M'Neill Whistler"; authors ttw of Mr. W. E. Honlay. H Seton Merriman, and Miss Ldoa Lyall; journalists the death of Paul tie Blowits; humorists the death of Max O'Reli. rausicianq the death of Dan Godfrey: and criekqters th* death of Arthur Shrewsbury. It i. a long and a faci rolL i