Welsh Gazette and West Wales Advertiser

A CHURCH DIGNITARY ON THE DUTY OF ENGLAND. PREACHING at Manchester Cathedral last Sunday morning on the duty of England with regard to war in the Transvaal, Canon HICKS made a noble appeal to the English people to refrain from giving countenance to what might turn out to be the most gratuitous of wars.. War he described to b. a rude and blundering engine that often wounds the hand that wields it, or, worse than all, by entering into unjustifiable and unnecessary conflict we may instil into our people that military spirit which is a nation's curse. There was the possibility of war with the Transvaal setting South Africa in a blaze. It would breed lasting feud. It would unite the Dutch against us, and possibly shake the loyalty of the, black population. Above all, it might be affirmed that no sufficient cause for war had yet been made out that. the war would be needless and unjust; that after our agreement with the Transvaal wj had no right to interfere with the internal affairs of that country. Admitting that any Micaiah who ventured to protest against the war fever must expect criticism, Caaon HICKS was emboldened to speak upon a grave public question which involved our British honour and that righteousness which exalteth a nation. What MICAIAH said of old, A lying .spirit had gone forth and prevailed in the mouths of the prophets," he said to-day. The facts had not been placed before the minds of the people. No leading statesman had explained the right and wrong of the question. Pre- judice and passion had prevailed instead of calm and collected reason. Statements of the wildest sort, and pleas wholly groundless, had taken hold of the popular mind. The public press had been deluged with telegrams and paragraphs designed to mislead: British opinion, or excite animosity against the Boers. A lying spirit had been at work. The reverend gentleman then proceeded to justify his view of the situation by review- ing the case with regard to the franchise and arbitration. What a certain party desired in South Africa was war and nothing else. War meant conquest, and conquest annexation. The war party coveted the land and gold of the Transvaal, not its franchise. But the danger is real and pressing. We have to fear the machina- tions of a war party in South Africa that will be content with nothing else than armed annexation. This difficult question has been launched upon us just at the time when a dry-rot of apathy seems to have overtaken the minds and hearts of the people. No commanding voice appeals to the public conscience, or lifts our thoughts to the remembrance of those abiding interests of humanity—justice and peace, liberty and self-control. We have been dazzled by a false and perverted patriotism. Twenty years ago we were siding with Turkey, and refusing to see anything in Russia's championship of the Christian people on the Danube save ambition for herself and a menace to others. We know now that we were miserably mistaken. We made as great a blunder forty-five years ago. Some of us can remember the war fever which swel)t--full of blind fury-through our land. Manchester burnt JOHK BRIGHT in effigy, and we plunged into the futile horrors of the Crimean Campaign. We saw the folly of it all afterwards. We plead, therefore, for a wiser and calmer policy to-day. We are a great nation, rich and strong. But power and dignity have their r, responsibilities, and empire its moral obliga- tions. Let us who love liberty respect the independence of the Boer community, men of our own blood and almost our own tongue, whose very faults, as well as virtues, recall in some degree, the qualities of those English yeomen, who, under HAMPDEN and CROMWELL, made their stubborn stand for freedom. A great empire can afford to be generous, and to make many mistakes. But it cannot afford to be overbearing, tyrannical, or unfair. Let us be on our guard against a. military spirit which makes itself the instrument of a sordid capitalism. We have need to preserve the Golden Rule given in the Sermon on the Mount for the ti-eatineiii of man by man, and nation by nation 4 Whatsoever you would that men should do unto you, do ye even so to

THE PAXTON SOCIETY. THE inaugural meeting of the Aberystwyth Paxton Society, held at the College Ex- amination Hall last week, was a complete success in every respect, and Mr. PICKARD and his friends are to be congratulated upon the excellence of their arrangements for the opening function, a short account of which will be found in this week's paper. It is gratifying to learn that almost all the 11 gardeners of the district amateur and professional have already joined the Society, and are eager to do all in their power to promote its objects. Mr. PICKARD, in a short address, pointed out the need for such an organization as the Paxton Society in the district. There was ample room for improvement in our methods of gardening. In fact, gardening was an art which ad- mitted of no finality, and much progress could be made by mutual education and co-operation. We are glad that the Society is going to devote special attention to cottage gardening, and it is to be hoped that the artizans and working men of the neigh- bourhood will join in large numbers. We need not dwell here on the manifold ad- vantages of joining such a society. Its main objects,, are, to foster, and en- courage the cultivation of flowers, fruits, and vegetables, and to provide means for an inter-change of ideas but the Society will also do much indirectly to raise the moral and intellectual tone of its members. We trust that the Society, at no distant date, will .secure a suitable plot of land for allot- ment gardens. The Society is fortunate in having the support of Alderman PALMER and Captain COSEXS, t wo gentlemen who own extensive gardens, and take a practical and intelligent interest in their cultivation.

-+. OUR YOUNG VISITORS. The. beach at Aberystwyth has this season been the scene of an interesting innovation in the department of disinterested endeav- our. A completely harmless scheme has been set on foot to attempt to raise sub- scriptions for philanthropic effort. The children visitors, boys. and girls, staying at this seaside resort with their parents, are encouraged to lend their aid, for a short time each day, in eliciting contributions from adidt visitors towards the maintenance of those admirable institutions which have for their object the care and keeping of little children, the outcasts and waifs of society. These institutions exist solely by means of voluntary contributions, and oftentimes the need of pecuniary assistance is sorely felt. One of these institutions exists for the pur- pose of obtaining funds to organize a seaside and country holiday for the little children of large towns who would otherwise have no release from their squalid surroundings. It is therefore very fitting that children in more fortunate circumstances of life should be encouraged to do something on behalf of their less fortunate little friends, while they are themselves enjoying the bracing breezes of a seaside holiday. The object then of these little beach institutions is a praise- worthy one, and, within due limits of respect and courtesy, worthy of support. The view that the indirect result of this solicitation will be a pernicious influence on the children collecting cannot we, think, be maintained. It would be a somewhat sweeping assertion to say that these boys and girls are early encouraged to develop the habits of the professional beggar. They ace not asking for themselves, but for others. We should be surprised if any of these little ones could be found who did not understand exactly the object for which he was working, or who would attempt to misappropriate a contribution given on the parade. The virtue of. benevolence is one of the highest of the virtues and may be cultivated in the youngest. These little ones are cultivating the habit and virtue of benevolence in working so assiduously to ensure the legitimate enjoyment of those who are brought up in less fortunate circumstances of life, and with whom they are in a position to feel intense sympathy. There are those who. say that the- police should interfere with the operations of those whom the cynics would describe as budding mendicants. But the officer, realising the nature of the work upon which the little boys and girls are engaged, and always providing that no, undue interference or solicitation takes place, would be brutal and callous indeed did he attempt to interrupt or to forbid the continuance of this work of clitrity. 0

| —1—1 NOTES AND COMMENTS. The Queen has allowed her Balmoral tenantry a rebate of fifteen per cent. owing to the deficiency of straw on last yeai-\s crop. It is stated that Mr. Michael Davitt, M.P., is to be secretary to the County Council in Mayo, and Mr. P. A. M'Hugh, M P., sec- retary to the County Council in Sligo. The present treasurer of the United States of America—Mr. Ellis H. Roberts—is a Welsh-speaking Welshman. His. parents were born near Bala. The Welsh Industries Exhibition will be held at the College Hall, Aberystwyth, next Wednesday and Thursday, A large gathering is anticipated. I The 17.000 or 18,000 men employed by Messrs. Armstrong Whitworth and Com- pany at Newcastle commenml their annual holiday on Friday last. It is computed that with th-sir- wives, families, and sweethearts then- fd} number will reach the modest figure of :)0,000 to 60,000, and this week they are scattered over the various pleasure resorts of Great Britain. The Dreyfus case is assuming "n aspect somewhat more favourable to the accused.. The main feature of the history of the trial this week has been the testimony (sic) of Mons. Bertillo, the writing, expert, who persists in the view in which he expressed to the judges of the 1894 ti ial, that Dreyfus was the author of the bordereau. From all accounts it does not appear that his testi- mony has made a very effective impression, on the present court. So the case still pro- ceeds without any definite proofs of. the charge brought against Dreyfus. We hope that the County Authorities will take e,13ry precaution to natural beauty of Devil s Bridge when erecting the proposed new iron structure. It is to be hoped that the new bridge will' not be a travesty on its picturesque and romantic surroundings. Would it not be well to consult the former county surveyor. Sir James Szlumper would; no doubt, give every assistance, and his wide and dis- tinguished experience would be of inestimable value to the Committee for. Sir James's, knowledge of the county bridges is quite unique. Sir John Gorst, M.P., speaking last week at a Primrose League meeting in Westmor- land, urged the importance of people taking an interest in political questions. A Govern- ment, he said, really represented the people not only in -their interests but in their virtues and their failures. He specially desired to see the interest of parents enlisted in the work of education, because without that he feared that the work of eduction would be greatly impeded he particu- larly commended the plan, adopted in some rural districts, of inviting the co-operation of representatives of the people in the work of managing the schools. Cardiganshire was well represented, and sustained its reputation at the Joint Counties' Agricultural Show at Carmarthen last week. Unusual interest was attached to this year's ahow, owing to the fact that the Prince of Wales was counted among the- many notable exhibitors. Elsewhere we give a list of the local prize winners. In the horses department Mr. F. R. Roberts,, of Penywern's pony, oi Cambria," carried away the first prize from its many rivals, Messrs. David Evans, Llwyncadfor; J. C. Harford, Falcondnle; T. H. R. Hughes, Neuaddfawr; Morgan Richardson,. Noyadd Wilym; Evan Evans, Maesmynach and the Earl of LisburneY. exhibits also, won. several prizes. One gratifying feature of the present Brewster Sessions is the general disapproval of the sale of drink to children under thirteen years of age. Lady Henry Somerset and the British Women's Temperance Association have rendered the country excellent service by calling attention to the- baneful effect of selling intoxicating liquors- to children. A short time ago the Northwich Board of Guardians, passed a resolution suggesting that, as the sale of intoxicants was a fruitful source of pauperism and crime, and as the sale of such drinks to children was largely productive of such < results, Parliament should be asked to; enact that it should be illegal to sell to. children under the age of thirteen for consumption off the premises. The Liverpool Magistrates, amongst others, have already practically stopped the sale of drink to children under thirteen by exercising their existing powers. The Earl of Portsmouth, as chairman of the Liverpool Laymen's League, addressed the leaders of that body on "Saturday. He said the Queen was the head of the State because she was the representative of the Protestant succession, but if this were abolished others had a better title to the- Throne. Their movement WAS essentially Conservative. The policy of the Liberals, was to disconnect the Chuich and State, but the Conservatives were determined to purify the Church and not abandon the clergy. They might hear perhaps of a scheme of locat autonomy for the Church which a dis- tinguished Scotch politician sought to elaborate" but they must be aware of this, for in Scotland they had autonomy without. episcopacy. The report of the Select Committee on the Cottage Homes Hill was issued Oil Monday. The Committee recommend in brief—First, the classifying of the inmates of Workhouses, so that the aged and respectable poor shall not be forced to mix with those whose character and habits are bad and disagreeable second, to make room for proper classification, all children other than infants be provided for outside, and apart from the Workhouse premises third County Councils should provide suitable, accommodation in separate institutions for the proper treatment of pauper imbecile.s. and epileptics fourth, aged deserving poor should as far as possible reqeive adequate outdoor relief, and when in the Workhouse should constitute a special class, and receive special treatment and privileges;. fifth, guardians should provide special cottage houses within the Unions, or other suitable accommodation, for saarried couples, and respectable old persons,. whose poverty is the result of misfortune. At the quarterly meeting of the Lan- cashire Sea Fisheries Committee,, held at Preston on Monday, Colonel Turner, of Stockport, made strong comments on the annual Conference of Sea Fisheries repre- sentatives convened b the Board of Trade, and held in June last. Colonel Turner said they had seriously considered the advisability of not sending representatives to the last conference, and what they had predicted had happened. Mr. Ritchie opened the proceed- ings by making a speech not at all compli- mentary to that Committee's representatives. Then, saying he had another appointment, he left them in the hands of some sub- inspectors, and the conference was as barren of result as any of the former ones. They met with a lot of silly, foolish opposition from men who knew nothing about fish, except through seeing them in an aquariusi. One member said there was not a man on the Board of Trade who knew anything' about sea fishery work, and the great thing they must try for wras to put men on who- did. The Chairman suggested that the Board of Trade should be communicated with, and urged to hold the conference in the autumn, and that this view should bo communicated to the different sea fishery committees throughout the country, with the view of securing the e: riy introduction of legislative measures such ..s they required. —After some little discuss.i-- n, the Chairman's suggestion was adopted.