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VARIOUS BRITISH AFFAIRS.

day's session was an address by Sir Charles Tupper, Canadian High Commissioner, advocating the adoption of a preferential tariff within the Empire. The "Fair Trade" utterances of Lord Salisbury (p. 141), and the bold stand of the Democratic party in the United States in favor of tariff for revenue only, as opposing the principles of the McKinley Bill, drew special attention to the deliberations of this Congress, it being thought not improbable that some change in the free trade policy of Great Britain might be proposed. The Canadian representatives were, however, disappointed; and the Congress advised that the best policy for the colonies would be, "to

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A memorial to Mr. Lowell, consisting of two windows, will be placed in the entry to the Chapter House of Westminster Abbey, by Mr. Leslie Stephen and other English admirers of the great American.

The Duke of Cambridge has indorsed the statement made by Adjutant-General Sir Evelyn Wood, that fifty per cent of the men in the English Army are unfit for duty, on account of youth and lack of stamina. The foreign and colonial services deplete the battalions of their best men. These facts, being stated before a committee of inquiry, caused considerable sensation.

Information of the appointment of

SIR CHARLES TUPPER, CANADIAN HIGH COMMISSIONER IN ENGLAND.

The annual boat race, between Cambridge and Oxford Universities, on April 9, resulted in a victory for Oxford, which makes her sixth victory in the 49 races between the two Universities. The time made beats all former records.

The Deputy-Governor of the Bank of England, David Powell, has succeeded William Lidderdale as Governor. The "New Oriental Bank," of London, suspended June 8, with liabilities of over $36,000,000. The depreciation of silver, and bad conditions of trade in the East, are assigned as the causes of failure. The bank has 27 branches in various parts of the world, one being in New York, and one in San Francisco.

Mr. James Anthony Froude as Regius Professor of Modern History in the University of Oxford, in the room of the late Professor Freeman, was quickly followed by rumors that Mr. Froude was thin king of resigning, the conditions of his appointment as to residence at the University and as to the required number of lectures being such that he could not comply

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with them conveniently.

The Duke of York has been appointed to the command of the Melampus, a new second class, twin-screw steamer mounting eight guns.

The trial of Mrs. Montague (p. 41) was concluded on April 4. The jury found her guilty on the charge of manslaughter, and she was sentenced to imprisonment and hard labor for one year.

Deeming, the wife murderer, was hanged on the morning of May 23, at Melbourne, Australia. At his trial, which began May 7, the plea of insanity was entered; but the evidence for conviction was so clear that his attorney was compelled to abandon this line of defense.

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REGIUS PROFESSOR OF MODERN HISTORY IN THE UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD.

EUROPEAN LABOR INTERESTS.

The agitation in favor of the legislative enactment of an Eight Hour day, has accomplished little thus far; and the indications seem to be that the question will be settled only by the slow growth of popular sentiment based upon experience of varying conditions affecting the practicability or advisability of the scheme. Neither of the leaders of the great parties in England favors legal interference in the matter. Mr. Gladstone refused to receive a labor deputation to discuss the eight-hour question; but Lord Salisbury, on May 11, granted that concession to a deputation from the London Trades Council. He, however, deprecated their desire for legislation. Although sympathizing with

the demand for more leisure, he advised them to depend upon the surer action of public opinion. The deputation then waited upon Mr. Balfour, who fully agreed with Lord Salisbury, that the parliamentary machine was not the best adapted to securing the the end aimed at.

Socialism and Anarchy.

However close may be the logical connection between Socialism and Anarchy, it is quite certain that even among avowed Socialists as a class,

not to speak of that large body of intelligent workingmen who would refuse to be known by that namethere is not the least particle of sympathy with the revolutionary and "catastrophic" methods of the Anarchists. Europe breathes more freely

EUROPEAN LABOR INTERESTS.

in view of recent evidences of this fact.

It is the belief of Anarchists that the fabric of human society, as now organized, is utterly rotten and abominable, and that it must be pulled to pieces for the ushering in of a new order of things. And, like the French "Terrorists" of a hundred years ago, the Anarchists of to-day are prepared to wade through a sea of blood to accomplish their aims. Fortunately, there is little reason for believing that the real Anarchists, men of the Ravachol type, capable of committing outrages such as those which have recently alarmed Paris and other European centers, are at all numerous, or that their organization is at all thorough or widespread. They are, for the greater part, ex-criminals and social outcasts, who find in the doctrine of "physical force," now abandoned. by Socialists, a teaching congenial to their violent instincts-men who hope to find in a social revolution new opportunities for crime and self-indulgence. It would be a mistake to regard them as a political body, although they profess to be such. Their functions are exhausted in what is negative and destructive. Even now, with the capture of some of their most desperate leaders, and the adoption of vigorous measures of suppression, their rank and file seem to have become pretty well scattered. Socialists, even of the extreme type, are coming to look upon the Anarchists as their worst enemies, and prefer to use the means of steady and lawful agitation; while the working class, as a body, in all civilized countries, have given evidence -notably by their quiet demeanor at the recent May Day demonstrationsthat there is little danger of them becoming entangled in an alliance with those whose aims are subversive of all guarantees of security to existing institutions. So long as the workingmen stand aloof, the Anarchists can do comparatively little harm; but, furnished as the latter are with engines of destruction unknown to their predecessors of the last century, they might, should a period of turmoil arise, acquire an unexpected importance, the danger of which should not

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be underrated, and against which it behooves the defenders of society to take every precaution. The danger is greatest in those countries that have made the smallest advance politically and socially during the last hundred years. France possesses an element of strength that was wanting at the time of the Great Revolution-the votes of an intelligent peasantry, who have become her practical rulers, and who do not care to risk the misery and bloodshed at the cost of which their fathers secured for them the advantages they now enjoy.

An evidence of the general assurance felt throughout Europe, that Socialists are not likely to make common cause with Anarchists, may be seen in the fact that Henri Rochefort,

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the Socialist, editor of the Intransigeant, is about to change his place of residence from London to Geneva. The Swiss authorities, in answer to a request from the European Powers, had taken the strongest measures against Anarchism; but the return of Rochefort to Geneva would indicate, that although he is a Socialist of the extreme type, little fear is entertained that his influence will foster the violent methods of Anarchy. He has lived in exile ever since the collapse of Boulangism in France.

Recent Anarchist Attempts.

For some time before the close of last quarter, a series of outrages, attributed to Anarchists, had inspired all Europe with an apprehension heightened by that element of uncer

tainty which plays so important a part among the causes of fear. The month of April presented an unparalleled record of violent attempts, causing the approach of May Day to be viewed with an increasing anxiety which was only partially allayed by the vigorous and far-reaching measures of the various Governments to insure tranquillity. In France, interest centered mainly around the trial, in Paris, of Ravachol and his accomplices, who were connected with the recent explosions in the Boulevard St. Germain, the Rue Clichy, and at the Lobau Barracks. Shortly after his arrest, Ravachol made a confession, admittinghis guilt, and detailing his connection with the outrages. The indictment, presented April 15, revealed the fact, that besides the crimes already mentioned, the conspirators were engaged in a plot to blow up the Palais de Justice at a time when it would be most crowded.

On the eve of the conclusion of the trial of Ravachol, April 25, the café of M. Véry, who had delivered Ravachol to the police, was wrecked by an explosion, the proprietor receiving injuries from which he soon afterwards died. The outrage had the effectwhich was undoubtedly aimed at by the perpetrators-of terrorizing the jury on the trial, who could read in what had occurred the fate which their decision might call down upon themselves and their families.

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RAVACHOL, THE ANARCHIST.

In spite of the vigorous measures of the Government, isolated outrages occurred in different parts of the Systematic raids on Anarchist quarters, were accordingly made by the Paris and Provincial police, beginning April 22. Fully 200 men were captured in Paris, and numerous arrests were also made at St. Etienne, Dijon, Amiens, St. Quentin, and Lyons, but beyond the usual pamphlets, and a large edition of a violent May Day proclamation, nothing was found that would throw light on the extent of the Anarchist organization.

It seems to have had some effect also upon Judge Guès, who presided, whose tone and demeanor toward the Anarchists was most conciliatory. In spite of the fearless conduct of the Procureur-Général, M. de Beaurepaire, whose address was a masterly and

courageous denunciation of the prisoners, the jury brought in a verdict of guilty, "with extenuating circumstances,"

against Ravachol and Simon, and acquitted the other prisoners. Ravachol's guilt had

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been not only proved, but boastingly admitted by the criminal himself. He acknowledged besides, that he had belonged to a gang of counterfeiters, that he had followed the base trade of a body-snatcher, and that he had committed at least one murder, that of the defenseless old "Hermit of Chambles," for the sole purpose of getting money. In spite of all this, the jury found "extenuating circumstances," which reduced the sentence of the Judge from the guillotine to penal servitude for life.

EUROPEAN LABOR INTERESTS.

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The verdict is universally regarded the Royal Palace, the Bank of Spain, as one prompted by sheer cowardice and other public buildings. The in-a miscarriage of justice constituting stigator of the plot was Munoz, the a virtual victory for the lawless ene- supposed leader of the Spanish Anmies of society. Its only effect could archists. He was arrested toward the be to encourage the audacity of the middle of April, and confessed that it Anarchists; and the Government, feel- had been decided to kill the boy King ing this, endeavored to counteract it of Spain, lots having been taken at a by sending an official representative secret meeting to decide who the asto the funeral of M. Véry on May 13. sassin should be. Several dynamite M. Loubet, President of the Council explosions in various Spanish towns and Minister of the Interior, was se- were reported on April 20, public lected. He delivered a speech at the structures being wrecked in each case. grave, powerfully denouncing the An- Whatever designs the Anarchists may archists, and declaring the confidence have had for May Day-and they of the Government in its ability to were violent enough, if their manicope with these deadly enemies. He festo, distributed among the workingannounced that ample provision would men of Barcelona, be any indicationbe made for the care and maintenance they were foiled by a raid of the police of the widow and daughter of M. Véry. on the workingmen's clubs of the city The sum of 300,000 francs was voted on April 29, at which many Anarchists by the Cabinet for that purpose, and were arrested, including Lorenze, the to pay indemnities for losses due to leader of the Barcelona Anarchists. the recent dynamite outrages. On May 21, an attempt was made to blow up the house of M. Beaurepaire, the Public Prosecutor; but the dynamite cartridge was discovered before any damage was done.

Not content with the sentence passed upon Ravachol by Judge Guès, the authorities arraigned the Anarchist on June 21, before the Montbrisson Assizes, on the charge of having committed five murders, and of having violated a tomb for plunder. The following day a verdict of guilty was returned, and Ravachol was condemned to the guillotine.

The perpetrators of the explosion at M. Véry's restaurant are known to be in London, whither detectives have started to arrest them.

France has not been the only country afflicted. Spain, too, has had her share of trouble. The Spanish authorities, being forewarned of a plot to blow up the Chamber of Deputies in Madrid, succeeded, on April 4, in arresting two Anarchists just as they were about to place the bombs. They were both foreigners, one a Frenchman named Delboche, the other a Portuguese by the name of Ferreira. From papers found on them, it was learned that their designs included the destruction, not only of the Cortes, but also of the Senate Chamber,

The Austrian authorities have been perplexed by a series of incendiary fires in Vienna, beginning with one in the Ringstrasse on the night of April 8. Other Austrian towns have suffered similarly. Buda-Pesth, the Hungarian capital, was startled by an explosion on May 12, a crowded street car being blown up with dynamite. Fortunately no passengers were fatally injured. The police have not the slightest clue to the miscreants.

Similar tales can be told of the work of the Anarchists in Italy. The explosions in Rome, Naples, Faenza, and other towns, toward the end of April, fortunately resulted in little damage. Numerous arrests were made in all the leading cities.

In Belgium, also, Anarchy has been active. The town of Liège has been found to be the headquarters of a formidable conspiracy. A partially successful attempt was made on May 2, to wreck the house of Count Minette. Two men were arrested, one of whom confessed his guilt, and incriminated others, who have also been taken into custody.

The Walsall (England) Anarchists recently arrested (p 41), were found guilty on April 4, of unlawfully having in their possession certain explosives, and were sentenced to various lengthy terms of imprisonment. D. J.

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