Central American Politics. NICARAGUA. on April 24, at Amapala, in Honduras. It is sufficient to say that political conditions in these countries are still very much unsettled and that the good offices of the United States and Mexico are always available and frequently being used to smooth the way to peace. On page 69 of this issue Hon. John Barrett, Director of the International Bureau of the American Republics, gives a graphic description of economic and social conditions in the five Central-American republics. Secretary Root's forthcoming visit to Mexico (he will start, it is reported, late in the summer), while it has no special political significance, is no doubt in line with his visits to the South-American republics and Canada, and intended to impress upon these countries the friendly feelings toward them on the part of the Government and the people of the United States. There is a persistent endeavor on the part of newspaper correspondents and students of CentralAmerican politics to mark President José Santos Zelaya, of Nicaragua, as a dreamer of ambitious schemes, which include the unification of all the Central-American republics into one confederation. Of this confederation, say the reports, of course General Zelaya would be the head. It is not easy for Americans to understand the present political situation in Central America. That Señor Zelaya is an ambitious man, quite capable of such a dream as has been attributed to him, however, is perfectly comprehensible to American students of the situation between Mexico and the Isthmus. It is unnecessary, and might be confusing, to go into the details of the alleged barbarous practices of President Cabrera, of Guatemala, the confused diplomatic relations between that country and Mexico, and the desultory fighting throughout Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, and The President of Nicaragua would be the connect Guatemala which followed almost immediate- ing link between the two continents with a union of ly upon the conclusion of the treaty of peace Central America. between Nicaragua and Salvador, negotiated From the Journal (Minneapolis). ing in the West, and there is no difference of that Mr. McClellan would try to secure furopinion anywhere as to his exceptional fitness ther delay by questioning the constitutionality for the highest office in the gift of the people. of the Recount bill, and carrying it up to the Governor Hughes, of New York, has within Supreme Court of the United States. The the past few weeks commanded the attention position of the Mayor does not commend itself of the entire country by his veto of the 2-cent to any considerable element of the public. rate bill and the calm strength he has shown While the majority of New Yorkers would in securing the tardy and reluctant adherence rather have McClellan than Hearst for Mayof the Legislature for his public-spirited or, there is no sympathy with the Mayor's program. There is a pronounced movement unwillingness to permit a recount of the votes in New York to bring him forward under fair and careful conditions. If Mr. as a Presidential candidate. It is Bryan and Copyright, 1906, by Underwood & Underwood, N. Y. Hearst should be counted in, there might be a considerable revival of his prestige. But it is not at all likely that he will emerge next year as a Presidential candidate. His newspapers last month were announcing a great victory for him in the fact that the federal Government is at last, after some years' delay, on the point of bringing action against the anthracite coal combination, which is made up of the coal-carrying railroads. It will be remembered that Mr. Hearst filed information against the coal trust and secured an investigation by by the United States District-Attorney for New York, which sustained his charges. Of all the trusts and combinations in There is sporadic talk in Demo- the entire country, the one most obvious cratic circles here and there of in its monopolistic character and most opHearst. some other candidate than Mr. pressive of the public has, for many years Bryan; but as yet no such suggestions have past, been the anthracite-coal combination for a moment secured public attention. The maintained by a group of railroads which demand for the recount of the mayoralty vote have regulated the output of the mines, parin New York City has succeeded; and this, celed out among them the business of transas far as it goes, is a great victory for Mr. porting the coal, and prescribed the selling Hearst. He moved promptly last month for price at a point far above that which natural the opening of the boxes in every election dis- conditions of trade would have fixed. For trict of the city. The Mayor's term in New his persistent attacks upon this monopoly, York is four years, and Mr. McClellan has and for many other efforts in the public inserved a year and a half. It was announced terest, Mr. Hearst is entitled to credit. Central American Politics. NICARAGUA. on April 24, at Amapala, in Honduras. It is sufficient to say that political conditions in these countries are still very much unsettled and that the good offices of the United States and Mexico are always available and frequently being used to smooth the way to peace. On page 69 of this issue Hon. John Barrett, Director of the International Bureau of the American Republics, gives a graphic description of economic and social conditions in the five Central-American republics. Secretary Root's forthcoming visit to Mexico (he will start, it is reported, late in the summer), while it has no special political significance, is no doubt in line with his visits to the South-American republics and Canada, and intended to impress upon these countries the friendly feelings toward them on the part of the Government and the people of the United States. There is a persistent endeavor on the part of newspaper correspondents and students of CentralAmerican politics to mark President José Santos Zelaya, of Nicaragua, as a dreamer of ambitious schemes, which include the unification of all the Central-American republics into one confederation. Of this confederation, say the reports, of course General Zelaya would be the head. It is not easy for Americans to understand the present political situation in Central America. That Señor Zelaya is an ambitious man, quite capable of such a dream as has been attributed to him, however, is perfectly comprehensible to American students of the situation between Mexico and the Isthmus. It is unnecessary, and might be confusing, to go into the details of the alleged barbarous practices of President Cabrera, of Guatemala, the confused diplomatic relations between that country and Mexico, and the desultory fighting throughout Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Guatemala which followed almost immediately upon the conclusion of the treaty of peace between Nicaragua and Salvador, negotiated SOUTH AMERICA THE NEW COLOSSUS OF RHODES. ing link between the two continents with a union of Central America. The President of Nicaragua would be the connect From the Journal (Minneapolis). MR. REDMOND AND THE IRISH BILL. Failure of A good many thoughtthe Liberal ful Englishmen, even Irish Bill. among ardent Liberals themselves, have begun to wonder when there will be an end to the discomfiture and apparent impotence of the present Liberal government. The large features of the Liberal program, which had behind them the strongest majority in the House of Commons ever known in Britain, have already failed. The Education bill, the Irish bill, and other measures have been killed by the House of Lords or else repudiated by those whom they were intended to benefit. As a result of the "half-hearted " Irish bill there is now a split between the Irish members and the administration which amounts to a practical dissolution of the alliance between these groups. The Birrell bill for the improvement of the government of Ireland, introduced late in May in the Commons, was intended to be a half-way house to Home Rule. It had been blocked out by Mr. Bryce, now Ambassador to this country, and finished by Irish-Secretary Birrell. After much redrafting and amending in order to make it meet as nearly as possible the views of Englishmen and the Irish Nationalists, it was finally believed that it had the approval of these divergent elements, including the leaders of the Irish Parliamentary party. AUGUSTINE THE WIZARD (cheerfully): "How does this strike you?" MR. JOHN REDMOND: "I'm! Not so bad-as far as it From Punch (London). public, Señor Castro declares that these are all friendly and increasingly cordial. The labors of this government are pervaded by a spirit of harmony and courtesy. With firm and sure steps we are treading the path of law and honor, and we are religiously observing our engagements with foreign countries. This government's intercourse with the diplomatic representatives here is therefore perfectly cordial. The Venezuelan President, whose strength appears to be gradually returning after his long and severe illness, has many great plans for the advancement and improvement of his country. In an interview recently granted to an American business man he declared that extensive railroad building is in contemplation to open up the richest parts of the republic. He also announced that he had "eliminated all graft." With due allowance for the patriotic exuberance of Señor Castro's phraseology, Americans will sincerely hope that a new era is about to begin for our sister republic on the Caribbean. Provisions of the Bill. The central feature of this bill was the creation of a Representative Council for Ireland. This was to consist of 107 members, eightytwo elected by the Irish householders (including peers and women), and twentyfive nominated by the crown. Eight of the existing Irish departments were placed under its control and a new one, the education department, created. In addition to the $10,000,000 of annual expenditure controlled by these departments, the bill provided for an increase of $3,250,000 to be spent on public works and "general improvement." The provisions of the bill did not extend to the constabulary, the courts, the prisons, or the Land Commission. The Lord-Lieutenant was to have general super MARCELIN ALBERT, LEADER OF THE RIOTING FRENCH WINE-GROWERS, HARANGUING A CROWD OF VINEYARDERS OF THE MIDI. visory control. At first the bill apparently bordered on civil war. The revolt of the met the favor of the Irish leaders, including Midi, however, as it has been called, over Mr. John Redmond and Mr. Timothy the wine question, is by far the most serious Healy. Later, however, opposition devel- purely domestic problem which has faced the oped, and, at the Irish National Conference republican government for many a year. It in Dublin (May 21) the bill was denounced and rejected as "unfit and insufficient." The measure would undoubtedly have been killed by the House of Lords had it reached that body. Its rejection, however, by the Irish people themselves suggests that in future any instrument for the government of Ireland in accordance with the ideas of Irishmen ought to be framed by Irishmen themselves. Why should not the Irish frame their own Home Rule bill and introduce it in the House of Commons? Then the British Empire at large would at least have the satisfaction of knowing what the Irish want. has not been going well with the winegrowers of southern France since the adulteration of wines has attained its present proportions. Other economic conditions have combined to make the lot of the wine-grower very hard. In the first place, the Frenchman is not drinking as much as he used to; in the second place, when he does drink he is more likely to drink beer than wine; and in the third place, during the past twelve months the wine business of Algeria, formerly an importer of the French product, has attained such a magnitude that the colony now exports wine,-duty free, to the republic. Το crown the misfortunes of the vineyarder, The course of French national pure-food legislation in England and the the French politics during the past decade United States particularly has tended to deMidi. would appear to have followed crease the export of French wines. All these two main lines: Contests over the political conditions have combined to reduce the rates and economic position of the French church at which the vine-growers of the departments and the growth and ascent to power of of Gard, Aude, Hérault, and Pyrenees OrienFrench labor-unions. The immense power tales have been able to dispose of their vinof organized labor in the republic has been tage, so as to make a bare living. demonstrated on more than one occasion. A number of strikes of serious proportions during recent months, including those of the bakers in Paris and the seamen of the Mediterranean ports, have been disposed of only ble when after a tenseness of feeling which has at times The Revolt of The Problem Before M. Clemenceau. For a long time Frenchmen have been particularly prone to hold the central government responsianything goes wrong. Consequently these wine-growers appealed at once |