which they will continue to do in their own way, but it is in the promotion and defence of internationalism that the chief hope of the future lies. There are in every country which it is hoped to bring into line the so-called intellectuals-the educated and reflecting men and women, who are capable of rising superior to national prejudices, and of judging international questions from the point of view of justice and right-who form the first of these three groups. The second are the Socialists, and the third are those who are already organised in Peace Societies. The International Union will seek to secure the formation of national groups of internationalists in each country, and each group will be asked to elect representatives for an International Council which will undertake— first, the propaganda in favour of popularising and explaining the arrangements sanctioned by the Hague for the settlement of international disputes by mediation and arbitration; secondly, the study of questions which endanger the general peace; and, thirdly, the promotion of united action in favour of internationalism in every country. and the Mayors. One of the most pleasant incidents President Loubet of the last month was the immense success of the mayoral banquet given by President Loubet to the mayors of France. It is the fashion in some quarters to belittle President Loubet and his Ministry, but it would be difficult for any one to suggest any improvement upon the tact and good feeling which the President and his Ministers have displayed during the whole of this year. They have been, of course, much disappointed by the non-arrival in Paris of the Tsar of Russia, upon whose visit they had counted. But they have displayed no more chagrin than they did over the absence of the Prince of Wales, whose failure to visit the Exhibition was one of those inexplicable bêtises of which our Royal personages are sometimes guilty. The skill with which the President took advantage of the attempt to create a hostile demonstration against the Administration by the Nationalists who control the Paris Municipality was consummate. The Nationalists had decided to invite the mayors of France to a banquet in Paris, hoping thereby to effect a hostile demonstration against the present rulers of the Republic. Only 1,300 mayors accepted this, and the banquet was abandoned. President Loubet then stepped in, and invited the mayors to a banquet in the gardens of the Tuileries, at which no fewer than 22,000 mayors sat down to dinner. 13,000 were absent from one cause or another, but the national character of the demonstration was complete. President Loubet made an admirable speech to those chosen representatives of the communes and municipalities of France, whose presence as his guests afforded a most imposing object-lesson as to the solid hold which the Republic has upon the French nation. The banquet itself was one of the largest affairs of its kind. As many as 4,866 persons were employed in cooking and serving it, and although no fewer than 150,000 plates were required for the service of the guests, the whole affair passed off without a hitch. of Mr. Yerkes. Even in the midst of the turmoil The Advent of the election the imagination of Londoners has been somewhat touched by the sudden advent of Mr. Yerkes, of Chicago notoriety, in their midst. Some years ago parliamentary powers were obtained for making an underground railway from Charing Cross to Hampstead, but nothing has been done to construct the line. Suddenly Mr. Yerkes, whose methods of dealing with his tramways have made his name anything but odorous in America, appeared upon the scene, obtained possession of the right to make the line, and announced that the work is to be put in hand forthwith. As I set forth some months ago, the Americans have offered to supply London with a complete system of pneumatic tubes for the delivery of letters and parcels, but the prospect of having Mr. Yerkes established in our midst as the owner of a great underground railway is not very welNo one can deny the ability of Mr. Yerkes. He is the foremost representative of a school which acts upon the principle that when financial corporations want to attain their end, the cheapest and directest way is to buy up all the votes they need. He may not try Chicago methods on the local authorities of London, but should he refrain from doing so, the last cause to which that could be attributed would be any scruples of his. come. in Mr. Fitchett, writing in the AustraThe Bible lian Review of Reviews, reports that Australian Schools, the reaction against the extreme secular policy hitherto pursued in Victorian schools appears to be achieving success :In Victoria the heads of the Churches, under the authority of a Royal Commission, have been preparing a series of Scripture lessons for school use. The Roman Catholic Church stood aloof. The heads of the other denominations in Victoria, however, have agreed upon what seems to be an admirable course of Scripture lessons, thus disappointing many evil prophecies. For it was confidently predicted that they would fall out violently with each other in the process ! A plebiscite on the scheme of lessons will be taken at the approaching general election in Victoria, and it can hardly be doubted that, by a large majority, the electors will vote in favour of giving the Bible a place in their public schools. EVENTS OF THE MONTH. Sept. 1. The German American Cable to New York, viâ Azores, begins its service. 3. The Trades Union Congress opens at Huddersfield. 4. The Sultan's Jubilee. The British and German Governments accept The Acts ratifying the treaties signed at the 5. The Association of the British Chamber of Commerce meets in Paris. Ex-President Harrison accepts Membership on the International Board of Arbitration. 6. The British Association meets at Bradford. The Duke of Abruzzi's Expedition returns from the Arctic regions. 7. The dissolution of the Austrian Reichsrath is announced by an Imperial rescript. 9. The Congress of the British Chamber of Commerce in Paris urges the British Government to adopt the metric system in all Government departments. President McKinley formally accepts his nomination as Republican candidate for the Presidency. A great hurricane rages along the coasts of Texis and Louisiana, a sea wave almost sweeps away the town of Galveston, with the loss of about fou: thousand lives. 10. Vesuvius is in violent eruption. 11. A bakers' strike takes place at Marseilles, while a hundred ca-ters strike at Nimes. The plague increases in India, over deaths occur during the week. 1,030 12. The United Mine-Workers of America declare a strike in the anthracite region. The Swedish Prime Minister, M. Boströn, resigns, and Admiral von Otter is appointed his successor. 13. The German Government raises a loan of £4,000,000 in American stock, by arrangement with the German Imperial Bank. 14. President Loubet gives his decision as arbitrator on the frontier dispute between Colombia and Costa Rica, which will be published when communicated to the two Governments concerned. The Commission appointed, commences work on the demarcation of the boundary between Venezuela and British Guiana. 15. A Mass Meeting of the employés of the Great Eastern Railway Company declares the concessions of the company to be totally inadequate, and places the matter entirely in the hands of the executive committee of the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants to obtain better conditions of service. The great miners' strike in Pennsylvania, America, begins. 17. President Loubet signs a decree submitted by The German Social Democratic Congress opens 18. The Royal Proclamation dissolving Parliament The Session of the States - General of the Mr. Bryan's letter accepting the Democratic The German Socialist Congress unanimously piss a resolution against the "World policy of Germany." 13. A number of factories in Barcelona close owing to the industrial crisis there. I). 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. The number of miners on strike in America is 126,000; hundreds of railway men are idle in consequence of the coal service being suspended. The French Army manoeuvres terminate. Mr. Balfour and Mr. Chamberlain issue their election addresses. Si. H. Campbell- Bannerman and Sir William in Paris. The Council of State in Paris decides to reinstate Colonel Picquart in the Army. Unprecedented rain and floods at Calcutta. A great fete takes place in the Tuileries Garden, in Paris, when 22,000 provincial mayors are the guests of President Loubet. The International Socialist Congress opens in Paris. M. Jurès is elected President. Lord Salisbury issues his address to the electors of the United Kingdom. Lord Rosebery in a letter to Captain Lambton expresses his views on the political situation. The late Prince Albert of Saxony. Mr. Goschen issues a farewell address to his constituents, the electors of St. George's, Hanover Square. War in South Africa. Sept. 1. Lord Roberts issues a proclamation annexing the Transvaal; Sir J. Gordon Sprigg reads a minute in the Cape House of Assembly enclosing Lord Roberts's proclamation. General Baden-Powell leaves Pretoria for Cape Town. 2. Ladybrand garrison is surrounded by a force of Boers. 3. Presidents Kruger and Steyn are at Nelspruit. 4. General Buller meets with a check outsid: Lydenburg. Botha, with 2 000 Boers, holds a very strong position among the mountains. Lord Roberts sends a column forward under General Lan Hami ton. The British have 60 casualties between Zeerus: and Krugersdorp. 5. The Boers leave the vicinity of Ladybrand after capturing stores and a troop of horses. The Hospital Commission takes evidence at Bloemfontein. Lord Roberts issues another proclamation to the people of Orange River Colony. 7. The Boers attack the trains in the neighbourhood of Belfast and Krugersdorp; after an engagement with them by General Hart four Boers are found dead; one is supposed to be General Theron, who has led most of the attacks on the railway line. 10. Sir Redvers Buller follows up General Bothi in the direction of Spitzkop; the British lose thirteen killed and nineteen wounded. The Boers capture a train south of Klip River. 11. The Cape Town Chamber of Commerce passes a resolution against the introduction of Chinese labourers into Rhodesia. President Kruger, Mr. Marais and Mr. Groble arrive at Lorenzo Marques. 13. Lord Roberts issues a proclamation to the Boers asking them to surrender. General Buller reports himself and his troops as being at Spitzkop, where they find considerable Boer supplies. Mr. Kruger takes up his residence with the District Governor of Portuguese East Africa. The Treason Bill passes through Committe. 14. Boer proclamation dated Komati Poort give 17. The Boers destroy the Krokodelpoort B.id The Chancellor of the Exchequer issues his 18. Mr. Schreiner's Malmesbury constituents pass election address to the electors of West Bristol. a resolution condemning him for deserting the Afrikander Party at a critical moment. The Lands Settlement Committee begins its sittings. Nelsp uit is occupied. President Kruger accepts the offer of the Netherlands Government of a warship te convey him to Holland. Lord Methuen captures a Boer convoy, with a 15-pounder gun lost at Colenso, cattle, sheep, and ammunition. In the Dutch Chamber the Foreign Minister questioned by M. F. van de Putte upon policy in connection with the Transvaal. The third reading of Treason Bill is carried 1: the Cape Parliament by 46 votes to 37. The British capture a Boer camp near the Elands River Railway Station. Three thousand Boers surrender to the Port guese, having previously destroyed all the cannon. The British occupy Komati Poon. Mr. Schreiner moves in the Cape Parlian..t that the late Republics be placed under t protection of the Queen with a guarant preserving the national existence of those States. A strong mounted force leaves Pretoria in pursuit of De Wet. 25 Supplies of food are forwarded from Lorenzo Marques to British troops. Mr. Sauer, in the Cape Parliament, makes a strong speech in favour of the independence of the Boer Republics. Guns which have been destroyed are found in the Crocodile River by General lan Hamilton. 27. The Legislative Council at Cape Town pass the second reading of the Treason Bill by 13 votes to 7. 28. The Treason Bill is read a third t'me in the Cap: Legislative Council. The Crisis in China. Sept. 1. The Russian Government declares its decision that its troops, along with M. de Giers and all Russian subjects, withd aw from Peking to Tientsin with as little delay as possible. Sir Robert Hart resumes the charge of the 2. Admiral Courrjolles orders the French gunboat Surprise to ascend the Yang-tse-kiang. 4 Li Hung Chang, Yung Lu, Prince Ching, and Hsu-Tung are appointed peac: commissioners by an Imperial Edict dated from Tai-Yuen-fu. 6. A German battalion lands at Shanghai. The Danish cable from Shanghai to Taku reopens. 7. The cable between Chifu and Port Arthur opens for the transmission of messages. The Japanese arrest the assassin of Baron von Ketteler. 9. General Chaffee is ordered by his Government to prepare for the withdrawal of the American troops from Peking. Mr. Rockhill, the American Commissioner in China, leaves Shanghai for Peking. The Feast of Lanterns passes off quietly at Hong Kong. 10. Peking is entirely looted; only the Imperial Palace is spared. Daily auctions of loot are held, in which valuable silks, furs, and bronzes are put up for sale, the chief bidders being army officers. 12. Prince Ching has an interview with Sir Robert Hart. 14. Li Hung Chang leaves Shanghai by the steame: Auping. Before leaving he pays a visit to the German Minister at Shanghai. 14. The Russians capture Fuljarda, on the Manchurian railway. A sharp engagement takes place at Mo-tao, on the Peking road, between 2,000 Boxers and Americ in infantry, supported by a detachment of Bengal Lancers. 15. A gunpowder accident happens at Tungchau, in which about thirty-six British soldiers are severely wounded, fifteen of whom die. 18. The German Government issues a Circular Note on the Chinese question to the Governments of all the Powers concerned. Count von Waldersee arrives at Hong Kong. Admiral Remey calls officially on Li Hung Chang. 19. 20. The Allied forces capture the Pei-tang and 21. The American Commissioner arrives at Peking. The British countermand the order for winter clothing for the troops. Count von Waldersee arrives at Shanghai. 23. America declines to identify herself with Count von Bülow's Circular Note. Li Hung Chang and Prince Ching are accepted as plenipotenti ries; Mr. Conger is authorised to enter into relations with them. The reply to Russia is that the United States have not at present the intention of removing thei: Legation from Peking. 24. 25. The German Minister (with a squadron) leaves Russia and Japan reply to the German Circular 26. The United States decide to change the status of the American forces before the arrival of Count von Waldersee. Sept. 1. Mr. Birrell, in Manchester, on the enormous cost of Government. 4. Mr. Pickles, at Huddersfield, on the future development of the working-classes. 5. Sir William Turner, at Bradford, on the progress during this century in knowledge of biology. 7. The German Emperor, at Stettin, on Chinese affairs. 8. Sir Matthew White-Ridley, at Blagdon Park, on South Africa and China. Lord George Hamilton, at Weston, on the War in South Africa and the settlement in China. 15. Mr. Asquith, in East Fife, on the possibility of a General Election. 18. Sir W. Roberts-Austen, in Paris, on the wo:k of France and Britain in the development of metallurgical science and industry. Mr. Herbert Gladstone, at Leeds, on the Tory 21. Earl Spencer, at Derby, on the Dissolution. Mr. Chamberlain, at Birmingham, on the ad- Lord Brassey, at Westminster, on Imperial 24. Mr. Asquith, in Fife, on the Liberal Party. Mr. Balfour, at Manchester, on the Dissolu tion. Mr. Brodrick, at Ca-nleigh, on the policy of the Government in South Africa. 25. Sir William Harcourt, at Ebbw Vale, on the failure of the Government. Mr. Balfour, at Manchester, on the dissension in the Liberal Party. Photograph by] [Barraud. The late Sir Saul Samuel. 23. Mr. Chamberlain, at Bilston, on Supporting the Government. Si W. Harcourt, at Tredegar, on Temperance Reform. Sir H. Campbell- Bannerman, at Rochdale, (2 the Settlement of South Africa. Mr. W. Burdett-Coutts, at Westminster, in defence of his action in criticising the Hespitals in South Africa. Si H. Campbell-Bannerman, in (St. James's Hall) London, on the failure of the Government at home and abroad. Mr. Chamberlain, in Birmingham. OBITUARY. XCEPT THE BRITISH TSAR: THE GENERAL ELECTOR. has Exemerged from the turmoil of the present election. Of Mr. Chamberlain I have written so much and so often that I have no wish to make him the subject of another Character Sketch. Mr. Morley is hors de combat; Mr. Goschen, whose retirement at other times might have suggested him as the subject for treatment, is only conspicuous for the moment because he is stepping out of the fray, not because he is taking a leading part in the contest; Lord Rosebery has only emitted a single letter, which was a poor substitute for the leading which even a leader retired from business might have been expected to suggest; and as for Lord Salisbury, his manifesto was almost abject in its feebleness. Surely never did a Prime Minister appeal to the country in so lachrymose a tone. Never before has a piteous wail over possible abstentions taken the place of direct challenge to the heart and conscience of the electorate on a great political issue. Seeing, therefore, that among the candidates there is no person who would seem to call particularly for analysis and delineation in these pages, I bethought me that it might not be a bad thing to regard the voter or the general elector as an entity, and to describe him as if he were individually, what he is politically, the British Tsar. The Tsar of all the Russias is vested by the constitution of his country with the supreme power. He is autocrat. From his will there is no appeal, but in practice, as no one knows better than Tsars themselves, they are hampered at every turn in the exercise of their without giving the electors any opportunity of exercising a choice. It was said long ago by a cynic that British electors lived under a despotic government, tempered by the permission once in seven years to choose a new set of rulers. For electors in non-contested constituencies this right does not exist, and in many others it is more phantasmal than real. In theory, however, six million adult males being householders and on the register have the destiny of the country in their hands. Each one of them on polling-day is an uncrowned king. To his absolute free and unfettered choice the destinies of the Empire are committed, and upon the way in which he exercises that choice will depend the future history of our country. The responsibility of the voter is great, even when the results of his decision are operative over a very [Birmingham Weekly Mercury. Putting on their Armour. autocratic power. In theory omnipotent, in practice their sovereign will can be exercised within a very small area, and by no means always even there. Our British elector is in precisely similar case. In theory he is supreme. He can make and unmake Ministries, reverse policies, avert or precipitate war, or, in short, do everything that the Tsar can do. But the occasion for exercising this supreme power occurs only once in half a dozen years, and then it takes place in circumstances which often reduce to a farce the much-vaunted power of the elector. To begin with, the elector has no opportunity of expressing his opinion, one way or the other, unless there is a contest. He may hate the candidate who sits for his constituency as much as the West Birmingham Liberals hate Mr. Chamberlain ; but unless a candidate can be put into the field, he is powerless to express his disapprobation. This, it may be, is a matter that requires remedying; but at this election the right to vote has practically been denied to constituents who are responsible for the return of no fewer than one hundred and seventy members. The number of seats unopposed is larger this year than at some previous elections for obvious reasons, into which we do not need to enter now. Suffice it to say that one quarter of the House of Commons can be elected small area. How much greater must they be when his responsibility extends over land and sea, and when the weal and woe of unnumbered millions of mankind depend upon whether, he chooses wisely or the reverse. At one time, the glory of the General Elector and his power impressed me a good deal more than the reality does to-day. In my "Electors' Guide" in 1880 I wrote as follows, in terms which are curiously apposite to the issue as decided this month, merely substituting the name of Mr. Chamberlain for that of Lord Beaconsfield : To the Electors of Great Britain and Ireland belongs the supreme and unquestioned sovereignty over an Empire vaster than that of Imperial Rome. In the crowned democracy of Britain every citizen is a king. Than the conscience and the judgment of the British Elector there exists no higher tribunal within the borders of our world-encircling realm, and his will is the supreme law for one-fifth of the human race. To British householders, the free citizens of a free State, are submitted all those questions of high policy, the decision of which elsewhere is the proud prerogative of the heir of a hundred kings or the cherished privilege of a lordly caste. Life brings with it no more momentous duty than that which falls this month upon those who are summoned by the voice of their country to decide what shall be the future history of the English race. The destinies of the Empire, the progress of civilisation, the peace of the world, will be affected by the vote which the Electors cast this Easter. The nation stands in the Valley of Decision, at the parting of the ways, and now rings through the air the thrilling cry, "Choose ye this day whom ye will serve!" It is no mere question of Tory or Liberal, of the Ins or the Outs, that awaits decision; it is a conflict of opposing principles which go down to the foundations of the State. . . . It is for the men of England-the heirs of the glorious heritage of centuries of Freedom-to say whether this is to continue. It is theirs to decide. Choose well; your choice is brief and yet endless. The sovereignty vested in each Elector seems small-almost infinitesimal. Collectively, it is absolute and unlimited. Each Elector is as responsible for the faithful discharge of his duty to his country as if he were Autocrat of the Empire. If, from |