xpected
when the {194} expedition was planned. It bound the Tibetan
authorities to establish British markets at certain designated points;
and stipulated that, without the consent of Great Britain, no Tibetan
territory could be leased to any foreign power. Of course many people
could see in this the ultimate purpose of a British occupation of
Tibet, and an open way to the Yangtse Valley!

But with the Russo-Japanese War over, and Russia free to exert her
control over China, a stand was taken by the Chinese Government which
has resulted in modifying the terms of the treaty, which has recently
been signed at Pekin, by which Great Britain affirms that she does not
seek for herself any privileges which are denied to any other state or
the subjects thereof.

Two very important measures have been under consideration during the
new reign; one of these seeming to have afforded a solution for the
Land-problem in Ireland, which has for so long been the nightmare of
British politics. Further details of this {195} will be found in the
"History of Ireland," separately treated in this volume.

The other measure deals with the question of Education, and is an
attempt to solve to the satisfaction of Nonconformists, Catholics,
Church-of-England people, and people of no church at all, whether there
shall be any religious instruction in the schools for which all are
taxed, and if so what shall be its nature and restrictions.

The tendency since 1870 has been steadily toward the method adopted by
the United States, _i.e._, a severance of the civil community from all
responsibility for religious teaching. And such is the tendency of the
Bill now before the House of Lords. But it is believed that that
conservative body will hesitate long before giving up such a cherished
and time-encrusted principle as is involved.

So many Parliamentary reforms have been accomplished since the time
they commenced in 1832, the time seems not far distant when there will
be little more for Liberals to urge, or for Conservatives and the {196}
House of Lords to obstruct. Monarchy is absolutely shorn of its
dangers. The House of Commons, which is the actual ruling power of the
Kingdom, is only the expression of the popular will.

We are accustomed to regard American freedom as the one supreme type.
But it is not. The popular will in England reaches the springs of
Government more freely, more swiftly, and more imperiously, than it
does in Republican