The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1886-07-24 00:00:00

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SATURDAY, JULY N, 1886.

THE POLIfICAL SITUATION.

HER Majesty's Government is in a transition
' state. Mr. Gladstone has made his "duti-
ful communication," and all eyes are turned
Lord Salisbury-wards. From the heat of
Parliament-making the public has advanced
a stage in the political game, and is now en-
'gaged with the various moves comprised in
Cabinet-making. It is now no longer a
matter of speculation as to what will be the
strength of the Unionist Liberals, the ex-
tent of the Gladstonians losses, or the gains
of the Conservatives. The electoral struggle
is all over,.and we have heard the last of it,
save in the case of a few petitions which are
arising out of some of the closer contests,
such as in Leeds, where Mr. James Kitson,
a strong Gladstonian, was beaten by 13, and
in the Buckrose Division of East York,
where a Liberal new to the neighbourhood
ousted Mr. Christopher Sykes, the untitled
aristocrat of the Commons House, by s.
single vote only. Speculation now runs rife
as to what kind of support Lord Salisbury
will receive from Lord Hartington, Sir
Henry James, and Mr. Goschen. Many
good Conservatives hope these conscientious
and undeniably able statesmen will be able
to join hands in broad day-light with the
followers of Lord Salisbury, and, accepting
Lord Randolph Churchill's famous invitation
to go over and help his party, have seats on
Treasury Bench under the lead of the lord
of Hatfield." A large section of the Con-
stitutionalist party agree that for a Union-
ist programme such a coalition is not Only
feasible but desirable. Interest is keenly
excited, as we write, with regard to all the
possibilities and probabilities of this point
in the political situation. Will Lord Salis-
bury, in view of old antagonisms, feel able
now he and the Whigs are of one acco; d
concerning Mr. Gladstorre's rejected Irish
policy, to formally and officially offer to unite
with the dissentient Liberals? And if the
head of the Conservative 'party is able to do
this, will such men as Mr. Goschen, the Duke
of Argyll, Lord Hartington, and Sir Henry
James, one and all of whom have refused or
resigned high Ministerial offices rather than
trespass on their political consciences, work
under one whom they have in the past so
sturdily opposed? The speculation is an
interesting one. Then there are the more
pronounced Liberals 'who left the Glad.-
stonian ranks to reckon with,. men who (Ld
quite as much as the Hartingtonians in tFe
way of determining the issue of the general
election just ended. There are John 13rip;hf,
Sir George Trevelyan, Mr. Chamberlaie,
and Mr. Jesse Collings, all men of imm9n:e
influence, and no inconsiderable following.
Their political professions in the past have
been so unequivocably, and as many deemed
it, dangerously Radical, that it is scarcely
possible to imagine any of the quartette
named seated side by with Sir Michael
Hicks-Beach or others of the Conservative
chiefs. But to obtain a majority in the
House of Commons for any proposals which
may be formulated in the future for dealing
with the Irish stumbling block, the Conser-
vatives would have to secure at any rate
the neutrality of the advanced :winl.;
of the Union Liberals, or the attempt
to legislate would be defeated I,y
a combination of Parnellites and Glad-
stonians. Then again there is much differ-
ence of opinion as to what will be the at ti-
tude of the followers of Mr. Gladstone.
Will they stick closely to the principle in
the defence of what they and their leader
have fallen in the electoral fight, and refuse
to support any other scheme? Will they,
r.;cognising half-a-loaf as better than no
bread, assent pro. tern, to some plan jointly
proposed by the Conservatives and the
Whigs, or by the one with the consent of
the other? And, if so, will the Parnellitc s,
with what grace they may, be satisfied, fcr
a time at least, with such a falling off front
the Home Rule which Mr. Gladstone would
have given them in their own affairs? Or,
accepting the advice of Mr. Labouclr:Te,
will the Gladstonians and the followers of
Mr. Parnell unite into a solid bode, and,
standing out for Irish autonomy, refuse to
let legislation proceed until the woes of the
distressful land have been redressed 9 This
latter is hardly likely, for the Radical ex-
tremists, claiming that Mr. Gladstone is still
the only leader of the Liberals with right
or title to stand at the head of his party,
, would have had him cling to office as chief
of a divided but numerically dominant patty,
counting, of course, Mr. Parnell's following on
the question before the county as adherents
of Mr. Gladstone. There is thus quite a 1
mass of political speculation, which will
I speedily he dissipated by fast succeeding
i circumstances. Then there is rumour again
upon rumour within the Conservative camp,
and much dissimilarity of opinion as to who
among the old party men are most irilic!-
pensable. Some would have the more sL4id
and steady statesmen shelved by elevating
them to the Lords or otherwise, and Young
England men, like Lord Randolph Churchill,
put in their places. Lord Iddesleigh, al-
ready lifted from the Commons, Sir Richard
Cross, Mr. W,l-11, Smith, and perhaps also
‘I r. Stanhope are, they argue, perhaps
too
ouch I Eke old ster„ers,, Thus, a fringe of the
p trty —and a noisy one—would make? a rift
in the ranks when it is lent neocled in the
(I)nsPrmtiice intermt, Others, however,. on
t'le other handl would put Ireland under gr,
itanhopoi finii BOVA Mil hto for Oallillg
Gird Doti/sin borne front India, and giving
ill a free hand in tho rule of his native
'• ,inel. We shall WU see the stand to b. ex.
' puit-d if the Conscrvaitive party, and who
Atld lie iikeliest to contribute to Its STICOOSS,
io intim: gnotsing is idle, One thing. is certain-
tilt' Trail members will give Parlittrnert no
until something is done in remedying
some of the undoubted defects in Irish admin.
Igtnition; and such able Irishmen us Liid
Wolseleb Lord Ashbourne, and Mr. Plunkett
to go outside the Parnellite party• and not
to gpeak of the Indian Viceroy, way be ex.
peotA to be &skid to have a hand
o Vie change with th 3 Conservative domin-
atin6. Li the Co.umons. Then there is Sir
Robert Hamilton, the present Permanent

Under-Secretary, whose claims are far from
inconsiderable, and whose knowledge of
Irish affairs is extensive and peculiar. Tc:
be sure, none of these just mentioned wout; ,
be popular with Mr. Parnell, and hence cor-
siderable friction might be expected. But
something has to be done, and the country,
having declared it will have none of Mr.
Gladstones's plan, must try an alternative.
At present the situation is chaotic—fall 01
imaginings; but a few days will tring some
and„ we trust, the promise of a way
out of the difficulties which now encumber
the political path.