New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1868-09-04

sum III SIMPLE plOpOItlOH W WIN IL IA A"''
when that State gave Abraham Lincoln
majority Of 10000, the majority at the State
election was but $4,000, what in 1868, when the
majority at the State election is $4,000, Will be
the majority for Grant as PresidentY
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THE ELECTION CANPAIGN IN ENGLAND
Parliament has not yet been formally dis
solved, but the two great parties which now
divide British politics between them-the LIB
erals, headed by Mr. Gladstone, and the Tories,
led by Mr. Disraeli--are actively engaged mar
shaling their forces for the battle to be fought
at the polls next November. In all parts OF
the Kingdom meetings are being held, at which
candidates for seats in the new Parliament APP
pear before the people, explaining their views
on the great questions of the day, and lndicat-
ing the course they intend to pursue in the
event of their being chosen as representatives;
and the newspapers, both metropolitan and
provincial, are teeming with addresses to the
electors, from gentlemen aspiring to legislative
honOrs In Scotland, there is no very remark
able stir, but England and Ireland are already
fairly ablaze with political excitement.
The issues to be decided by the approaching
general election have been sQuarely placed
before the people by Mr.. Gladstone in the
speech with which he opened the campaign on
the 9th August last, at the town of st. Helens.
That gentleman and his followers demand the
abolition of the Irish Church Establishment, as
measure Of justice to the great majority OF
the people of Ireland; they insist also upon the
necessity for further Parliamentary refom-in
other words, redistribution of seats in the
House of Commons, and an elective franchise
free from the restrictive conditions imposed by
the Reform Act which has just come into
operation; and they call also for stricter
economy ia the public expenditures. The
Tories, on the other hand, take their stand on
the Constitution, as they allege-protesting
that the policy of the Liberal party with re-
gard to the Irish Church question is full of
peril to the Anglican Establishment, dangerous
to the State, and even menacing to the Crown.
They profess themselves willing to make every
reasonable concession to popular demands, and
90 give encouragement to every measure for
the social elevation of the masses; but legisla-
ton of such sweeping character as that pro-
posed in Mr.. Gladstone's bill for the disestab-
lishment of the Irish Church they are resolved
upon resisting to the utmost. The result of
the election will show whether the people
of the United Kingdom prefer the Constitution
as it is-or rather as it is interpreted by the
Torics-to the great principle Of even-handed
Justice. 1t is noteworthy that while the Lib
erals 90 before the country with well-defined
polcy-with bold avowal of certain distinct
objects-the Tories in their speeches and adj
dresses, content themselves for the most part
with sounding platitudes and glittering gen.
eralities. Their battle-cry is, "The Church in
danger " The sum of their promises and
pledges is they will support the Church, and
do their best to promote the interests of the
people. On only one point are they positive
and emphatic in the expression of their senti-
ments and purposes-that Is, the proposed dis
establishment of the Irish Church. Indeed,
this Church question being the oyershadowing
one in the present struggle, the candidates on
both sides are remarkably explicit in defining
their position in relation to it. The Liberal
candidates are unanimous in declaring their
hearty approval of Mr.. Gladstonc's policy with
regard to the Established Church of Ireland,
and in pledging themselves to give him their
warmest support in carrying out that policy.
Gadstone's position, since he has completely
identified himself with the popular cause, is a
proud one, and the present canvass shows that
the people have an unbOunded confidence in
his ability and integrity. With reference to
his leadership, the political annals of England
furnish perhaps no parallel case to that which
is presented to us in this spirited contest. 1t
is remarkable that, while the Tory candidates
are very sparing and very cold in their illusions
to Disraeli ms the chief of their party, the Lib
eral candidates, almost TO o man, refer in terms
of warm fealty to Mr.. Gladstone as their leader
Toryism is willing to use Disraeli for its own
purposes; but it evidently looks with GOODNESS,
if not with suspicion, upon the pebeian Pre-
mier-the recusant radical-the political lad
"vcnturer" of Hebrew descent. The new Par
lament will find Gladstone at the head of a
party in the Commons strong in its union and
confidence in its chief. 1t is exceedingly doubt
full whether the elections will do the same
thing for Dsraeli as political chief. oi
Comparatively few new men are coming for
ward as candidates for seats in the next Par
lament. All the prominent men of the pres
ent House of Commons are again in the field
for reelection, and with every chance of sue
cess. There is one man whose absence from
the popular chamber at this juncture would be