The New York herald., 1869-01-03
ENGLAND.
A Retrospect and Analysis OF Political Parties
Since 1880.
From the London Daily NJ

A Retrospect and Analysis Of Political Parties
Since 1882.
From the London Daily News
The fact that the liberal majority now Is tho larges
gained at any general election since the first re
formed Parliament was summoned is one which ha,
been source OF much rejoicing TO every true mem
500 reformers and 144 tories returned to the first re-
formed Parliament In reality not more than 40O
members could be classed as consistent followers OF
Earl Grey Upwards Of 200 were liberals who clam.
ored for changes, some OF which were impracticablt
ana others mischeyous. Ireland sent thirty-elghi
representatives pledged to demand the repeal OF the
union. These men united with the pr0fessed inde
pendent members, embarrassed the ministry by yex
at0us motions and aided the tories to obtain victO
rIes which their numerical strength was Inadequate
to achieve. The result to give the King an OBJ
poitunty, on the elevation Of Lord Althorp to the
peerage IN 1884 to dismiss his ministers and sum
mon Sir Robert Peel TO his councils.
After an existence Of one year and eleven months
the first reformed Parliament was dissolved
and Sir Robert Peel called for the verdict
peal was equivalent to- a condemnation OF Ills
administration and Its policy for che liberal majority
compact and working majority. The liberal party
was again consolidated, the men of crotchets having
been banished to merlted obscurity. Little more
than month after the second reformed Parliament
had met ut the bidding OF tory PREMIER Lord John
Russell moved the first Of the many notable resolu.
tions by which liberals have pledged themselves to
remove the grievance OF an alien church I'M Ireland
defeating the ministry by majority OF slxtyseyen
Soon afterwards the liberals returned to power only
obstinate opposition OF the House OF Lords
=, In 1887 they appealed TO the country and found
that the country was not then ripe for the measures
they mad proposed. They met Parliament with the
small majority OF sixteen In their favor Another
dissolution took place in 1s41, under the premiership
tory majority Of eig1ty-two being obedient to tne
leadership OF Sir Robert Peel The accession or Sir
Robert to ONCE did not, however lead to turning
was when heading this strong force Of supporters
that ne performed his most heroic achievement ire
The spa S.ss 4 Ms name
Lord John Russell was Premier, and parties were in
state q utter tac confusion The adherens Of the
lowers OF Sir Robert Peel constituted another Those
VINO glored In the name OF pr0tectionsts rallied to
liberal majority was eighteen only. This Implied.
what was accounted an impossibity, coalition
between the peeltes and the protectionists; yet
the government should have been inse.
cure. On unimportant questions 1t underwent
defeat defeats which were Illuminating rather than
resignation, which was preferable to continuance
IN on1ce without the power Of enectlng necessary
purpose OF giving scope to his declared policy which
consisted In destroying the glorious fabric OF free
trade, 1y restoring the Corn laws. When appealed
70 by him In 1892 the country unmistakably CEN
sured the undertaking on which he had set his
heart and to the furtherance OF which he had
Of thirty mine made him reconsider his position and
rccant his errors. But this sacrifice OF principle
0Valled n0tnlng, ne was driven from Oilice.
Several changes OF ministry followed, the end being
that Lord Palmerston, who had the candor never to
profess prediction for ANYTHING save power and
popularity, became First Minister Of the Crown.
Strong In the consciousness OF his strength he ap-
peaed TO the country In 1857 when his policy with
regard to China WAS seriously called In question and
had the anticipated response, for O majority OF
eighty members was returned to vote that
whatever he did was right. His imprudence alien
ated these supporters and Lord Derby again became
Premier OF England lie dissolved Parliament IN 1859
and was placed In minority OF hffy-0ne. Of this
Lord Palmerson took advantage, and secured his re.
turn to the Premiership, an olce which he 1ed till
his death. Shortly before he died Parliament was
dissolved, having come TO the end OF its term, and
the liberal party returned reinforced with majority
OF "A. How this was diminished, owing to the
secession OF some and the culpable eccentrcity OF
others, during the Premiershpof Earl Russell, must
be iresh IN the memory OF every reader Ii was not
till the tories had thereby been restored 10 ofce
had again abandoned every principle In order to
court support and were put TO the crucial test by
Mr. Gladstone, when he moved the dsestablishment
and dssendowment OF the Church IN Ireland. that the
ranks were again closed up, that deserters rejoned
their colors. and liberal majority OF sixty-sx was
secured
For the third time during the past sixteen years.
and for the fourth since the passing OF the first Re-
form act, have the tories now gone to the country,
and the result has been that the country has declared
sion since 1882. The minimum majority IN favor OF
Mr. Gladstone and the policy OF the party which he
leads is 107 Unlike the huge and heterogeneous
majority which was returned TO support Earl Grey,
but which proved to he his bane, the present ma
Jory Is elected 10 sustain distinct policy az repre-
liberal and coherent majority that has been seen In
modern times. The most fitting conclusion to this
summary Is the reproduction In a tabulated form O.
the figures quoted aboye:--