The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-08-10
British Politics - The Irish Brigade
and the Prospect OF Home Rule.

and the Prospect OF Home Rule.
For some time past the political situation in
Great Britain has commanded but little inter-
est either at home or abroad. Since the
famous defeat and restoration, in the early
part of the session, the government has been
cautious in its measures, and the opposition
has been merciful in its attack. Mr. Glad
stone, no doubt felt fattered by the confess
sion that his great rival had no policy and
his recall to place and power, in the peculiar
circumstances, was sufficient reason tor self
graduation. A weaker man than Mr.. Glad
stone might have been injured by 80 much
success. To his credit, however, it must be
said, he has been as modest in victory as he
was dignifed in defeat It was evidently his
intention to make the session Of 1928
memorable by the passing of another great
national reform measure for Ireland
but that measure failed, and with it
passed away the interest of the session. The
improved Education BILL the Judicature bill,
the Royal Marriage bill-these and other
measures have barely suficed to keep the SEES
sion alive. Most certainly it has been the
dullest and least productive session of Parlia-
ment since the death of Lord Palmerston
The Queens speech, which we gave to our
readers during the course of last week, was,
no doubt, quite equal to the occasion; but,
compared with the speeches from the Throne
with which for the last three years We have
been familiar, it was tame and dull affair.
With the close of the session the conviction
was broadened and deepened that new
Parliament had become a necessity if there
was to be any life in the politics of the Empire.
since the propagation show that Mr.. Glad
stone is setting his house in order preparatory
to dissolution and general election.
From the general tone of the British press
It is manifest that a dissolution and general
election are looked forward to as early GER
tainties and, as is most natural, political
philosophers are eagerly scanning the political
horizon and diligently forecasting the future.
1t is on all hands admittsd that Mr.. Glad
stone cannot do much more with the present
House of Commons. That he is still strong
as political leader, and that he still COM
mands q majority of the House, all must
admit. But he is not so strong as he
once was, and his majorities, compared with
the majorities which carried him from triumph
to triumph in the first three years of his ad-
ministration, have become small and insig-
nifcant indeed That such is the fact is not
we think, any discredit to Mr.. Gladstone or
to his associates in Office. In the later his
tory of England no administration has done
so much to remove ancient abuses and to in
troduce healthful reforms. In the future his
tory Of the British Empire Mr.. Gladstone
will be remembered as the statesman who
honestly and earnestly sought to do justice
to Ireland. 1t will be said to his praise
that he abolished, to the great qualification
of the Irish people, an alien and obnoxious
ecclesiastical establishment; that he 30 i'm
proved the land tenure system as to give
Irishmen more practical interest in the
country Of their fathers and that he boldly
but vainly attempted to give them national
university worthy of the name. It will also
be said of him that he was instrumental in
effecting solution, by peaceful arbitration,
OF serious international difficulties; and the
Washington Treaty. while it will continue to
be model to the nations, will be lasting
and honorable monument of the dignifed but
peaceful character of his administration. That
he should during these years have made some
enemies is most natural; nor is it at all to be
wondered at that the ranks of his followers
have thinned In these active times four
years is long life even to British Parlia-
ment, and it is quite possible that if Mr.. Glad
stone had accomplished less his followers to-
day would have been at once more numerous
and more enthusiastic. It is not our business,
however, to make apologies for Mr.. Glad
stone. 1t is our business to look at
the facts of the moment and to at
tempt to divine their meaning Undeniable
it is that with the present House Of Commons
the popularity of the Premier is slightly on
the wane, and that the strength of the liberal
party has of late been considerably dimin-
ished. Most of the recent elections, both in
the larger towns and in the rural districts,
have resulted to the advantage of the tory
opposition. The tide which has set in is
rolling against the administration; and it is
admitted on almost all hands, even by the de-
voted friends of the government that new
departure has become necessity.
One Of the most singular features of the
British political situation at the present
moment is the attitude assumed by what in
days gone by was known as the Irish brigade.
1t would be no new thing for the Irish men,
bers to hold the balance Of power in the
House of Commons. This they have often
done before; but while in the past they have
made good use of their opportunities, and
extorted favors from both parties, they have
generally been found voting on the liberal
side. Not in many years have the Irish
members been SO much of one mind and so
.a.axr;nta,aAlr I,x;tod IN their actian What L.