New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-12-06
BRITISH POLITICS.
NOTES FROM LONDON.

| LONDON Nov. 15-Dr. Lyon Playfars appoint
ment as Postmaster General, announced tins morn
ing, must be grievous shock to timd Liberals ana
old Wings. The latter have been counting on hr'
Bonverie DIR. Playfar belongs to the best class OF
| independent Liberals to the Radical in distinction
from the Wing wing of the party. Of ms scieh'inc
repute need say nothing. 1t must be almost as
! bigh IN America as here. In Parliament, where he
has sat since 1868 for the Universities of Edinburgh
aud st. Andrews he has grown unusually fast, and
If known as man of uncomprOmisng honesty,
of great political capacity and of perfect fearless
ness He is one of those who, yong as he Is TO
political and wholly TO official life VIII give
tone to the Ministry. OF his strength there can be
no question. His appointment, taken in connection
with those Of Mr. Henry James and Mr. Harcourt
and with Mr. Bright's return to the Cabinet can
mean but one thing, that Mr.. Gladstone has made
up his mind to lean in future on the advanced LID
erals We begin to now what the reconstruction
OF the Cabinet at the end of the session really sign
ned or foreshadowed. l assume henceforth that the
country to be offered next the opportunity of
saving definitely whether it wishes to go forward or
stand still-go back it cannot.
The Ministry have made a successful effort to
capture Mr. Vernon Harcourt for Solicitor General,
vice Mr. Henry James, suddenly promoted to be
Attorney General. / should not have thought them
likely to succeed with the help of the judicious
| fattery bestowed upon Mr.. HarcOurt by Mr. Glad
stones most faithful mouthplece in the press. me
| JeieJrdh truly says that among the independent
Liberals there is not of any legal emnence who
commands much weight in the House as the
member for Oxford II describes him, also with
truth AZ possessed of considerable oratorical ability
| great Yigor of intellect and remarkable energy,
groesquey adding that he has also the scarcely less
important qualities of dignitied presence, good
birth, and influential connections. In fact" con-
tinues this popular Journal he belongs to the class
from which Ministers chosen under onr present
system which would lead one to suppose Ministers
to be verg superior kind of footmen. Mr.. Har-
court islands in no need of cheap fattery. In
| spite of considerable personal unpopularity
mostly understandable has steadily adj
| vanced in reputation in the House and
ont of it, and in the good will of his colleagues and
! the public. The independence and ability he has
shown are alike genuine nor is either of them OF
| kind too common IN the House. He was formerly
thought ambitious of office. and has for some time
held place which made Office ambitious of him. He
il distinct gain to the Ministry. But scarcely see
how the Solicitor Generalship tempted him. Though
a lawyer of unusual attaInments, Mr. Harcourt
some time since gave up his practice and renounced
all views Of legal preferment. His choice was for
pure politics # is surprising that he should consent
stances, it may be called an act of generosity But
Mr. Harcourts capacity would, think, have had
better scope if he had continued an Independent
| member and bis real political usefulness was far
greater as such than it probably be now that he
has put on official harness in a subordinate legal
Office and outside the Cabinet.
Mr. Edward Mail, the leader of the movement for
the disestabsbment Of the Church of England, an
nonnced the other day his intention of abandoning
his seat for Bradford on the expiration of the pres
emf Parliament The reason he gave was ill health
At once the Church party raised great shout With
some decent expression of regret for Mr. Malls Ill
ness they contriyed to intimate doubt whether II
was very serious. and their belief that it was not
the state of his health which led him TO retire but
the failure of his crusade against the Church. More
moderate persons took similar view. He is wise
enough 10 see says The Times that his chief purpose
in life will not be forwarded by his presence and be
withdraws, accordingly, from scene which he can
no longer charm Ii admits. however, that the
Church of England has no charmed life and that
there not wanting signs, within and without
that her present legal position may not always be
maintained. 1t traces his failure to the fact that
his aims have been only negative and that he has
sought destroy by the and of popular passion that
which may some day have to he removed. but
which must be dealt with calmly and wisely, and
with some of responsibility on the part OF
those who undertake the very difficult task of its
removal.
The real Church people would say impossible in
stead of difficult If we may Judge by the language
of their chief they think the political fabric is as
strong as ever. The Archbishop of Canterbury
makes rather joke of it's peril. Ii has been in
danger he remarked yesterday at Margate, ever
since he was born yet here am j, its PrImate,
great dignitary, and heartily enjoying my palaces
aud the el0,OOO year which get from the State,
is the conclusion which he seems TO wish MS to
draw though he of course does not put it in those
words He does say that, though warned on all
sides Of its perous state, and OF popular dissatls-
faction with il, he finds wherever he goes large
churches we'll filled, hearty worshipers, and plenty
of propapandist enthusiasm He does not know
how to reconcile this with the assertion that the
Church is in n bad way. He believes it is really
loved by the people of England. That there are
dangers he admits. but that the Church will sur
vive them he is confident. The Archbishop does
not mention Mr. Malls name-he ~ much too mag
nifcent parsonage to be publicly aware Of Nom
conforrnist's existence But this little speech is
plainly to his address and has been neatly inserted
in an after-luncheon haraDgue, on account of the
discussion that has been gong ON for some days
about Mr.. Malls retirement.
II turns out. however. that Mr.. Mall has been
misunderstood, and is not going to retire if he can
helpit, Tie wrote to Sir Titus Salt that he should
give mp Bradford because he felt himself unequal TO
the fatigue of contesting so great a constituency
He did not think he could get in again without
struggle His intention was, therefore, TO ind
elsewhere which could be won with less effort
In a speech last night the Liberation Society Mr..
Mail explained his views. He had been surprised
to the press rush to the conclusion that he meant
to retire from Parliament and quit the tass he had
pursued for lifetime. never mean he declared,
" to give mp that work while live In and out OF