New-York tribune., 1873-07-24
BRITISH TOPICS.
NOTES FROM THE ENGLISH CAPITAL.

MONS-TIIE MILL MEMORIAL.
tFHoN THERBGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRiBuNLI
LONDON, July 1O.-The defeat of the Gov
ernment Tuesday evening, on Mr.. Richards motion IN
favor Of International Arbitration is perhaps the most
extraordinary OF all those they have lately han 70 en-
dure should have thoughtit doubtful whether suoh
resolution as Mr. Richards could have been adopted
even with the support OF the Government Arbitration
has not been popular England since Geneva and Ber
lin isall very well for Mr.. Richard TO talk Of min
ofty OF the House being dissatisfied with the awards In
our favor but he must know better Punch which Is
good thermometer, and registers as accurately and
oredcntly any other paper the changing moods OF
the mid die class which just governs England, tells
adferent story On SIR Thomas Bateson's question in
the House. about the proposed gift OF plato to the Arbi
traitors It fires Off the following squib;
said Gladstone unto Thomas Bateson
4" The umpro7, Bart, shall have their plate soon -;
spend money without orders from usp
said Punch TO both, in savage pet,
Buy, pay, give, butter, and-forget.
Which is what most people in England are most oeSi
ous do II is great deal TO ask hem' WINE tney are
stiu smarting under what they think the huuii''"oV -
two judgments against them. 10 80 IN ior . so"..1' ~
declaration in favor OF the very principle anu poo0
which brought them 20 grief YET lhat % ""'y w
Tyouso of C,umons under Mr.. Richards lead, mas uone'
In vain Mr.. Gladstone protested the MOTION N'S u"
timely; by vote OF 80 10 Ss rejecting tue Hio'io o
the preyicus question, the House even deched 10 o'0
t rool issue and then adopted the resolution W'honVa
iptoD II was a more solemn thing than that What
AZ, p,cori moved was that humble address be pre-
sonted to Her Majesty, praying that she VIII DO gfa
cously pleased instruct her Principal secretary OF
state for Foreign Affairs 20 enter into communication
with foreign powers with a view TO further improve
ent IN International Law, ana the establishment OF
general and permanent system Of international Arbitra-
fon The adoption Of motion like that is not an aO-
stract procedure. II imposes duty on the Govern
ment and in the nature of an instruction to the Min
;ers of the Crown, and requires reply to be made In
all ordinary eases Ministers recognize the obligation 70
carry out the objects of such vote and give effect to IT.
Unless they assume an unusual license, or discretion in
tho present case they must in way enter into COM
nuucaon with foreign powers. according 70 the terms
Of the Address aud propose 20 them the adoption OF
general and permanent system Of International Aroi
tratOu.
This, no douNt, Is the explanation OF Mr. Gladstones
opposton He would have hal no great objection to
the passage OF an abstract declaration in favor Of ArOi
tratOn unpopular though it may be with the country
But he is painfully conscious that English essays In be-
half OF peace have not met with great favor on the con-
tlneut nee the time when he became Primo Minister
Idon't wish TO offensive word but most English
men would say for themselves that England had been
slub,ed for interfering. How Prussia treated her re-
monstrluces In 1910 IS known 70 all the world Mr Glad
stone IN his speech Tuesday evening referred with evil
dent modification to that episode. He probably then
made up lis mind that he would not repeat an attempt
uous md # renee, and even with silence Those unan-
swercd dispatches ranke in the memory Of the highpir
tied chief OF powerful Government-Or let continental
newspapers dplomatists and dandes what they
wi such tho description OF this Government aud
OF the man who at the head Of it. II it had preached
less and ht Ofener Of late years. the truth would be
more generally recognized, but recognized not ii
mains truth Mr. Gladstone does not ike war gran ed
know nobody who does except those whose trade it is
But Elrupt viii wake up day TO find that the fight
iu spirit in this people, though hndlng less quickly or
ion other uses than formerly, exists and that the old
EToverb ow 10 fight aud fight once" holds good Of them
sU Mr Gladstone knows IL, and knowing it, does not
want the Foreign Ofce in DowDngst turned into
Vencle his hands tied while his responsibility re-
mains unlimited.
/ think his opposition 70 Mt. Richards motion, there
FORE perfectly nteligibe and consistent He chose to
give d rent reason for t. viz that the adoption OF
The would tend 20 put in jeopardy the progress
NJ tie very cause it meant TO advance. That
mistake simply because whether It did or not put that
sause in jeopardy was q matter OF opinion aud every
friend OF the motion thought his judgment that
point as good as Mr.. GladstOnes. 1t is OF many
instances showing how slow Mr. Gladstone sometimes is
with all his experience aud marvellous ability, TO catch
the sense Of the House which he leads and the People
which he governs He was bent on defeating Mr. Rich
ard all private Efforts to induce him TO let the motion
drop having failed. Yet he took the one line in debate
which left il open TO his supporters TO go with him
against him. 1t Is astonishing how badly the Liberal
rnaioryi- handled Just now and how often it dwndles
into minority This the third defeat within a fort
night all neel Hess Pains taken to keep House,
the phrase is; that IS there whip. and 10 was
known that Mr. Richard could be counted out and
that tie Government meant TO beat HIM. Yet four Cab
met Ministers were away and enough other members Of
ire Government and of the Royal Household to have
turned defeat into victory. The truth is the power Of
the Government never at so low an ebb, and the
discipline Of the party in spite of Mr. Gyns most fran
~ faa ffa EDr1 al ~
fractions have become stronger than political Obga-
lions Taore was great ball at MOntagu House, the
residence OF the Duchess Of Bucoleuch, and great
cepton at Dorchester House. the residence Of Mrs. HO
ford These are two Of the most splendid houses in
London and two which open their doors somewhat sell
dom Park Lane aud Whitehall were blocked with car
rages hours and though the ball was late the recep
ton was carly, and it nearly impossible to show
oneself NJ Mrs HOiOrds and get away in time for the
division on Mr. Richards, IT, by chance, anybody had
triod.
Itis understood however that the Government intend
10 treat this as snap" DIVISION and advise the Crown
TO take no notice Of the Address beyond a mere &C
knowedgncnt OF its receipt. Al any rate that is what
The Times advises and The Times rarely speaks without
book In such matters It scods the members who stayed
away good set terms and rebukes the opposition for
not being on hand 10 sustain the Government against
the too great zeal OF It's supporters But appears
that OF the minority OF ss more than half were Con-
seryatves though neither Mr. Dlsrae nor any member
his Cabinet voted The Times declares that the House
Of Commons become demorazed that 1t has fallen
into thedecIeptude without attaining the dignity Of age
and that after the great defeat Of the Government
passed almost into the stage OF unovely seny
Yet party tes still strong enough 20 force Mr. Fors
Ter and Mr. stansfed into voting with Mr.. Gladstone
against motion which suspect both those eminent
men m their hearts approved-abet they might think
iuoppOrtunely proposed and for that reason, as well
from loyalty % their chief resist IT, Our dear friend
IL n 10 eide