New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-02-18
DISRAELPS EICTORY.

The change of government through which
Great Britain is now passing, although at
tended by many picturesque and exciting cir
cumstances, is not likely to be followed by
any important or far-rcaching consequences.
The Liberal party has suffered a great defeat.
The Liberal leader has been reduced, perhaps
permanently. to the ranks. But 1t is difficult
to SEQ i'll what the liberal tendencies of poll
ties of England have met with any serious
check The questions upon which this canvass
was conducted had little deep political sIgnii-
canoe. Mr.. Gladstone went before the country
standing upon the surplus in the Treasury
and promising the abolition of the Income
Tax. He asked from the people a repetition
of the vote of confidence in his Government
which he had recently received from the
House of Commons, and the voters failed
to give it. This puts the Conservatives
for the time being into power, but they
do not assumed the responsibilities of the
administration burdened with any commit
ments or definite policy Thousands of
people voted against the Liberal candidates
merely because they were tired Of Mr.. Glad
stone. Ordinary human nature is SO constituted
that the contemplation of high moral excel
lence excites an emotion not entirely devoid
of fatigue. Mr.. Gladstone was too serious
and too irreproachable to serve forever a
popular leader in a free nation. But his
defeat does not prove that the party which
has overthrow hun has won permanent vic
tory. They defeated him once before, within
q wear. But the accidental character of the
defeat was so evident that Mr.. Disraeli
expressly refused to take up the reins
he had struck from the hands of the
great Liberal. He knew that he could not
govern with the present Parliament, and he
was clearly not ready to appeal to the country.
When Parliament was dissolved the act was
denounced as trick of Gladstone's, and the
general feeling Of resentment against him no
doubt contributed somewhat to his defeat.
The Minister who orders q new election ne
cessarily excites bitter resentment and Oppo-
stion among the members of Parliament, who
are thus driven into possible danger, and GER
tain expense. These considerations, while
they explain some of the reasons of GladstOne's
defeat, do not serve as a guarantee of
DiSraeli's success.
1t lies with this adroit and shifty leader to
ADOPT one of three courses. He may pursue a
frankly conservative or even reactlOnary pol
icy, check the progress of the enfranchisement
Of the masses, the secularization of education,
and the gradual divorce Of Church and State,
and thus meet the demands and expectations
of the dull Squires and old-fashioned Peers
who believed that Gladstone was leading the
country in the direction of socialism and pc
troleum. Or, he may repeat his marvellous
performance of few years ago, when, after
defeating Liberal Ministry on the question
OF the extension of the franchise, he suddenly
turned and saddled his own party with house
hold suffrage aud rode it under whip aud
spur into the enemy's camp. Nothing is too
audacious or too inconsistent for a man like Mr.
Disraeli, and it is not impossible that he may
revert TO his old radicalism and drag his sean
dalized followers after him. A third, and
moro probable course, would be to embrace
o policy of mastery inactivity-to disayow
ell responsibility for the consequences OF the
legislatpu accomplished under tho lato Gov