New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-03-02
THE BRITISH ELECTIONS.
RADICALS AND HOME RULERS.

,,sso, ,rrIoS-THR ELECTION AS TEST OF It's
coepycTSrss- STRENGTH OF THE HOME RULERS
i,rox rHT RRGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF TUE rEIRUNk'l
IoxDCN Feb 1--WE have all been so serious
sbont election matters that really feel grateiu
g. Mr.. Braalauqh for introducing slightly conlc
clement into the contest His intmation IN MS ieI
cor tn Won that the reason for MT. GLADSTONE SUI
den dissolution OF Parliament was TO prevent MI
R.s1DappI,s election. might mitbt not have Deeh
kan IN earnest But he has repeated II 10 meet
ms, of hes Northampton admirers and so ior 1ne "s
tnlo tha public is supplied with complete ana sun
c,cntexpl@nstior Of the extraordinary step OF Vne
Primo Minister Mr.. Gladstone's sleep has been
haunted bv visions of Mr.. Bradlaugh In senatorial
robes IN ambers do not wear robes but there Is no
saving that Mr.. Bradlaugh might nOt9 lie "a"
Bradlsuch hewing away at the Throne, and that
venerable structure tottering. The horrid phan-
tasm of Republic stared him in the face, and what
Is worse Communistic Republic, and worse STILL al
Atbeistio Commune. There was but one way TO
avert the danger Mr.. BradlauGh was IN America
The election might be held before he could return
AID Monarchy be preserved TIL the next dissolution
see but two objections to this theory Inc hIs' 10
tbatitis iuopossible TO suppose Mr.. Gladstone who
passes 90 much Of his time in countermlninS MI
Bradlangh should have been ignorant OF that arcn-
conspirator's departure for the United States. Why
did be not seize the moment Of his sailingf linen
he would have had four weeks START of him instead
al two The second is that if there had been no dis
solution at all, Mr. Bradaugh could not have been
candidate foE Northampton.
Twoald he cruel 90 GO over Mr. BTadlaughs letter
and put his predictions side by side with the results
But his perfect confidence that there was no Con
seryat,ye reaction lit is farce TO talk of 1t, said
IL L.. fnnf hat x
IA Conservatives who might be elected would only
succeed by promising some very radical measures,
are worth noting for one reason. They give you
the measure If the accuracy of Mr. Bradlaughs
,udgents' on current events and the set OF affairs
in England The issue Of the election generally.
and of that in Northampton in particular, may
equally enable you TO judge of the extent OF MI.
BradIaue be direct influence upon politics. On ooth
points think he has msled Americans not intention
ally twas natural that Mr. BradlauCh, as an Englsh
Republican should be warmly received In America.
IS he Is n good speaker and man Of convictions, II
was equally natural that bis position at home should
be overrated 10y his American friends That Mr..
BradIaugh said what be thought. don't doubt, any
moro than doubt that he said what he Thought IN
his letter to you. Bat a man who has IN him the
making of an apostle is more likely TO be remarka-
bic for the intenseness Of his zeal than for
Mr. Bradlaagh ia encompassed by a band of
disciples who believe in him and in whom be be-
lieves They are not numerous As a force in poll
tics they sreat present incOnsderable and this /
cay With 20 reference whatever to the result of the
contest which has just ended in such victory for
the Conservatives. Isaid the same thing in letter
written and printed before the dissolution The
workingmen of England have shown themselves
capable Of great efforts, of admirable organization,
and have done. great things But their energies
have not yet been directed mainly to politics, and
when directed to politics have not been exerted
mainly for republic. Yet the Republican party,
far it exists at all, must be sought among them
Strictly speaking there is no such party, but do
not wish to stigmatize men whose aims respect as
faction. The evils needing most immediats
form 10 England are not those which spring from
smonarcl.icai form of government, and the En-
Eish being practical folk, apt to 90 for shat
reform the need of which is immediate, aud not for
that the evil of which seems remote. The Repub-
leans in this country occupy a position analogous
70 that occupied by the American Abolitionists in
1S8 Ard Mr.. Bradlaughs influence upon the gen.
sra election is about as great as was that of Mr..
Garrison on the contest which resulted in Alr. Van
Burens election to the Presidency.
You ere aware also that Mr. Bradlaugh is a radical
In religious as well as in political matters. do not
know whether be made speeches on religion IN
America But the weekly paper be edits here is
mostly taken UP with theological and ecclesiastical
discussions and Mr.. Bradlaugh is more widely
known IA an atheist than as Republican. do not
eau him an atheist in order to attack him. 1t is the
name which he is most proud of. 1t is also one
which has very baneful influence on his political
efforts. To the great majority of Englishmen an
af hsiaf - tha Pa
pubicanism never better pleased than when
they can connect that cause with infdelity. wish
70 speak Oh Mr. Bradlaugh with the respect which
his courage his sincerity and his abilities deserve
But it is certain that his leadership in a Republican
or any other political movement would rouse-dOes
rouse-a much stronger opposition and more bitter
prejudice than that Of a man who should not pro-
elalm his religious unbehef.
Ont Of % members thus far chosen in Ireland. a
are Home Rulers. They may in general be classed as
Liberals matters where Home Rule is not in ques-
uon. There are Is Liberals beside, who are not
Home Rulers, and 30 Conservatives. Among those
elected ~ Home Rulers is Lord Robert Montagu,
who was President Of the Board of Health and Vice
President of the Council in Mr.. Disraeis Govern
ment of 1867. So the Conservatives are TO have
share Of responsibility in whatever comes of Home
Rule. The chances are that not much will come Just
yet Had nominal Liberal majority been returned
TO Parliament composed in part Of Home Rulers
these latter might have been in position to dictate
terms or at least, TO extract concessions of some
sOrt from a ministry dependent upon their votes.
But the Conservative majority will be at least 90
and includes few or no Home Rulers except Lord
Robert Montagu aforementioned, and the question
Is one on which Mr. Dsraeli is perhaps less disposed
10 coquettha on most others. This is one among
sDa S,s,ie oh et ait
Home Rne triumphs sufficiently astonishing even
Ant Iralnrd l. L. Al q. - IL Nh