Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1874-03-18
British Politics.

Those who watched with any degree Of
interest the recent hotly.contested election
in Great Britain, must have been surprised
at the insignidcance Of The questions really
involved. The fact is apparent to any dis
interested observer that political contests
there, as in this country, have degenerated
into strife concerning men, rather than
measures, aud that a change in government
simply implies the placing the reins in new
hands. And so we do not wonder, now that
the Conservative party has come into power
with Disraeli at its head, that no great ex.
pectations are cherished by the outside
world as to change in the policy Of the
new government While during the late
election campaigns the Liberal party ex.
peiienced difficult task in iuventiug test
questions, to commit their opponents to
this or that issue, so the Conservative aspi-
rants for political power found that il re.
quircd only moderate prudence, aud a very
small amount Of political man@uvering, to
reply to these test questions evasively,
without defining the position Of either Dis
racli, or the party Of which he is the &C.
knowedgcd leader.
The Liberal leaders had prepared four
questions to mark the dividing line between
the Liberal and Conservative parties, to
which they solicited replies whenever OPP
portunity offered for Irrational display be.
tween the champions of the two parties.
These were as follows;
First-Are you prepared to relieve the rate
payers OF the country from the unjust burdens
10 which they are subject?
Second - Are you OF are you not for the
abolition or repeal ol the income tax?
Third.-Arc you willing to diminish the
duties upon articles Of general consumption
and
Fourth.-Are you in favor Of Economy?
To which Mr.. Disraeli and his followers
thus replied ave will endeavor to re-
lievo landowners of local burdens imposed
under the name Of local taxation for national
purposes, but not according to the manner
proposed by Mr.. Gladstone.
awe are in favor Of an income tax, if il
can be drawn from the actual surplus rev.
enue Of the year. but against it, if it will
lead to the imposition Of new burdens"
In answer to the third question, Mr.
r Disraeli evasivcly says: 81 am in favor
of diminishing the duties upon articles o.
general consumption if can be convinced
that there is a necessity for it," leaving
the issue open, as heis fully determined uo
to see the necessity
As for economy be continues; =" / an
most assuredly in favor Of it," But It's evi
dent to thinking politicians that he favor
it just as do all aspirauts for power, to gait
, popularity with the taxpayers, and to avoi(
the uppopularity which declaration to tn,
contrary would bring with it.
Judging therefore, from these replies
q and the election speeches and manfestos i
! is quite apparent that 10 material chang
! will result from the administration of Mr.
Disraeli and his associates Should thu
contrary be the case those who hay
1 watched the signs of the political horizon
=. of Great Britain during the late contes
n will be disappointed, as no hint of any dis
e tinctive policy has been dropped, and tn
fear of uupopuarity and Of losing groun,
e is so great with the party in power that III
- innovations are probable.