The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-02-07
THE ENGLISH CONSERV AYIVES
Progress Of the Great Party Struggle
for Place and Power.
Can Disraeli Regain and Re-
tain the Ministry?
The Sympathy of the Nation Ad-
verse to Tory Conservatism.
POLITICAL HISTORY SINCE 1882.

POLITICAL HISTORY SINCE 1882.
The political history OF Great Britain since 1882
proves what has been repeatedly stated In
the HERALD, that no Ministry formed and conducted
on what are known as conservative party princi-
pies can have anything more than temporary ex-
istence in England. Their supporters may possess
more decided personal advantage In the reputation
Of talent, but the national sentiment will most GER
tainly revolt against measures that look to retro
gression rather than towards advancement. The
conservatives may be strong enough to obtain and
keep hold OF power, but they are impOtent for an
effective OF it. II, as 1t is likely MIR. Disrael
secures majority OF supporters in the next House
OF Commons he and they can attend to the Or
binary details Of administration, which can quietly
take It's course but beyond that the conservatives
can 40 nothing either for great public or party
purposes. They can as long as they remain in Of
nee exercise their functions In arrestng the prog
ress OF the spirit of change. 1t Is not likely, how
ever that in great nation like England the peo-
pie win be content with policy OF mere macton
and that the measures needed to meet many press
ing necessities Will be allowed to be dealt with in
the interest OF privileged classes and with the
lights OF century ago.
CONSERVATIVES OPPOSITION TO REFORM.
Tne CONSERVATIVE pdTty Will LIB itducr, MI. DIS-
raeli, finds FAULT with all the schemes OF justice and
reform carried out during the past five years by
the liberals, and they certainly fought ably and
vigorously against their passage. The income tax.
always an obnoxious tax, which Mr.. Gladstone
proposes to abolish should, according to Mr.. Dis
raeli, be continued; and the disestablishment
OF the Irish Church is still bemOaned as
. national EVIL by him and his friends. so OF other
measures including the introduction of the ballot.
Since 1882 there have been at different periods
Sir Robert Peel the Duke Of Wellington, Lord
Derby and Mr.. Disraeli at the head Of affairs IN
England Only on TWO occasions have the con-
servatves appealed to the Countrywide first in
1885, waen' they obtained majority Of the Com
MONS but Sir Robert Peel soon found himself in
minority, and had to resign. During the progress
OF that campaign, which was the first after the
passage OF the Reform BILL which they done every
thing possible in their power to defeat Sir Robert
Peel had indeed declared that he would not seek
to repeal it II he gained power; but ii an attack
was made on it by any other person he would I'M
d0ubtedly employ all his official influence in favor
OF the assailant. The Duke Of Wellington had pro-
tested against it as as measure dangerous to the
Crown, and, holding that opinion, he was bound to
endeavor to repeal it. Their term OF Office was
too brief to allow the experiment to be made.
AN ACTIVE POLICY FATAL TO THE CONSERVATIVES
tne speecnes gevered Just Lately the
dictate that in the event OF success attempts in one
form or another will be made to modify or change
the most important legislation since 1868 new
Ministry must have some policy and conserva-
tive policy cannot fail to be unpopular. Irish
consideration but as the Irish Catholic hierarchy
have given up all hopes OF having their demands
gone on IN the work OF establishing a university
for themselves, they will have little or nothing to
ss n An ney ask az
to be let alone. But in any event any positive or
party OF the conservatives, and they will
soon ind themselves in minority, Will undOubt-
eddy arouse opposition as stated above. II
they secure power and mean to retain it it must
be by promising an entirely inactive course and
by merely letting the government in its ordin-
airy grooves. A sketch OF the different changes Ill
the English government since 1882 is appended,
which will show now brief has been the term con.
servative Ministers have remained in office alter
having attained 1t.
THE FIRST REFORM PARLIAMENT.
The Reform act was carried after prolonged
contest, in 1892 and at the general election that
had large majority in the Parliament that met
the following year. Lords Grey, Brougham and
Ireland was at this time in most deplorable con.
ditiOn owing to continued Ill government, and a
e %as To pn
the violence and c0mmotion that covered the
country with confusion. In 1884 1t was proposed
stringent provisions. The right OF assemblage in
any. number, no matter how small, was to be
martial to % take its place
O'Connell, who was then a great power in
the act ak SAID he in speecS IN
the House Of Commons "of the subjugatiOn of
Poland by Prussia Poland has nothing to show
equal TO the tale OF burnlngs, murder, blOOdshed
and degradation which England has been tnhict-
ing on Ireland for 700 years, and the selsame
Commons, but was withdrawn In the Lords. Lords
Grey and Brougham resigned and new Ministry
was snort iiyed Sir Robert Peel was called upon
to form Cabinet, which he did, having among his
associates the Duke OF Wellington and the Earl OF
Aberdeen. dissolution and general election fol-
lowed early in 1885,
CONSERVATIVE SUCCESS IN 1885.
The House Of Commons elected under the excite
ment Of the Reform bill of 1889 was so strongly
wing that all opposition was hopeless And just as
would seem that there was more need of rein tnan
OF spur in travelling on the road Of reform. The
result Of the elections put an end to any hope
which the wings might have entertained or drv-
ing Peers conservative Ministry from office. In
stead of increasing their members it brought an
To retain their preponderance the wings OF the
late Parliament had only to hold the seats of
In order place themselves on anything like equal
ground, mad to perform the more difficult task OF
seves but wPereever this could be acco@pssed
1t was q gain OF two votes. With the exception OF
London, the conservatives were successful in a
large majority OF the bOr0ughs.
SIR ROBERT PEEL RESIGNS.
The new Parliament had hardly organized when
ton OF the appropriation Of the surplus revenues
OF the Irish Church for the benefit OF Catholics as
well as Protestants. Their application to educa-
tlonal purposes was the object in view. The Min
1stry was defeated on this measure by q majority
OF twenty-seven, end Sir Robert Peel resigned,
after holding office only few months. Lord Mel
bourne returned to power in consequence. with
reconstructed Cabinet. In respect to Sir Robert
Peel no one could question his superior fitness.
both as speaker and man OF business to con-
duct the government beyond any OF his contempO-
raries, but his party was unwilling to part with the
1885 singularly nice and even. The wings had
q small superiority In the House OF Commons, but
the Crown and the Lords were decidedly in favor OF
their adversaries. The strength OF one party lay
IN 1885, as 1t did in 1885, in the cities and tOwns
that OF the other in the counties, and the result
was That the Ministers could do nothing for party
purposes.
PARLfAMENTs UNDER THE PRESENT REIGN.
Inc weak, but wententioned, William Nv. died
In 1887, and Queen Victoria was proclaimed. Par
namenL according TO law and usage, was dis
sOved. by the end OF July the elections for Eng
iisn DOrOughS were over, and 1t appeared as re-
garded them the relative strength OF narties were