New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-02-06
THE DISSOLUTION OF PARLIAMENT.

THE DISSOLUTION OF PARLIAMENT.
GENERAL AsroNIsHaHNr PRODUCED BY The AN
NOUNCEMENr-wIIY Mr.. GLADsToNEs ADDRESS
WAS PUBLISHED IN ADVANCE or rnE OFFICIAL
PRoCIAMATON-IHE MEASURES or THE GOV
ERNMEEr REVIEWED.
lFROA TUE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF ruE r,iBuEEl
LONDON, Jan. q. - England woke this morning
from lis deep dream of peace to the sound Of the
trumpet and for the next i've OF six weeks We arc
to have war in earnest - all the more earnest be-
cause unexpected. Mr.. Gladsones manifesto ~ a
complete surprise. Neither friends nor enemies Of
the Government had the least suspicion that Paila-
ment was to be dissolved at this moment, and
general election held. Only yesterday appeared MIR.
Disraeli's notice to his supporters TO be m their
places in the House of Commons on the 9TH Of Feb
ruaTy. And only yesterday. in fact the decision
to dissolve taken, though the length and elaboration
Of Mr.. Gladstones address TO his elections prove
clearly enough that in his mind least thls coup has
been long meditated do not know what The Times
means by saying that the Dissolution was perhaps
preciptated by an occurrence almost accidental. The
Telegraph, which is usually better informed Of what
passes in Mr.. GladstOnes mind than any other jour-
na asserts peremptorly that the decision represents
the deliberate and unanimous choice Of the Cabinet,
and that there is-but il does not say differ
ence of opinion among themselves about the Deces-
slty OF an immaculate appeal 10 tne country.
suppose there can be no dOnbt that
tho Conservatives are taken not merely by
surprise but at a serious disadvantage Nothing is
ready, and nobody Ia ready, and though the same.
thing must be true to a great extent Of the Lib
eras-for it is certain that few Liberals outside
of the Cabinet have been admitted to the secret
the party in possession of Office at the time of an
election has distinct and very considerable advan-
tage. The advantage has been reckoned at not less
than thirty seats In fact the Conservatives will bo
furious. The writer of the brief leading article in
this mornings Standard is simple enough TO show
that he is furious. lie cannot contain his anger
The Standard has for many months been trying to
goad Mr.. Gladstone into making an appeal 10 the
country, procaiming all the while its conviction
that he had lost the confidence of the country aud
knew it, and was retaining Office in defiance of
public opinion. Now when Mr. Gladstone takes its
advice and does appeal TO the country II stgmatIzes
the dissolution as a scandalous party hlck, AZ
sprung upon the country resoted TO with the bare
faced purpose Of promoting party interests az any
cost TO the general welfare, policy of surprise and
intrigue, and 80 on What the " intrigue" may be in
not clear; but The Standard in yituperative
mood is seldom nice about words, and the
country squires who read il will suppose intrigue
means something bad and accept it without
thought. don't wonder at the vehemence Of the
Tory organs attack. Dissolution at this moment is.
in fact. clever maneuver. | don't see that the
country will be injured by it. or that anybody
fairly complain of il piece of party tactics. IL
tactics TO be banshed from party warfare it will
be Just well to let the Conservatives begin. for &c
would be they who would lose most.
hear that the publication of the address aud the
announcement of the dissolution were not meant TO
have been made till Tuesday IL is an irregularity
to give them 90 the public in advance of the official
assent of the Queen, which can only be declared III
Pivy Council. That she has in fact assentod there
il no doubt but the meeting Of the Priyy Council 10