The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1877-07-29
DARK FUTURE FOR ENGLAND.
DECAY OF THE HOUSE OF COMMONS.
Spread of The communistlc Spirit.
THREATENING ATTITUDE OF THE IRISH AT
HOME AND IN PARLIAMENT.

Mr.. l.. j. Jennipge, an Engllsbman py
birth and training, but for many years
Editor of the New York Times, writes from
London the following remarkable letter to
the New York World:
London July 7.-The present state of
| English parties and politics is well worthy
the attention Of your readers. / do not
| often trouble you with o letter on political
subjects, but in the last month of the Par
| liameptary session I may perhsps be ex-
cused for attempting to give you some
country, especially as we seem to be on the
| eve of very critical events.
Whatever part England may be called
upon to play in the struggle which is
apparently impending in Europe, it can
scarcely be expected that che will present
without will be complicated by hopeless
divisions within. Even at this moment
the most popular Of England's public men
Mr.. Gladstone-is distinctly proclaiming
to Russia and other powers, "Happen what
may, you can safely count upon me to do
one thing-I will paralyEe the right arm of
Eugland." His letter to the "Baptist
churches of Worcestershire" published this
week, is one of the most extraordinary
documents ever penned. 1t confounds his
most devoted disciples.
The excuse for publishing it is this;
There was q rumor in the sir that the
Government would apply to the House of
for vote of money in addition TO the or
dinary estimates. But the proposal has
not been before the country in any author
ICED shape. The Chancellor of the Ex-
chequer has not mentioned it. 1t was not,
therefore, q subject on which an ex Minis
ter Of the Crown was called upon to express
an opinion. This did not prevent Mr..
GIaAaennn rnahinn forward with a
letter, denouncipg the proposal, just as if
it had been officially brought forward
while, at the same time, with his usual
ineincerity, he declared that he would not
at present pronounce any opinion upon 1t.
It may be vital TO the interests Of the whole
position to extend it's naval and military
preparations. But that consideration has
no weight with Mr. Gladstone. He de.
clares that the application, if made, twill
meet with resistance" He announces
beforehand the policy of the Liberal party,
although from the leadership of that party
be formally retired long ago. An organ
lied opposition becomes impossible when
| such tactics as these are pursued.
There is, in fact, no longer q party in
opposition but collection Of parties, W hat
Lord Russell long ago described as "for
| tuitous coDcourse of atoms" Ia there,
| then, strong Government. Far from it.
.
tration in power with a majority at its
| back but the guerilla method of warfare
now pursued by Mr.. Gladstone and some
of his followers renders it unable to carry
out firm and settled policy. Talk to the
people from the stump about the dangers
of increased taxation and the probability
of England being dragged into an upright
eous war for Turkey, and You have arous-
| ed their profound alarm and distrust.
When the speaker lie Mr.. Gladstone, it is
needless to dwell on the effect that is pro-
duced. If you have no ecruple in attribu-
ting to the Ministry come deep-laid plot,
of which they are entirely innocent, 1t is
an easy matter to excite popular opinion
against them. Mr.. Gladstone and his fol
Iowers work on this plan, and the Govern
ment is weakened, not by constitutional
opposition, but by the fear of unpopularity
and by the secret machinery which Mr.
Chamberlain has set up, with the knowl-
edge and approval of Mr. Gladstone.
This machinery is designed to hand over
the Government of England to the mob
Members of the Heuse of Commons are
henceforth to be delegates and nothing
more. When q division on any important
question is impending. orders are trans
mitted to them by telegraph. OF course
| Mr.. Cham berlain thinks 1t necessary to
deny that he and his friends wish to
"coerce the House of Commons" He has
not studied in the Gladstone school for
nothing, 1t is very much as if you caught
a man applying torch to your house, and
| he assured you in the most solemn manner
and upon his word of honor that he had
not the slightest intention of setting it on
| fire.
We have thus a divided opposition, a
weak government and decaying House
of Commons. Not only is the indepen-
dence of that body fast becoming thing
of the past, but already anarchy and
partial collapse have overtaken it. We
have seen this week small knot of Irish
members bringing the business of the
country to an utter dead lock. They kept
the House sitting till o'clock in tie
morning, and would allow nothing what
ever to be done. The business in hand
was the vote of supply for the army-an
ominous occasion to choose for such q
mar r0uvrel Suppose an emergency arose
in which the Government wanted money
urgentlyf These I've or six Irishmen have
shown that they can prevent it getting
any-At least, for q time.
This brings me to the question of Irish
discomfort. There can DO no doubt that
it is quite as deep and passionate as ever.