New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-04-11
LORD DERBY'S RESIGNATION.
WHAT DOES IT MEANT

IFRoM TIE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUNE
LONDON, March 30" That means war" was
eyerybOdy's first exclamation, when it became
known that Lord Derby had resigned. Lord
Beaconsfed had arranged that the secret should be
kept down to the last moment and kept it was, and
the Premies passion for theatrical effect once
more gratiied. There not even rumor OF
what was coming till just before the Lords met on
Thursday. The House about rs empty as usual.
Lord Derby arrived early, and took his place on the
front bench below the gangway, instead Of the Min
steral bench. Instantly the few loungers who were
there knew what had happened. But there was no
time to send word to anybody, and when Lord
Derby rose to make lis statement, Lord Granville
ard many of the other Opposition chiefs Were
absent. You know already what Lord Derby said,
and what Lord Beac0nsficld said. The story once
told flew rapidly all over London, and became the
topic of every dinner table ashe West End, elicit
ing the comment above reported
but another day has come and gone and leaves
behind 1t q somewhat different impression; giving
rise also to questions which thus far remain unan-
swered. The more Lord Dcrby's resignation is con-
sidered, the more inexphcable il seems inexplica-
BILE, that u.s. by the assigned for IT. IL Is al
most IncOnceivable that minister who had gone
with his colleagues in the policy which has led to
the collapse of the proposal for Congress, should
take step enabling them, if they fit to call ont
the Reserves The Army Reserves amount to about
1900 men, the militia to 10000 more but these
latter we are told by the War Minister, are not IN
eludcd in the present scheme. What is there IN the
preparation for calling ont ~ 600 old soldiers to
Justify Lord Derby's withdrawal from the Cabinet
Lord Derby himself it must be remembered says
nothing about the Reserves. He speaks OF " meas
ures y which the Cabinet propose, IN which he mas
not been able to concur, but he does not say what
they are. II is Lord BeacOnstield who comes for
ward to explain II YOU read his speech with attcn
ton you perceive that he does not expressly affirm
that this decision about the Reserve forces is the
cansc Of Lord Derhy's retirement. In consequence
of their belief that the Congress would not meet,
SAYS Lord Beaconslied the Cabinet had to decide
what steps should he taken in order to counterval
or resist the mischefs which were impending the
particular mischief specified being the disturbance
of the balance of power in the Mediterranean " II
is therefore IN the interests of peace" continues the
Prime Minister, land for the due protection of the
nights Of her empire. that we have thought il our
duty 10 advise her Majesty TO avail herself OF those
powers which she possesses Of calling upon the
services Of her reserve forccs.' message To that
effect will be laid before Parliament, and Lord lca-
cousicd deeply deplores that the Government VIII
not be supported that occasion by the abilities OF
his noble friend. That IS all. and when you take
into account Lord Bcaconsiieds very peculiar
habits in dealing with facts YOU may think yourself
at liberty to conjecture that his explanation may
be wanting in completeness.
Such nj any rate, is the conviction of most OF the
men with whom have since talked. They do not
believe that the whole story has been told They
suspect that something else has been resolved on By
tic Cabinet of which no announcement las yet
Ia NJ flo
is looked INTO the less important it seems taken by it.
self The more fully the purposes of the Government
with reference 10 this particular step disclosed,
the less does il appear To be measure of immediate
hostilites or necessarily leading to hosl
tiles 1t is vastly less serious less pregnant with pos
sIblites ofnstant collision than that of sending the
fleet into the Sea of MarmOra, to which Lord Derby
after once Offering his resignation finally asscnted.
IL il not certain that the to be- in fact,
called out; the Only admitted decision of the Gov
eminent Is 10 put themselves IN position to call
them out should they hereafter be wanted. No
hurry Is shown. The is not to be sent in till
Monday. The debate on it is not to begin till
week later and nobody knows how long II may last.
On the face of It. this fresh "step" might be set
down as another piece of that swagger which Lord
Bcaconsfcld's opponents charge him with having
adopted as a political system Hence say people
other cause for Lord Dcrby's resignation.
What is the causel The answer to that question
can only be coniectural, but it feared to be n
definite resolve to 90 70 war. Ono other solution is
possible, and even probable, viz, that Lord Bea-
consiicd has made up his mind to dissolve Parlia-
mcnt aud to go to the country with programme
which shall satisfy the war feeling of the country,
yet stop short at last of actual hostilites. dan
gerous game no doubt but for that very reason the
more likely TO attract Lord Bcaconsicld and repcl
Lord Derby. Among many of the Liberals of high
political RANK the dissolution Is thought exceed
ingly likely The present Parliament is now IN its
fifth year; it could scarcely last beyond next
sion, and Lord Beaconsficld hopes by dssolying
to make sure of fresh Tory majority IN fresh
Parliament which might last rs long as ho lives
He wants to die in Office And if he has really
made ND his mind To war this Summer, dis
solution wouldstl according to Tory calculation, be
the best prelude to il. The party managers are
confident they could carry the country nOw-more
confident than ever since the election ut worcester
on Thursday, which converted n Liberal majority OF
over 300 into Tory majority of nearly 800. True,
Lord Derbys withdrawal may seriously affect the
discipline of the party. Ii lie were man OF greater
courage he might sacrifice his party to what lie
plainly believes TO BE- the interests of his country
For if Lord Derby chose 10 raise an independent
flag, all Lancashire would back him, and 80 strong
a section of the party elsewhere would follow HIM
that dissolution would become, TO say the least
very doubtful experiment. Lord Beaconslield
counts, no doubt on his colleagues lifelong friend
ship and loyalty to himself, as well as on the i'm
mense influences which must weigh with Stanley
against any anti-conservative alliances.
Whichever be the true theory, Lord Derby's re-
trement is a catastrophe Norman is now left in the
Cabinet whose name signifies anything in favor OF
peace, or who has shred of European reputation as
a dplomatist The Tories themselves and, what IS
nnrtV rnprpt lhn loss of