New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-09-02
BRITISH POLITICS.

PARLIAMENT AND THE CAUCUS SYSTEM.
AN INGLORIOUs PARLIAMENTARY SESSION ENDED
BEAcoNsFIEID UNsHACKLED-MR. FORSTER AND
THECAUCUs sYsTEM-ITs OPERATION EXPLAINED
NO DISSOLUTION THIS YEAR.
IFRoM AN OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT OF THK TRIBUNKl
LONDON, Aug 1.-THE longest Parliamentary
session. if not on record at least in anyones reco
lection came to an end yesterday, to the lnexpreSs
IDLE delight of Lord BeacOnseld and his followers
Sheltered behind the prerogatives of the crown no
is once again free to do as he peases, with that I'M
periOus disregard to the wishes of the representa-
tiyes of the people which he is accustomed TO sho"
He will no longer be submitted to badgerng ques-
tiOns in Parliament; and having got all the money
he thinks prudent to take, and power to borrow the
rest he no doubt feels himself independent of any
such small concern as the House OF Commons Inc
session which closed yesterday has been remarkable
for little that is credtabe, and for good deal that
is discreditable. l heard it somewhat eplgramatlc-
ally described yesterday as session in which more
irreparabe mischief has been accomplished with less
counterbaancing good than any session in the pres
emf century, Without adopting that as my own or
even for the moment as general view lmay tell you
that il is the view held by very considerable num-
Der. The way in which Parliament has been ignored
and deceived by the Prime Minister, and the way IN
which his docile majority, aided by time-serylng
polticians from the other side. have cOndOned his
offences have been political scandal which must
occupy a dark page in future history. The session
has practically been devoted to attacks on the MIN
isterial policy. and the few measures OF domestic
interest have been those which were hurried through
at the flag end of the session. The Tory party
has been making hay while the Shines
or 1t has been trying to do so. WIN
the one hand it has given sop to the farmers
a. 41,o oh IN he
farmers consisted of proposal to shut all the ports
of the United Kingdom against the importation OF
foreign cattle; and the sop to the Church, OF the
erection of foug new bishOprics. The Opposition
however will be completely successful IN regard 10
the foreign catta, and tho artificial means by
which it was sought to raise the price OF home
grown food to famine limits were frustrated.
don't know whether after ALL the farmers will be so
immensely satisfied with what the Government has
been enabled to do and to the Church, there are
q good many indications that at least certain sec
tons of it are by no means favorable to the new
bishoprcs
The talk about dissolution of Parliament TINS
Autumn has quite subsided, and statements have
appeared in the semi-ofcial journals that the Gov
eminent has decided not TO have one this year. The
Liberals ara not at all disconnected at this decision
When the blazo of fireworks has passed away, and
John BuU ia asked to pay the bill. Lord BeacOns-
field and his colleagues Will find what hollow al
fair all their supposed popularity has been tive
them rope enough and thOy are sure to hang them
selyesD NAV be the consolation OF the Opposition
Nearly enough has been already PAID out.
A great deal of nonsense Is being talked about
what il called the caucus" system, and a good
many very well-meaniDg people allow their prtJu-
dices to get the better OF their Judgment, and fly
into furious passion, without any consideration OF
tho matter in hand, merely because they aretold
that the caucus system is something American, ana
they therefore assume it must be thing to be
avoided A few weeks ago Mr. Gladstone told the
Liberal party a very. palpable truth-that they
could not hope to regain their position IN the
country until they had organized themselves ahi
had shown some disposition TO work together, anu
no has made no secret of his approval OF what IS
known as the " Birnir CHAM system" Throughout
the country the Liberal party is beginning to see
the matter iu the same light. and the various large
towns are adopting the birmingham system, when
for all sorts of reasons, but the one mostly brought
into use being that It Is importation OF all the
worst features Of the caucus system.
The directors in the Liberal camp, but more espe-
ciay the Tories who are fearing Liberal organize
ton. have received this week what they deem to be
a powerful piece of assistance in the shape OF the
publication Of a correspondence which has taken
place botweea Mr.. Forster and tho chairman Of the
caucus or, as it is called the "Three Hundred" at
Bradford, in the course OF which Mr. Forster repu-
dates the right Of that body to dictate TO him. and
which unhappiy shows that there is little
chance of the old differences between Mr.
Forster and tue advanced section of the
Bradford Liberals being healed Mr.. Forsters obec-
tOns do not go TO the root OF the caucus system, ty
merely apply to an incidental part OF II, but with
that skill and adroltness which always character
izes the Tory party, they are attemptlngto avert
the minds OF the Liberal party from the true pm
ciples of organization by holding up the somewhat
undue exhibition of Mr.. FOBteTs independence a.
an argument against tho system which che party
are asked TO adopt
Butlt is necessary that should say a word IN
explanation Of what the " Birmingham system"
really is. In the midland capital they have had for
many wears in work a Liberal association es-
sentially popular basis. The Liberal party is con-
yened by circular to meet in the different wards
into which the town is divided. and to elect GER
tain number of representatives who go 10
the General Council which in Birmingham
haprens to be called the SIX Hundred" sim
ply because when ali the wards have sent their rep
resentatves the aggregate number amounts TO 600.
| To this body is committed the direction Of all the
affairs relating to the party. IL new candidate
has to be chosen, il is done by them, and il any
ARRANGEMENTS have to be made for an election or
ANYTHING else, the Six Hundred directs them. In
short, the Liberal party in tho town commits its
interests to this large representative body and IN
| birmingham the consequence has been that the
Tories have been defeated every occasion on
| which they have appealed TO tho constituency.
This is the system which Ar Gladstone recommends
| the country to adopt, and this is the system
! which is denounced as reproducing the
worst features of tho American caucus, by
| means of which members Of Parliament will be-
| come nero delegates and by which tho control Of
! public affairs will be handed over 10 clques. The
! falacy underlying all this sort of argument has
been freely exposed by Mr.. Chamberlain, who is one
Of the most devoted adherents Ofthe system and who
| is thoroughly well acquainted with its working in
| Birmingham. Mr.. Chamberlain has had little diff
| Guilty in showing that the associations arc on a
broad and popular basis, and that 20 far from de
generating into cliques, they are only means Of
focusing the rather divergent views Of the Liberal