The New York herald., 1879-02-14
Reassembling OF the British Parlia-

The terrible reverse to the British forces
in South Africa was not a pleasant subject
with which to greet the members of the
British Parliament on their reassembling
yesterday yet it was one which the Minis
try could not ignore. and the speeches Of
Earl Beaconsfed in the Lords. and of Sir
Stafford Northcote in the Commons, dealt
frankly with the subject. The Chancellor
of the Exchcquer referred to the British de-
feat as ''an unduly severe blow" which it
was not desirable either to exaggerate or
depreciate, but proclaimed the determine
ton of the Cabinet to "repair and wipe out
the disaster" by vigorously pushing for
ward the reinforcements asked for by Lord
Chelmsford. He sugar-coated the bitter
pill he was forced to administer with the
customary ''official utterances" as to the
general admiration for the gallantry Of the
soldiers and the universal sympathy for
the sufferers. But he rendered no explana-
ton of the blunder by which handful Of
troops had been sent forward to be mas
sacred by IN army of savages, and when
questioned by an opposition member as to
whether the full force originally asked for
by Lord Chelmsford had been supplied,
the Chancellor of the Exchequer referred
his interrogator to the Blue Book with an
official GOODNESS which Sir Joseph Porter,
K G. B., might envy.
The Ministerial leaders availed them
selves of the opportunity to exhibit the
brighter colors of events in other parts
of the world. in contrast to the dark shading
mencement Of the Russian evacuation Of
Turkey; the earnestness of the Porte in tho
matter of reforms in Asia; the success in
Afghanistan, where the object Of the expe-
dition is claimed to be already practically
accomplished, were all made subjects Of
ongratulation.. Even the slight allusion to
the "present distress prevalent in England"
was tempered by the prediction that the
trouble will be diminished by the improved
weather We sincerely hope that the "offi-
cial utterances" of Lord Beaconsfeld and
Sir Stafford Northcote may prove correct.
Yet it is to be feared that the English gov
ernment has not SO fair prospect before it
as the Ministry represents. The Afghan diff
fculty is not yet settled While England is
not likely to hesitate in the employment of
whatever force and outlay may be neces-
sary to retrieve her losses in South Africa
there may be danger Of other disasters
before the reinforcements SO much needed
reach the colony. At the best the terrible
blunder that caused the calamity will be-
canvassed and criticised by the English
people in O manner that will not aid the
popularity of the present rulers. The dis
tress prevalent in England. which SIR Stat.
ford Northcote hopes will disappear before
good weather and pleasant sunshine, is not
of character to be SO easily removed. In
security has eaten into the heart of moneyed
institutions, confidence is impaired, credit
is shaken, business is stagnant, and the
chronic want and suffering of the poorer
classes arc becoming acute and unbear-
able. We sincerely trust that the pros
poets in England will be better when Par
lament next adjourns than they are on its
present reassembling.