New-York tribune., 1880-04-06
aWO MOKALS EROM ENGLAND.

| The most obvious moral Of the British elec-
tiOns is the necessity of frequent renewals OF
the National Legislature. The ordinary by
elections do not enable the people to declare
their will. During the seven sessions OF the
Parliament recently dissolved, there were l23
elections to fill vacancies, but the relations OF
the two great parties were not materially
changed. When the gains and losses were bal
anced, the Liberals could boast of winning only
two seats since 1874, and in the closing contests
at Liverpool and Southwark they had been
badly beaten. The Government MAY have taken
too much for granted in confidently expecting
Il return of a Conservative majority, but they
we're certainly justified by the general course OF
the by-eectiOns in assuming that the country
was in accord with their policy. The result Is
a startling surprise even to the best Judges.
The overwhelming success of the Liberals
proves that the people are not now, and nave
not been for Il long time in sympathy with
Lord BracOnsfield's aims and methods. Parlia-
mcnt has been supple instrument registering
without resistance The decisions Of the Ministry
or, rather, CT the Premier. One man has been
allowed 10 have his own way for SIX years. and
now that the judgment of the bOrOuGhs ana
counties has been given, it is plain that that
way was contrary to the popular will III an
earlier appeal had been made to the country
the campaigns in Afghanistan and Xuuland
might have been averted, and the Eastern policy
Of the Government reversed. AT the IiSk OF
making the legislator as Burke once said, :" a
"canvasser of perpetual election" the people
should be consulted more frequently than they
are under the Septennal Act. In no other
way is it possible for Government to retain a
representative and popular character.
Another but less obvious moral of the popular
uprising against the Administration relates TO
the leadership of the Opposition. According to
all prccrdcnts of the last hundred years Lord
BcacOnsiirld IN rendering his resignation must
advise the Queen to send for either Lord Gran
Vile or Lord Harrington, for these are the
nominal leaders of the Opposition in the houses
of Parliament. Whatever may he The personal
preferences and preulices of Sovereign or
Premier, Mr. Gladstone cannot in tlc first i'll
stance be asked to form the next Ministry. The
constitutional practice renders the selection Of
one Of the tlular leaders inevitable. Either
can decline to organize the new Government.
and both can urge the Queen to send for Mr..
Gladstone; but what warrant is there for sup
posing that he will take tine Premiership at
second hand7 AS or London correspondent
pithily remarked in his last cable dispatch, it
will be extremely difficult to form Ministry
without Mr.. Gladstone, and almost equally
difficult to form one with him in Il subordinate
place. While he resigned the leadership of his
party in 1874, and has disclaimcd again and
again any intention of resuminG it under any
circumstances, he has never ceased to be re-
garded as the actual head of the Opposition.
lie is the commanding genius of the situation,
and yet may be condemned to inactiOn in the
Commons as Il volunteer in the ranks-a retired
statesman. The embarrassment of the Liberals
shows that the place of Il recognized political
leader is at the head of his party, and not in tho
ranks Mr. GladatOnc's retirement was pol
itical mistake which rendered the Liberal party
inefficient while it was i'll minority. Now that
the greatest man in that party is needed 10 con-
duet the Government and shape the dcstinies of
the country, that retirement may become
national misfortune.