New-York tribune., 1881-03-30
POLITICS IN ENGLAND.


LONDON. March 14-Sir Stafford NorthcOtt S
manifesto, which appears this morning, is docu-
I lnent OF vastly more yigor than would expect
from his easy-going pen. 1t is clear that the
resources Of more than one mind have been drawn
upon for all these accumulated inyectives against
| the Prime Minister In some OF them an element OF
personal animosity is discoyerable; and that at
| least can hardly be imputed TO the leader OF the
Opposition in his individual character Sir
Stafford and Mr.. Gladstone are not personal enc
mfes but personal friends; which does not prevent
their being keen political antagonists. But some
of the other members of the late Government are
verS Ear from sharing these sentiments Of good WIN
TO the Liberal leader OF some it may be said
! plumpIy that they hate Mr.. Gladstone. OF others
1t is sufficient to say that they do not love him. OF
all it Is true that in their capacity as good Tories
and above and before all things party men, they
would rejoice III aiming good swashlng dow at
their opponents Sir Stafford Northcotes letter TO
his constituents is meant to be just that. III sums
up the opinions and resolves expressed at the Carl
| ton Club meeting on Saturday 1t is the formal
announcement of the final breakup of the alliance
between the two front benches. II is the signal
that the Tories think they see their way to great
party advantage Under such codes OF poltcai
ethics as arc current in parts of the world II
would be hard to blame them fOI that. Equally
that they are acting from party motives. And l
should be disposed to admit that their motives are
after ALL not exclusively party motives though tho
gain if there be any, will be to the Tory party aud
not tue liberal. There is something in this Dusi-
ness which goes deeper than party.
The situation is simple enough rs most situa-
tions are if YOU do not look beyond the surface.
MIR. Gladstone has told the House of Commons that
certain votes must absolutely be passed the 2d OF
~
March, in order that the administration OF the coun-
try and especially Of the finances, may be legally
carried IL they not passed. the finances VIII
fall into disorder and Irregularities of kind
very appalling to the administrative mind must be
committed Bnt under the old rules, and in accord
ance with the usual methods OF legislation, there
is says Mr.. Gladstone, no possibility of taxing
these absolutely necessary votes. He therefore
gave notice on Friday last that tonight. Monday
he should move that with reference to these votes
which votes in supply, the state OF pubic busi
ness is urgent. The adoption OF this motion Ie-
qu1es vote of three to one in u House OF not less
than 800 members. and this vote canuot he had
without the cooperation of the Conservatives; who,
at their meeting on Saturday, resolved to refuse
il. Sir Stafford Northeotes letter Is statement OF
their reasons for refusing it, and an answer to the
reasons alleged by Mr.. Gladstone OH Friday. In
substance it is q simple negative. Sir Stafford
rests on the leader OF the Opposition says, first,
there is no proof that the Mr. Gladstone
describes as absolutely necessary cannot De voted
at the time specified without urgency; and,
secondly that they are, after all, not absolutely
necessary, and that nothing very terrible will hap
pen il they should not be voted till later. Besides.
adds Sir stafford in kind of feminine postscript. il
things are as bad you say, III is your fault and
you can't expect TO heD you out Of your troubles.
1t is not necessary to go very deep into the dues-
ton which of the two leaders is right on the tech
nical points they discuss. Most people will prefer
TO accept Mr.. GladstOne's Judgment in finance and
the state of public business rather than the Iudg
ment of any other person whatever. Sir stafords
criticisms these matters are more in the tone of
Lord Randolph Churchill than of tho mild member
for North Devon. They smack tf something which.
if one were Speaking in the House. might ks called
impudent. Tory finance has long been bywcrd.
Sir Stafford NOrthcOte's finance during his six
years control of the Exchequer offered at time
or another an example Of netrly every mistake
which a Chancellor of the ExcheQuer can con
venlently make. He disrcgardOd systematically
though no doubt often reluctantly and compul-
sorlly. having to take orders from Lord Beacons-
feld-every sound principle Of finance. Having
done that and having left the finances of the coun-
try in condition which can only he called deplor-
able he appears all NJ once ilS bleIn Ol
the successor who is reversing his policy and rccti-
flying his errors and repairing the evil effects OF his
long maadmipistration These facts are notorious
but they do not prevent Sir Stafford Northcote
from railing at ministerial extravaganza at Mr.
Gladstones audacity. at his Deglccting oppOrtuni-
ties Of forwarding business, at his taking advan-
tage of his own wrong at his not understanding
the real state Of business and many other dreadful
offences. Mr.. Gladstone can afford to smile at ac-
cusatons of this sort; though, in fact, he is not
likely to smile, nor will Sir Stafford Northcote
himself be in hilarious mood when Mr.. Gladstone
gets chance to answer him. 1t is certain that Mr.
Gladstone will not sit down quietly under these
charges still less will he endure being told that he
is trying to subvert and to destroy the rights
and liberties of the House in relation to its two
great functions that of discussing grievances
before it votes the supplies, and that of crticang
the estimates and controlling their amount before
It grants the demands of the Minister" No human
being outside the ranks of the Tory party will
credit such charge that 1t is simply and
purely party attack the sort of sounding gen
eralty which will please the Jingoes of London,
and perplex the plain understandings of the cleo
tors of North Devon whom Sir Stafford nOminaly
addresses.
The real motiy and meaning of this circular and
of the attitude of the Tory party disclosed
in single sentence; ana tine more plainly because
no disclosure was intended Sir Stafford Northcote
says MIR. Gladstone wants urgency. for supply in
order to reserve the whole time from Easter to
Whitsuntide for Government legislation" And il
he had been frank, Sir Stafford would have said
that he resists urgency because he does not mean
the Government shall have the whole time from
Easter to Whitsuntide for legislation. Legislation
means the Irish Land bill. The Tories do not want
an Irish Land bill They have been willing to help
the Government pass its Coetcion bills. Coercion
bills are quite in their limo. But they never
meant, and do not now mean, TO aid remedial leg