New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-09-05
NETWORK DAILY TRIBUNE, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER s. 1881

But when he undertook to turn ont Ministry by
vote of the Peers, the cry of rage that heard
all over England had in it something Of the swift
vindictiveness which comes to men who perceive
all ut once that they have been duped
If Won turn back to Lord Sasbury's speech of last
Friday night you will find in it distinct
ton of this abandoned prcrogative. The conduct.
said he. both of the Government and of your lord
ships, must be submitted to the Judgment of the
country. Everybody understood that as a SUNNI
to the Ministry to resign dissolve and their resig
nation would have brought about fresh general
election just as surely IL they had themselves
dissolved Parliament. For day two. Tory
partisahs went about London proclaiming exult-
antly that Lord Salisbury had framed dilemma for
the Government. horn of which the Govern
ment had no choice but to accept. The country
saw what was meant as quickly as these dinner
table oracles of Belgravia and Mayfair and have
answered the challenge of which Mr.. Gladstone,
adherng to the owsettled constitutional doctrine
which makes the existence of a Ministry dependent
on the vote of the House of Commons, neither did
nor could take notice.
How far Lord Salisbury might have gone if left
to himself nobody can say, and it does not much
| matter. Not far should say Judging from Rus
sian and other experiences But his associates
were soon alarmed. When the decision of the Cabi-
net on Saturday known, and when the evil
dences of a rising all the kingdom began to be
|
near. Mr. Gladstone. with a power of sef-restrant
| and self-abnegation for which he has never had
sufficient credit, persevered in the policy of con-
| citation to the last. He made the retreat of the
Peers easy as it could he made He abstaiued
! from saying n single word on Monday ght IN the
House when he moved to take the Lords amend
ments into consideration. He yielded every possible
| point of FORM He assumed the air of concedng,
when he was immovable, and lavlshed verbal moth
| ings with gracious liberality. What he gave up
| last weeks amendments included-was, on the
| whole. unimportant. Mr.. Gladstone, Lord Sails
| bury and the most capable writers in the ablest
Liberal journals agree that the principle of the bill
| has not been touched. Lord Carlingford who leads
for the Government in the Lords on this ball. goes
far as say it is better bill than when it frat
left the Commons. Minor criticisms may be dis
missed as unimportant in the face of this consensus
of the leaders. No heeds the shreks of
the Healys and O'Donnel!s, except so far as they
| may affect Irish opinion. The Radicals, who
| thought this rs good time any to have it out
| with the House OF Lords naturally disposed to
| cavil at the concessions by which, they say the
crisis has been STAYED Off IT, in reality, the crisis
| had been, or could have been, dealt with IN that
| way. these complaints of the Lords would have
little foundation. Never did powerful Legislative
body which asked for much content itself with so
little. 1t not Mr.. Gladstones concessions that
senced the Peers opposition. Lord Salisbury
made the most of them, and said what he could last
night, in commencing his capitulatiOn, 10 minimize
| the effect of it and the meaning of it. That was
natural. To the real reason for mis- giving way to
| the storm he had reused. TO the danger he had
| brought on the House he belonged to. he made nc
| alluslon whatever. That also natural. But we
may be sure he learned the lesson. and that il
| will be long before the House of Lords again i'm
perils its existence under Lord Salisbu y's leader
| ship or under any leadership whatever. The Peers
| can hardly hope that the provocation they have
| given will be forgotten. They may think them
selves fortunate if the passion they have stirred in
the people is allowed to subside for the present.