New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-02-06

pledges the Irish managers saw lit 10 demand Of
hirl. Ho promised. " elected. to vote against
coercion and for motion to inquire into the expe-
dency of Home Rule. This last used to be the main
shibhoeh of the Irish now, as you SEE, 1T is sup
plemened by another, and this other is of course
due to the proposed introduction by the Government
of measures for restoring order and the rule OF the
Queen in Ireland. IT, therefore, Mr.. John Lancaster
had been elected lie would have taken his seat in
the House as a Liberal, pledged to oppose
the very first Liberal measure of q Liberal Govern
ment. 1t is not to be wondered at that Ministers
wanted no reinforcement of this sort. Mr.. Lancas-
ter's submission to the Irish demands undoubtedly
secured him the full Irish vote. On the other hand
1t alienated large number Of loyal and reasonable
Liberals. He poled some 400 votes less than the LIB
eral candidates the general election in April last
and beaten, as he well deserved to be. His de-
feat marks the strength Of the feeling in favor of the
policy in Ireland which the Government has relu0-
family but firmly declared to be necessary. 1t is no
secret that Mr. Gladstone and his colleagues regard
this defeat with cOmplacencv, not to say
with great satisfaction. Nothing could have
been more embarrassing to them than
the appearance In tho H0nse of newly
elected member flying Liberal colors, but pledged
to vote against Liberal measures and leaders. In
tho House and out of it, Ministers strengthened
by such defeat. 1t warning to such nominal
Liberals as have been coQuettiDg with Mr. Parneil
that their constituents will not have IT. that oppo-
siton to coercion means rejection at the polls anu
discredt with the country, and that the country has
not withdrawn from Mr.. Gladstone the confidence
and the commission they Inttusted to him iast
April
A REMARKABLE RESIGNATION.
Mr.. Duncan McLaren's resignation of bis seat Tor
Ednburrh is due to the wish of the Scotch Liberals
to find seat for the Lord Advocate. who has been
twice dafested and who is much needed INSIDE the
House. Mr.. McLaren was reluctant to give way
perhaps not the less because the Lord Advocate IS
uis own son. and there is a certain ungracousness IN
asking man so venerable The is eighty years od)
and OF such long service and estnable character 10
step down and out to make room for his own off
spring. Bnt the Scotch are, above ALL practical
They find themselves suffering in important business
matters from the absence of their law officer (whc is
also practically Home Secretary for Scotland) from
his proper place in Parliament. No other
s.at is to be had at present, and SO SEN
tilnent and gratitude-if such thing there
be in the political world-are put aside. SO many
ScotcllInen have come up to London on this errand
that the lobby of the House echoes harshly with
what Lord Campbell used to call the Dorc accent Oh
his fellow-counrymen. Under all this pressure MI
Duncan McLaren has yielded. The first result OF his
compalsance is the announcement that the LORD
Advocate is to be opposed by no less person than
Mr.. Edward Ginx Jenkins, that most irrepresslble
and impractical Of radical politicians. In past times
Mr. Jenkins has won a sad prominence in the
House His conceit. his pragIuatcai persistence us
offensive manner. his whimsical pedantry, his un-
pleasing voice. his perpetual appearance upon ascene
which he wouid have better graced by lis absence,
gave hint very high rank indeed among PaIiit-
how, ia bcc I hnloyr q N Irish twist TO
his politics and very likely means TO 60 for the
Irish vote il: Edinburgh on the same hrc that Mr..
John Lancaster tired in Wigan. Ii will he OF good
omen for Liberalism If lie meets a similar fate. Mr..
John McLaren, the Lord Advocate is not perhaps 30
popular as ms father whose majority has been
quoted more than once the largest majority IN the
kingdo,1 But he is rrckoDed one of The very ahlest
of Scotch Liberals and he will stand in his official
character as Lord Advocate. Scotch Liberalism
must have lost its welcstahlished character for i'll
telligcnce if it allows him TO be beaten. w. :.