Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1882-05-31
WHY BRITISH MINISTRIES ARE
CHANGED.

he has pursued in Ireland, it would be a
most singular example of the irony of
fate. When he succeeded to the Pre-
miership in 1868, he gave the public to
understand that he had undertaken the
task of governing Ireland according to
Irish ideas, in accordance with which
principally he passed the Land bill OF
1871, disestablished the Irish Church,
and in many ways showed himself to be
the friend of that much-abused island.
His policy during his present incumben-
cy has eyinced the same good will. AS
the initiative in nearly all the legislation
Of Parliamentis is undertaken by the Prime
Minister, it naturally follows that when
the officer fails of the majority necessary
to carry his measures he becomes an OBJ
struction to public business, and is ex-
pected Immediately to resign.
When Victoria came to the throne in
1887, Lord Melbourne was Prime Minis
ter He was kind and considerate to the
young Queen and she felt greatly at
tached to him. He failed to command a
majority in Parliament in proposal to
suspend the constitution of Jamaica for
five ears, and resigned Sir Robert
Peel was asked by the Queen to form a
Ministry, but as he objected to two ladies
of her bedchamber who were nearly re-
lated to members ofthe Opposition, and
as she refused to dismiss them, he was
obliged soon to retire, and Melbourne was
recalled. This famous "Trouble of the
Petticoats, 'as it was called, stirred the
country deeply, and inspired great
deal of eloquence in Parliament. Mel
bourne did not succeed in governing the
country. The finances became disorgan-
lied, the question OF free trade began to
be troublesome, and as he bad no woan-
ing majority with which to accomplish
any useful legislation, Pitt moved vote
of want of confidence, which was carried
by majority of one, and he retired from
Parliament and politics. Pitt tried to
| check disturbances in Ireland by policy
of coercion similar to that attempted by
Gladstone. The coersion bill which he
brought forward in 1916 was defeated by
a majority of seventy three, the various
dissatisfied elements united against him,
and he resigned tt rec days afterward
Lord John Russell, who came after
him, had to deal with people rendered
inert by long peace, and fearful f the
ambitious and warllke schemes of Louis
Napoleon He was defeated in an inef-
ficient effort to organize the militia for
national defense, and was replaced by
Lord Derby, whose Government fell the
same year on account of change in tax
alton deemed oppressive by the farmers.
Lord Aberdeen, who then became Prime
Minister, had on his hands the Crimean
! War, for the bad management of which
a vote of censure was moved by Mr.. Roe.
beck 1855, and carried, amid great tx
citement, by large majority. He retir
ed, and was replaced by Lord Palmer
ston, who remained at the head of af.
fairs until 1858 The cause of Palmer
ston's retirement was notable. 1t hap
pened that just at this time the attempt
was made on the life of Louis Napoleon
by Orsini. The conspiracy was said tc
have been formed and the bombs made
in England The feeling in France was
bitter, and in response to vigorous remon
strances, the Prime Minister introduced
into Parliament what, after the usual
style of English legislative phraseology
was called the Conspiracy to Murder
BILL which provided for the arrest and
punishment of foreigners conspiring in
/ England against their lawful sovereigns.
! This was defeated on its second reading
] by majority of 10, and Lord Palmer
ston went out and Lord Derby went in
/ The Derby Government was short-lived
1t was defeated on a reform bill Intro
/ duced by Mr.. Disraeli, who was leader OF
/ the House of Commons. A remarkable
| feature Of the debates on this bill was q
speech by Mr. Gladstone in which he de-
feated the system of pocket boroughs, on
the ground that those who controlled
them might sometime send valuable mem
bers to the House of Commons
Lord Palmerston at once took the reins
of Government, and held them till his
death in 1865. This was during the per
iod of the Civil War in America. Lord
Russell then became Premier, with Mr..
| Gladstone as leader of the House of Com
mons. Both retired in 1866, having been
defeated on bill to extend the rig ght of
suffrage, and Lord Derby returned with
Mr.. Disraeli as Chancellor ofthe Excheq-
uer and leader of the House. When Lord
Derby retired in 1868, on account of i'll
health, Mr.. Dsraeli became Prime Min
lister, but was obliged to retire the same
year, being defeated on the proposition of
Mr.. Gladstone to disetat lish the Irish
Church. Mr. Gladstone came in with a
large majority, and proceeded to carry
out the reforms in Ireland mentioned
above. He was defeated in 1873 on the
proposal to unite the University of Dub
lin and the various Irish Colleges, and
was succeeded by Mr.. Disraeli, who re-
mained in, Office until 1880 The latter's
aggressive policy towards other nations,
and his efforts to regulate the affairs of
the whole world are we'll remembered.
They so displeased the English constitu-
encies that when Mr. Gladstone came in
to power again in 1880 it was with ma
jority that enabled him to control the
House of Commons without the aid of any
of the Irish members 1t will take some
days, or perhaps weeks, to tell how that
majority is disposed, and whether it can
be held together until the present emer-
gency is passed.-Sam Francisco BugJe-
tin.
AN OLD FRIEND.-He was afflicted