New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-05-06
RELATIONS OF ENGLISH P4RT1ES.

RELAIIONO Of ENuLIcH I1hIIEc.
The defeat of the Gladstone Ministry ON the
Affirmation bill is serious political reverse.
Although it was Government measure an
nOunced by Lord Harrington on the opening
night of the session and subsequently adyo-
Gated by the Premier himself In one Of his
nohlest speeches, its rejection will not involve
the resignation of the Ministry. 1t is,
however, an unerring indication OF the de-
cadence of political authority in the Liberal
party So sagacious an observer as our regular
London correspondent is forced to confess that
the position of the Ministry is seriously shaken
aud that the defections will probably increase.
A Premier who exerts his personal authority
over his followers to it's utmost tension and
cannot command majority necessarily loses his
political prestige The stragglers who have de-
serted him because they lack the courage to
breast n reactionary movement of religious
bigotry in the country will excuse themselves
on the ground that political Loyalty may be dis
pensed with when the party leader does not
represent the will of the constituencies. Tue
moment that tue attitude OF the constituencies
becomes a matter of debate in the ranks of the
party in power, discipline is ut an end. The
Wing faint-hearts and the Radical Hotspurs
feel at liberty to follow their caprices
rs well as their convictions, and every
member makes his own preparations for
the general elections by consulting the preju-
dices of particular sections of his constituency.
The exultant shouts of the Tories attested their
appreciation of the staggering blow which they
had dealt their political adversaries AS the
session proceeds evidence of similar import
will be afforded on the other side of the House
in open breaks on minor questions, complaints
of lack Of capacity in leadership, displays OF
faction feeling and harassng discussions within
the Liberal party.
The general result of the elections of 1850
was as follows: Liberals $50; Home Rulers,
50; Conservatives, 237. The Government had
clear majority of - over Co nseryatiyes and
Home Rulers, and under ordinary clrcum-
stances could depend upon a working majority
of at least 100. The nominal strength of the
three parties may nov be indicated rs follows:
Liberals, 333; Home Rulers, 81; Conserya-
tives, 21G; vacancies, H. The Government
majority over Conservatives and Home Rulers
is reduced to 26, and the loss of few Liberal
votes through desertiOn or abstentiOn will wipe
il out altogether as in the division on the Afl'r-
nation bill. The net Liberal loss in bye-ele-
tons has been twelve seats, equivalent to
twenty four in division, and the Conserya-
tive gain is represented by the same figures.
When the Irish party votes with the Conserya-
tiyes, as it has done in the Bradlaugh case al
most without break, the Liberals must whip
in all their stragglers or they will find them
selves in n minority.
These comparisons show how readily party
which met with overwhelming success in gem
eral election can be deprived of It's majority
when there Is a third faction on the floor. a net
loss of twelve seats seems incOrslderabe, when
the Liberals can outvOte the Conservatives 81
in a division. But taken in connection with Mr..
Parnell band of forty irreconCilables, and the
remaining twenty one Irish representatives of
lukewarm Liberalism, this loss becomes If crit
ical importance. Tho political power Of this
third party must enter into all the serious call
citations of Liberals or Conservatives when
they face the contingencies of the next general
election. The Conservatives, who find 1t 50
easy to laugh and shout Nhenl the Affirmation
bill is thrown out through their own partisan
ship and the bigotry of II small faction Of Lib
erals, will not be in position to govern the
country unless they have "A larger majority than
their most sangunc whip dares to hope for.
The Liberals, who, through "A lack of civic cOur
are. have broken away from their leader, can
expect as large party majority as they
obtained in 1850. yet unless they can get it the
Irish members by uniting with the COnserva-
tlves can vote them out of Office. This third
party will prove the worst of the Irish plaques
one Of these days.
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