New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-05-20
4 DISSOLUTION or P4RLIAMENT

4 DISSOLUTION or PARLIAMENT.
Prcparatons for general election have be
gun in earnest throughout the nitrd hing-
dom. The Conservatives, embroidered by the
moral defeat sustained by the Government in
the recent debate on the Vote of Ceusure, have
settled all quarrels within the party and have
agreed upon a definite and aggressive policy.
They are bent upon forcing dissolution OF
Parliament at the earliest moment. II suit
able opportunity be offered they will renew the
debate of censule respecting the S0ndan'
hoping to wine out the Governments narrow
majority. If they cannot do this they VIII
throw out the Franchise bill in the PIPER
House, not from motives OF hostility to the en-
largement of the voting constituencies, but on
the ground that il is an incomplete measure
and ought to be accompanied by distinct
scheme for the redistribution OF seats. The
signs of popular disappIOyal of the Govern
ment's Nile policy have multiplied during the
last month. Mr. Gladstone himself is forced
to admit that the sentiment OF the country is
strongly against him on this question. He can
not disregard the challenge of the Opposition 20
appeal to the country. He perceivcs that the
Franchise bin will be rejected by the Lords
and that another Parliament must be sum
moDcd before two millions of rcw voters arc
created At the same time he is reluctant to
order a general election at time when the at
tention of the country is distracted with the
fate of General Gordon and the Egyptian COM
plications. For this reason he has announced
his determination to dissolve Parliament in the
autumn. If the Lords reject the Franchise BILL
he will order general election, but not i'm
mcdiatcly. He threatens to c"nvoke Parlia-
mcnt early in the autumn, and If the bill be
again defeated to go to the country at once.
BY these tactics he hopes to gain time, and IN
tends after rcscuing General Gordon to mike
the Franchise question the ground of appeal.
Delay will be in his favor, provided there Is no
new catastrophe in the Soudan.
The attitude Of the Irish members is charac-
tcristic. During the present session they have
had no ground of complaint against the Gov
eminent Ireland was admitted to the benefits
of the Franchise bill on equal terms, and special
efforts were made to cOncliate Mr. Parneu. so
long us there was any chance of their prohting
in legislative SENSE by the continuance OF the
Ministry in Office, his followers were willing to
suspend their Obstruction tactics ard to swell
the majority for the Franchise bill. But when
it became apparent that the Lords would throw
ont that measure, and that It's pa sage by the
present Parliament WAS out of the question, the
Irish members deserted the Liberals. They did
not act openly, but concealed their purposes,
hoping to compass the defeat of the Govern
ment and to make their votes OF determining
value. 1t was supposed up to the last moment
that they would support Mr.. Gladstone on the
vote of censure, aud undoubtedly many Liber-
ais abstaincd from voting who would not have
done SO if they had known that The Nationalist
were going over in body to the Opposition. 1t
was bit of sharp practice on the part of Mr..
Parnell, and dispcled the illusion that he had
lost his sagacity or abandoned his political
policy. 1t would have been a very pretty
feather in his cap if he could have cOntriyed to
defeat a Government which could not any
longer be of the slightest service to him.
This action of the Irish members ought to be
a serious warning both to the Liberals and to
the Conservatives. The OppositiOnS challenge
to dissolve Parliament and Mr.. Gladstone's ac-
ccptance of that challenge coupled with the
threat of an autumn session, are excellent eX-
pedients in political sense. Each is dexter
GUS move OH the chess board so far as the two
main parties are concerned. But if there is
third player, who is devoting all his talents and
articles to the single purpose of producing
stale-mate, it behooyes the chief antagonists to
be Way. That is Nir. Parnclls part in the game
of British politics. and he is playing it with Gym
zeal pleasure and consciousness of power. Let
it be admitted that the general election is close
at hand. The Liberals cannot hope to do their
best and to return with as large a majority as in
$780, for their Egyptian policy is unpopular
and General Gordon's fate has excited the COM
passion OF all classes. On the other hand, the
Conservatives, while profting by the Govern
ments blundcrs Oh the Nile, are PostpOniDg the
enlargement of the voting constituencies, and
on that account may not do as well as in 1874.
Is it not likely that the majority, whichever side
wins, will be small 4! In that event will not Mr..
Parnell with his sixty Irish votes be in pO-
sition not only to block the wheels of legisla-
ton but to make his own terms This is what
he has aimed to do from the beginning of his
career.