The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-02-18
ENGLISH POLITICAL GOSSIP.
Proposed Representation Of the United
States in the British Commons.
Subsistence of the Flood of Political 0ratOry
-L0rd Randolph Churchill as Dis
turber-IribulatiOn Of Royalty.
Correspondence of the indianapolis journal.

Correspondence of the indianapolis journal
LONDON, Feb. 2.-Just as Parliament is about
to assemble the British public are startled by
the discovery of plot by means of which it is
proposed in the near future to secure representa-
ton in that august body for the ambitious re-
public on the other side of the Atlantic. To
some forms of American interference with En-
glish affairs we have become quite accustomed
For an American horse to carry off the big prizes
of the turf, or for an American actress to come
and supplant in popular esteem the
long-estabhshed favorites of the Lyceum or the
Strand, are events that are neither alarming
nor strange. In the realm of mechanical inven-
ton American influence has long been supreme
here, and the manufacturing and trading centers
of this country have long writhed under the
iron heel of American protection. From sad Elk
perience of its destruetiveness, the people have
learned to fear the dynamite that American citi-
zens occasionally send over, and they have been
taught lately to not be surprised should the
American government feel called upon to inter
fere once in while with the execution of noto
rious criminals. Lattery, too, there have been
4rumors of American capitalists buying up En-
glish newspapers; and not TO make Fourth of
July bonfires WITH either, admirably as by rea-
son oftheir dryness they would serve that pur-
pose but to advocate republican sentiments with
the object of finally upsettng the British gov
eminent To these and other kindred forms I'M
derwhichthe aggressiveness of the American ma
ton is making itself felt among them
the people of England have submitted
hitherto with a patience that speaks their
praise in trumpet tones which
all the world must hear and must admire. Now
however, another straw is to be laid upon the
back of the camel-one beneath which the long
suffering beast is extremely likely to give way
The great republic is to have representatives in
the Imperial Parliament. Each State is to send
one. and the men thus honored are not only to
have influence proportionate to their numbers in
the making OF the British laws, but are to spe-
cially distinguish themselves as parliamentary
obsuuchonists, their pay and their credit with
their constituents depending upon their success
. IN two particular lines Of conduct: First in re-
Wiling the British crown; and, secondly, in max
ing the British House of Commons the
laughing stock of the civilized world. Such
rs the latest project of Blr Parnel.
The American members are to gain
their right to seats from tire SURFACES of
boroughs and counties in the South of ireland,
, but their salary Is to come from the United
States, and each State is TO feel that the ndivid
: ual in its pay is its special representative.
Speaking seriously, must say that l share the
feeling of the press and people of England with
reference to this daring scheme / regard it as
carrying matters little too far; and should it
blossom into maturity and be openly put into
= force shall quite expect to see big fuss made
over it,
SOMETHING TO BE THANKFUL FOR.
We are now, thank goodness, at the end of the
= great wind-storm. / refer, not to the natural
tempests that have lately swept with such ury
around these isles but to the political harangues
which always precede the opening of Parlia-
mont feeling of thankfulness is
quite natural, in such case
to one whose profession makes
it his daily duty to wade through the morning
papers; for you must bear in mind that political
speeches here are almost always reported YER
batim While the wind storm lasts everything
must give way before It. The news items of
real Importance you will find condensed into a
few lines and stuck away in a corner, while the
Inslpid vaporings of the member for Middle
borough are spread out over half a page. To
get the few grains of information which these
speeches may possibly contain you must read
the entire 'effusion, and by the time you get
through, not only will you have wasted the bet
ter part OF the day, but you will have lost your
temper into the bargain. OF late years this evil
has increased, owing to the growing tendency of
the leading political lights to swing around the
circle. Formerly members were wont to con-
fine their oratorical flights within the bounds
of their constituencies go go to other
places to crate considered undigniled.
Here, again, however, American influence has
made itself felt and now the leaders of the two
parties stump the whole country their per-
sonal popularity being measured by the number
of invitations they get. And wherever they 90
the stenographer follows them, the public beng
kindly treated next day to full report of what
they said even though the substance
of the speech may be as familiar to us as
the stale jokes of a circus clown Speaking of
jokes reminds me that occasionally one is able to
extract a little humor out Of these oratorical
displays. This your correspondent has done in
the present instance by watching the attitude
OF the Conservative party toward the promised
franchise bill 1t was uncertain atfirst whether
the government would introduce this measure
separately or would incorporate with it
a measure for the distribution of seats.
While the proposed legislation was before the
country in this state. the Tories were opposed
TO the whole thing per Sc. Nothing in the
Judgment of their leaders, could be more lovely
than the situation as il was, and the best course
they told US, was to let well enough alone.
Shortly, however, it transpired that the govern
mont had determined to separate the two bills
dealing first with the extension of the franchise
and leaving the Encouragement of seats to a flu
ture session. and since then the Tories have
been assuring us that it is not to the admission
of a lot of new voters that they object That,
they admit now may be wise and necessary
thing to do. What they object to, they soemnly
tell us, is the contemplate policy of her
Majesty's government in asking Parliament to
vote upon that proposal by ITSELF when the other
question should by right be considered and passed
upon in connection with it. Thus, if you want
perfect political consistency, you must look for
it elsewhere than in the party led by Sir Stafford
Northcote; and, indeed. do not think you win
find this article in either party for the rule
seems to be, when you're in, to try to keep in and
when the others hold the reins of power to do
all you can, by fair means and foul alike to get
them ousted
THE FIGHTING LORD CHURCHILL.
Ordinarily, political discussions here are free
from offensive personalities but this is an excit
ing time and the last few .sessonso of Parliament
have brought to the surface, in the person of
Lord Randolph Churchill, young rooster of the
-s,aacing who has