New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-05-18
VOL. .XLIv...No' o'l3,699.
THE NEWS IN LONDON.
pos1Tr.yy OF THE LIBERAL MINISTRY MA
TERIALLY WEAKENED.

served respecting the EuroPea"
Government refusing all information In regard 10
the assurances of the Ministerial organs ana aVoiu
ing discussion Mr.. Gladstone has answered. an
questions about limiting the scope Of the conference
nv sphinx-like references to previous statements.
The French pretensions in the meantime are oe-
leved to be increasing on account Oh 'he 'oiiS
Governments success in imposing their own 'ei'h'
on China. which yields everything except the in-
demnity.
The defeat of the proposed vote of censure py
only % majority is accepted by most Liberals as
eonivalent to a moral defeat of the Government
For the first time the Ministry got decidedly the
worst of il in debate Sir NJ. E. Hicks-Beach sur
prised everybody by the force and ability Oh MS
speech, while the weakness of Mr.. tGiadstones
statement and his evasion of the main points OF the
Tory attack left his supporters In consternaoioh
The majority for the Government, which had oe1oie
been estimated at forty at the least. became alto
pether doubtful Mr. Laing's Member for Orkney
blunt declaration that he had voted before thaV
black was white and his refusal to do so again. eH
pressed the real feeling of the Liberals the Radicals
excepted Many Liberals notified to the wmps
that they would not vote against the Tory motion
unless some express assurance we're gwen that the
Government were responsible for the safety not
only of General Gordon. but of the Khartoum garr-
SON. That responsibility the Marquis OF Harrington
accordingly admitted. His speech, being explicit,
clear and frank, removed to some extent the un-
fortunate impression produced by Mr. Gladstone
but no member of the Government really met the
case as stated by Lord Randolph Churchill
AN EXCITING DIVISION.
Mr. Forster. Mr.. Goschen, and SO Liberals alb
stained from voting. including one Radical, Mr
Story whose visit to Egypt has cleared his mind OF
Radical cant. Many of these hesitated long
whether they should not JOIN the six Liberals who
voted with the Tories. The division was taken'
amid extreme excitement. The result was uncer-
tain up TO the last moment The Parnelltes after
giving out that they intended to support the Gov
ernmept. hoping thus to induce doubtful Liberals
10 abstain from voting marched tn body into the
Tory lobby. Every pressure was used to coerce
Liberals and the whole machinery Of the tparty was
set in motion.
MR. FORSTER AND THE CAUCUS.
Before and since the vote the motion of censure
the Radicals. under Mr.. Chamberain's lead, singled
out Mr.. Forster for punishment. the Bradford
caucus yesterday passing a vote of censure which
there is no reason believe tho constituency VIII
ratify. This fresh attempt to apply the screw to
enforce the doctrine of the imperative mandate OF
the caucus will ultimately strengthen Mr Forster
whose opinions and conduct in reference to Egypt
are really approved by vast popular majority
THE FRANCHISE BILL DOOMED.
In the meantime the passage Of the Franchise
Bill for the sake of which the country wishes the
Ministry to remain in office has become far less
probable The Standard announces on authority
that the leaders of the Tory party in both Houses
though accepting the principle of the extension of
the franchise have resolved to reject the BILL if it
reaches the Lords. the ground that 1t IS an ID
complete measure All quarrels are composed in
order that the party may unite on this policy, and
force a dissolution of Parliament
THE TORY TRIUMvIRATE.
The Council of the National Union Conservative
Association yesterday unanimously reelected Lord
Randolph Churchill chairman This practically
reyerses the defeat which Lord Randolph Churchill
is believed to have sustained, and restores and even
increases his authority. 1t substitutes trlumvirate
for the dual control heretofore existing in the Tory
party, and gives Lord Randolph Churchill equal
rank with the Marquis of Salisbury and Sir Stafford
Northcote. Tory democracy is evidently to have
trial.
THE IRISH TACTICS.
The Tory decision to reject the Franchise Bill is
considered to explain the Parnellite trick in the
division on the vote of censure Mr.. Parnell being
convinced that he has to expect from the
Tories than from the Liberals is delighted to aid in
the overthrow of Mr.. Gladstones Ministry, when
the Ministry has nothing more to offer. The Par
pellites will now actively cooperate with the
Tories. Lord Randolph Churchill serving as inter
mediary.
LEGISLATIVE MEASURES.
The Committee of the House of Commons on the
Parks and Railway Bill concluded its hearing
Yesterday and will announce its decision on Tues
dav. II is considered that the official evidence that
the proposed line would be unsafe is fatal blow to
a scheme which the most experienced traffic man
sQer in London declares would supply no public
want. The bill is regarded by its supporters as
doomed. whatever the committee may report. 1t
is to be presumed that the committee Will throw 1t
out.
The Chamberlain Watkin duel on the Channel
Tunnel enterprise fought out in the House of
Commons Wednesday, ending in a signal defeat for
the Watkn tunnel project, which finally
buried under majority of l3s amid the applause
Of all sensible Englshmen.
The compromise on the Merchant Shipping Bill