New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-04-06
P1PTTSANSHIP IN ENGLAND.

ment has been chiefly remarkable for displays
of partisanship. The record naturally opened
with the Bradlaugh case. One of the plainest
duties which have ever devolved upon Ma
tional Legislature was openly shirked for
partisan ends. The Conservatives in excluding
the member for Northampton arrOgantly as
sumed the right Of DISTINGUISHING an English
borough. They exercised the power OF an ON
niscient Maker to look into mans heart ana TO
decide whether he had enough or too little con
science to enable him to take the oath. They re-
heated their former votes because they had
found it a convenient method OF compromising
their political opponents with certain religious
classes. This was very gross sort OF partisan
ship The partisanship of the tlmor0us Liberals
who voted with the Conservatives on this queS-
ton was even more ignOble. In closely con-
tested constituencies the votes OF uncompromls-
ing Churchmen or NOncomformists would turn
the scale. and on this account these dcscrterS
refused to grant Mr.. Bradlaugh his constitu-
tional rights When he was reelected by IN III
creased majority the outrage was repeated III
the same marrow spirit of calculating PARTISAN
ship.
As the session has proceeded these displays OF
Conservatives have adopted a most insdious
policy of wasting time and blocking legislation
They are systematically obStructing the passage,
not only of the Reform Bill, but of every meas
ure proposed in the Queens Speech. They sue
ceeded with the aid of the Painellites III pro-
tracing the debate on the Address to the close
of the third week. They occupy at least one
half of each days session with frivolous and
unnecessary questions framed for the double
purpose of taking up time and irritating and
perplcxing anxious and overworked Ministers.
They were unwilling to have the Reform Bill
read for the first time after Mr.. GladstOnes
mastery speech, but persisted in adJournlng the
debate even at that early stage. They are seek
ing to defeat the Ministry on questions OF minor
importance, and when an adverse vote Is
reached as was the case on Friday night they
are beside themselves with exultatlon, scream
ing Resign T. Resign !" and challenging their
opponents to appeal to the country. They are
ready to combine with Wings Radicals or Ma
tionalists, if only they can add to the embar-
easements of the Government. They are bent
upon bringing the business of the session to
stand and forcing the Ministry to appeal to the
country without passing the Reform Bill or pre-
senting any positive issues for the Judgment OF
the constituencies. This appeal they are seek
ing with clamOrs and menaces, regardless OF
the attitude of Mr.. Parnell, who with his third
Party heavily reinforced may be the dictator Of
the next Parliament The records OF British
LEGISLATION during the present century Will be
searched in vain for any exhibition OF selfish,
embittered and unpatriOtic partisanship on a
level with this.
The tactics Of the Conservatives respecting
foreign complications are also without parallel
in English history. The Government has been
dealing in the SOudan with most vexatious
and difficult problem. Its course, as we have
frequently remarked, has been open to criticism
at many points. No candid Englishman, much
less a foreign critic, can contemplate the cir
cuitous policy of the Liberal Government since
the organization of General Hicks's expedition
without finding cause for condemnation. At
the same time the immense difficulties of the
situation have been apparent at every stage and
patriotic considerations alone ought to have i'm
posed restraint upon political partisanship The
Conservatives, however, have from the outset
welcomed the SOudan disasters with savage de
light as a convenient means of tripping up their
adversaries. Twice have they raised questions
of confidence in the hope of paralyzing the ac-
ton of the Ministry, and not sitting passes
without entangling questions from the Oppose
ton benches and the most determined and in
sidious efforts to make n political use Of the
dangers and difficulties of the British Empire
This is a malign and reckless sort of partisan
ship seldom witnessed in a civilized country
In time of National peril, when supreme in
terests are menaced or imperilled abroad
partisanship ordinarily gives place to patriotism.
The English Conservative is so eager to break
down Mr.. Gladstone's Government. so greedy
for success, that he not only rcvels IN National
disasters, but paralyzes the Government that is
striving to avert and repair them.