Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-03-22
A POLITICAL REVOLUTION
ENGLAND'S TORIES AND WHIGS
STRIKING THEIR COLORS.

Half of the Present Membership of the
House of Commons to Decline Re
electiOn-DemOcracy's Impregnable
Advance Driving the Old War Horses
from the Field in Disgust and Dis
may.
LONDON, March 21.-Both the Liberal
and Conservative political agents are
manifestly preparing for the general elec-
tion in November next. They almost
unanimously concur in reporting that Of
the present members of the House of
Commons almost one-half will decline to
stand for reelection. Ii this calculation
proves accurate the next Parliament will
be the product of one of the most
thorough political changes ever
witnessed in England. A majority of the
members of the House who, it is thought,
will decline renewals of candidacy, are
older Tories and Wings. Singular as it
may appear, the bulk of these will not
retire from active politics because of
advancing age and increasing physical
disability, but they will do so because
OF profound discomfort against the pro-
gress of democracy in Great Britain.
THE REAL LEADERS.
1t cannot be gainsaid that the most en-
ergetic and most effective political mis-
sionaries in Her Majesty's dominions for
several years past have been Radicals or
democrats. The old Tories and old
Wings realize this, and they are cOnVinc-
ed that the democratic element will so
largely control the next House of Com
mons as to make Parliamentary methods
and position disagreeable to En-.
glish gentlemen Of the old fash
ion. Hence these gentlemen will
"refrain from politics." and from
their own standpoint matters will Get
worse. Political philosophers see plainly
that it there is to be real and established
Democracy in England its advent will be
much hastened by the very disposition
shown by these Wings aud Tories to run
away to avoid it. All the indications
show plainly that there is going on I'm
England steady retreat of conservatism
before democracy.
THE COMING CHANGE.
The whole tenor of the reports from the
Provincial centres is to the effect that the
next Parliament will be radically changed
in character, that the number Of ariSto-
cratic military and law representatives
will be greatly lessene5, and that the
number OF commercial traders and men,
bers of local bourgeoise in the House will
be astonishingly augmented. The Tory
dSSubS III lICW VI buG uPCGSSlb1 OI making
timely recognition of the inevitable. have
advised their leaders to adopt an electoral
programme based on democratic lines.
Lord Randolph Churchill, the young and
erratlc Tory member of the House of
Commons, who, in a fit of political
disgust with the clumsy conservatism
OF his colleagues, abruptly started on a
tour to India, has been asked by cable to
return to London as speedily as possible
to consult with the Marquis of Salisbury.
leader Of the Tory peers, and with Sir
Michael Hicks Beach, the reported sue
cessor in the Tory leadership in the
Commons to Sir Stafford NorthcOte.
GLADSTONE'S WEAKNESS.
Premier Gladstone is tired of active
political leadership. 1t seems to be gen
orally believed that he will withdraw
from the Prime Ministry and from the
House of Commons at the end of the pres
ent session. His family and his close
personal friends, it is said, all concur in
urging him to take this step. 1t is known
that Premier Gladstone has recently
very often expressed a desire to
resign the leadership of the Liberal
party. Some Of the Premier's
relatives and family friends are urging
him to retire into the House of Lords
where he can continue to serve England
by counsel and influence without sacri-
t1cing health and strength, as he must DO
If he remains where he is.