The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-11-15
AFFAIRS IN GREAT BRITAIN.
Victoria Involved in Trouble by Her
Patronage of Prince Battenburg.
Prospects and Probabilities of the Approach.
ing Parliamentary ElectiOn-England
firing of Her Free Trade Monopoly.
Correspondence of the Indianapolis Journal.

out any rear OF the olScounLing influences Oh ZIG
cable. The times are full of historical interest
and startling possibilities. We are on the eve
of a general election which may hand the coun-
try over to Tory Democracy Or to Liberal
government under strong Radical control AT
the moment the prospects of the Tories are de-
cidedly favorable. The strongly socialistic ut
terances of Mr.. Chamberlain have alarmed the
moderate men of the Liberal party and strength
ened the hands of the Tories, who offer the coun-
try a Democratic programme so liberal as to sat
sfy reasonable men of all parties;while at the same
time they stand before the country as the au-
thors of the Afghan treaty and other works of
international pacifcation. Having recently in
terviewed prominent leader of the Conserva-
tive party, who is on sufficiently intimate terms
with Lord Salisbury to speak with authority on
Che political situation. am enabled to give you
few items of special interest 1t has been
stated that the Premier is not in attendance
upon the Queen at Balmoral because he regards
the Bulgarian crisis of such critical Importance
as not to warrant his departure from the imme-
date locality of London. This is not the case.
Lord Salisbury is in bad health. and is advised
not to risk the adverse influence of a journey to
orally known that the quarters provided for min
listers at Balmoral are anything but comfortable,
while the formal and wearying etiquette which
is maintained there in the case of official guests
is not cumulative of the forces that are condu-
Give to robust health. Moreover, in spite of
many sensational reports to the contrary, the
Roumelian crisis is practically over. The
Queen of England's interest in the wei
ia 0f of Rul
has not had pacific influence; but it
has done no particular harm. 1t would have
been awkward factor if 1T had been Endorsed
by the Premier. The truth is, her Majesty has
not shown her usual good sense in her patronage
of Prince Henry of Battenberg, and his brother
of Bulgaria. They are neither of them recog-
nized By the royal family Of Prussia as belong
ing to the inner circle of that august body being
the offspring of a norGanatic marriage But the
Queen not only accepted Prince Henry for her
sou-in-law, but created him by her own volition
royal highness." which title is not recognized
by Prussia. Her Majestys interest IN her SON
inlaw has extended to his relations more es
pecaly to Prince Alexander, whom Bismarck
hates and whom the Emperor William does not
love; but Queen Victoria has been SO accustomed
to have her own way that she does not give in
without fight She has written to the Emperor
William, soliciting his good word in favor of
Prince Alexander So notorious is all this in
the gossip of court circles that it is said the
Gar of all the Russias now affects to regard
Prince Alexander as an English agent, and the
present stuationas the result of English intrigue
IF this were really the opinion of the Car it
would be very new reading of the difficulty for
Englishmen who insist upon crediting the entire
business to Russia. and who rely upon the COM
bined wisdom of Salisbury and Bismarck to put
it right.
But to return to the more immediate object of
my interview with that state official, which was
for the purpose of forecasting a programme of
dates and possibilities The royal council which
~ a of Mi r
will be held at Ba.moral about the 14th of No
vember. The dissolution will be pronounced on
the 18th. The elections will begin on the 25th.
Early in the second week in December the whole
of the polls will have been counted. The new
Parliament will meet on or about the 10th of
January in the new year, but only for the pur-
pose of adjournne to the usual period of meet
ing in February. The point of especial interest
is the question whether Lord Salisbury will meet
Parliament if he is defeated at the polls.
''He will" says my distinguished informant,
whatever his position. Surprising he were
badly beaten, he would resign; but if he had
only narrow majority against him, he would
continue to carry on the Queens government
until he were ousted by vote of want of conf
dence The chances are that he would, under
those circumstances, hold on for another year;
for, though he might have majority against
him, it would be composed Of several sections
each jealous of the other and unable to dust
their differences possibly, without another appeal
to the country, whereas the Tories would be a
compact and united body"
asked him if the Tories had any substantial
hopes of obtaining victory.
"Within the past few weeks" said he ''our
prospects have sufficiently improved to give us
every hope of ma ority. and will tell you why.
The moderate men of both parties are anxious
for government that will cease to worry and
hamper trade; that will keep its word in foreign
affairs that will respect the rights of property;
that will look trade depression in the face and not
be afraid to try remedial measures; and that will
take hold of the Irish question with strong and
yet with generous hand"
| said the Liberals claim to do all this and
more; but he replied: 1.-The country is sick of
Liberal promises, made out of Office to be broken
when in power There u.s. moreover" he con-
tinued IAN old factor in new shape come to
our support. l mean the Established Church.
The Liberation Society went to the trouble to
find out how many candidates were in favor of
the disestablshment of the church. -Four hun
dred against the church. Of course they were
all Liberals The announcement created panic
among churchmen. Usually apathetic. they
have rallied, one man. for the church, and
thousands of electors who are Liberals have
declared their intention of voting with the Tories
for the church. Then the Irish vote will go for
us to a man. not that they love us particularly,
but because they hate our opponents"
The three prominent questions that appear to
have the llveliest interest for the Conservative
electors are the Russian encroachments on India
the attack upon the church ard the depression
of trade The Conservative platform is more
direct than the Liberal programme and always
must be so, because it is the misfortune of the
Liberals to have to count into their ranks every
kind of politician outside of the Conservative
party. This gives the Liberal platform more
variety than exactness. and leaves the voter
somewhat mystifed between the municipal So
cialism of Chamberlain and the Torylike Liber-
aisin of Lord Harrington. There is one very
significant sign of the times, apropos of the de-
preston in trade, which is worthy of serious
attention 1t was the fashion at the outset of
this campaign for every prominent Liberal to
scott at the commission of inquiry into the trade
depression as Tory dodge to bring back anti
quated fiscal systems which were protection
under the namo of fair trade. All this has
ceased The commission has gone about its
work in such systematic and impartial spirit
that Liberals 10 longer find the subject
funny. Moreover, some of the most pow-
erful chambers of commerce in the country
have reported in favor of a modified system