The Indianapolis journal., 1885-10-18
Gladstone Endeavors to Apply American eau.
Gus Methods to English Politics, but the
Experiment. Is by No Means Successful.
The Liberals May Succeed, but the
Victory Will Not Be a Decisive One.
The Arbitrary Manner in Which Parnell Man.
ages the liish Party-The Roumelian Out
break the Work of Russian Agents.
ENGLISH POLITICS,
Gladstone Seeks to Employ American Caucus
Methods and Makes a Failure.

ENGLlSH POLITICS,
Gladstone Seeks to Employ American Caucus
Methods and Makes Failure.
LONDON. Oct 17-Prime Minister Salisbury
has already got the Tory party in thorough cam
paign trim. At the opening of the canvass the
Conservatives were in an apparently hopeless
minority against the united Liberal factions.
These factions were, at the time, indulging in a
sort of go-as-you-please campaign and commit
ing themselves to all kinds of isms.
Mr.. Gladstone was at this time
enjoying his vacation in Norway. People
supposed that, when he should return and blow
his bugle blast the Liberals would cease their
chickering's and close up their ranks in solid ar
ray. Investigation showed that the faction
leaders had gone too far with pledges. and that
many of them could not decently recant and sub
NIT to the policy adopted by the great leader
Mr.. Gladstone came to the rescue, and pro-
posed grand arbitration scheme. This
the apportionment of a campaign
committee of twelve honorable gentlemen,
three to be elected from each of the four repre-
sentative Liberal clubs of London, in order that
all shades of Liberal opinion might have repre-
sentaton. This committee was given power to
choose between the Liberal candidates. For
over week everything went we'll; the commit
tee did good deal of work, decisions were re-
spected, and the rejected candidates retired.
But for some days past different state of affairs
has been developed Such number of provincial
candidates have absolutely refused to abide by
the decisions of the committee that the trouble
has become serious. On this account meet
ing was recently held here Of delegates from all
the provincial and metropolitan clubs. AT this
meeting a second and special arbitration COM
mittee appointed to adjust the troubles
growing out of refusals to abide by the
decisions of the larger general commit
tee. This special committee, at present,
consists of Lord Harrington, leader
of the Wings, Mr.. Joseph Chamberlain,
leader of the Radicals; Hon. Samuel Mortey,
Moderate and Sir Henry James, Attorney
general under Gladstone. 1t was calculated that
no Liberal candidate would have the temerity to
stand out against the decision of both COM
mittees, and that between them they would be
able to radually eliminate all the elements Of
disunion from the party. But the result has
shown that Mr.. Gladstone has adopted
but very awkard imitation of the
American caucus system. His caucus
assumed to say who shall remain
in the lists long after they are all made up. Its
decisions are frequently made when it is abso-
lutely to late too obedience to them. If
these committees had been given the selection Of
the candidates in the first place. no candidates
would now be soliciting Liberal votes except
those indorsed by Mr. Gladstone AS it is, we
find his caucus brought into being after the can
ddates are all up, and making many ex post
facto decisions regarding public men deeply
pledged and far advanced in their campaign work.
The result is. of course, that numbers of these
candidates refuse to accept the caucus decisions
and persevere in their canddatures Hence
many of the English provincial constituencies
remain contested by four or FIVE rival Liberal
candidates, each attempting to split up the party
vote against single Conservative candidate In
the same field.
Mr.. Parnell's management of his Irish cam
of the American method. and cor
respondingy successful. His eau
cuses select the candidates who shall be
privileged to select votes. If Mr. Parnell per-
mtted any number of 1rishmen TO put them
selves forward as Nationalist parliamentary can
ddates in Ireland, and after all these gentlemen
had secured followngs and given pledges,
formed caucus to expel certain of them from
Lne chnVdSS Oh bno SlupIo grOunu OF parry
expediency, one campaign would COM
petely shatter and dissipate his power.
Yet this very thing is what BIr
Gladstone is attempting In England He may
of course, succeed the Engshman being more
submissive than the Irshman, but there cannot
be any doubt that disunion at present prevails
largely in the Liberal party.
The public declaration of Cardinal Newman
concerning the, Established Church is one of the
most extraordinary facts of the campaign. He
urges the Catholics to aid the Conservatives in
preservingthe Estab blished Church again 1.-THE at
tacks of its enemies. Many affect TO see in
the Cardinals exhOrtation nothing more than a
political adaptation of the Roman Church's prin-
ciple that any religion is better than no religion;
but his words have attracted universal attention
here, and will undoubtedly assist the Conserva-
tives, who. party, stand by the church, to
secure an alliance with the Irish party
The Tory political agents throughout the
country generally report a more favora-
BILE prospect for their party. They do
rot predict victory, but the sum
OF their assurances is that in no event can the
Liberals win by a large majority. The Conserv-
ative leaders are so convinced of this that the
Marquis OF Salisbury has decided to adopt an
extraordinary course He will continue in office,
even if the Liberals obtain majority in the
next Parliament, unless the majority is SO large
to show very strong public verdict against
the government, until defeated by vote in the
new House.