Salt Lake evening Democrat. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1885-1887, 1885-05-13
THE CENsURE.

During the last month England has
been thoroughly aroused as to the danger
which threatens her Indian empire by
the advance Uf the Russians into
Afghanistan, and the affair at Pendjeh
put the nation in a frenzy. The prepara-
tions for war were as extensive as any
England has made since the days when
Napoleon dominated Europe, and were
carried on with an activity that surprised
everyone, for it had been charged against
the Gladstone Ministry that they were
thoroughly incompetent to comprehend
what preparations were necessary for war,
much less to conduct foreign war of any
magnitude. But when all this was done,
grave doubts were expressed by the Tories
and those Wings who are more Tory than
anything else, although they usually sit
on the ministerial side of the House, as
to whether Mr.. Gladstone had the courage
to meet war square in the face if things
came to the worst, and when but last
week the announcement was made in the
House that negotiations between St.
Petersburg and London looked favorable
for peace, and various preparations for
war were ordered to be discontinued, the
Tories cried aloud that England had been
disgraced and that her prestige was gone.
1t was thought good time to 60 to
the country and tell of the wrongs that
had been done to England and of the ig
nominy that had been put upon her, and
the Times sought to head the movement
against the Ministry. At no time
since the defeat Of the Tories in
'79 had SO splendid an opportunity
offered as the surrender to Russia
last week. The peace with the Beers
was thought to be a fine chance, as it
was then claimed that Mr.. Gladstone had
allowed England to be Inundated in
South Africa by mere handful of semi
barbarous Dutchmen, but it did not sue
ceed in winning the masses to the Tory
standard. Now the Afghan question was
without doubt grand opportunity, and
so the Tories sought to take advantage of
it. But they know not how to take the
advantage OF anything since the death of
Beaconsfield, and when Lord George
Hamilton, who is said to have more tact
than anyone else in the opposition ranks,
made his motion of censure, it was too
late, as the Government had promised to
give to Parliament all official documents
concerning the. Afghan question, and
even the Times thinks that Lord HamiI-
ton should have withdrawn his motion
until after the promised documents had
been presented. Lord George committed
a grave mistake in presenting his motion |
when he was not cognizant of what the |
Government might have to offer in ex- |
PLANTATION of its conduct in regard to the |
Afghan question, as what the Govern
ment has to offer may wholly answer the
charge which is made For the leader of
a party in Parliament to commit an error
in political strategy, is as bad as for a
general to make false move in the
presence of an active and vigilant enemy:
in either case, confidence is lost in him
who makes the mistake. The Ministry
may have blundered, but the Opposition
I'D not know how to take advantage of #
ind have plainly shown to the country
hat they are not competent to direct the
Iftairs of the people.
1t is this lack of confidence in the
DRY party which has so well served the
liberals, although the personal weight
nd influence of Mr. Gladstone are some 7
hing wonderful, and they have helped
hold him in power as well as the blum
ers OF those opposed to him. Had there
cen at the head of the Tory party as 7
eader so shrewd and astute a politician
Beaconsfield, the incidents of the past
lonth would possibly have taken tho
eins of government outof the hands Of
lr. Gladstone and his party. The Tories .
ave no such man, nor any one who can
pproach MIR. Gladstone in power and =
oIity, much less any one who is SO near \
he hearts of the common people as he.
ne Liberals will not be driven from
over by the Tories, 50 long as the Tories e.
I'VE such incompetent leaders as LORD :
amllton, or impetuous ones as Lord
Llisbury.