Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-06-21

maraais Of salisbury and tho Question OF
Csusurc.
Try cable 10 the Dispatch.l
LONDON. June 20.--This morning
Sir II. +. Ponsonby, private secretary
20 the Queen, delivered to the Marquis
Of Salisbury a message from her
Majesty. Salisbury Immediately tele-
graphed Sir Michael Hicks Beach, Ar
thur Balfour, William Henry Smith,
and Sir Richard Asheton Cross, and in
short time the gentlemen named were
in conference.
The political situation tonight IS one
Of deadlock. The Tories will not as
sumo power unless the Liberals pledge
themselves to refrain from obstructing
the progress Of the new Government.
This promise the Liberals refuse to
give. They say "You overthrow us
by opposition. We simply as pa ties
exchange frictions." The deadlock,
based as il is, gives cast Of absurdity
to the whole British polis:cal situation.
Here is a party which. having driven
the Government out Of power by re-
lentless-oflen acknowledgement
ton, darcs not take its prize
unless its defeated enemies bind
themselves from attempting to re-
cover it. Nothing more absurd
can happen unless it be the return of
the Liberals to power because OF fears
OF the Tories to assume it. The very
nature Of the political situation en-
gcnders all manner Of rumOrs. One of
the latest Of these is to the effect that
a sufficient number of Liberals nave
given assurance Of support to the Tory
Government to induce Lord Salisbury
to break the deadlock and proceed with
the work Of forming a Ministry. On
the other hand, it is asserted that no
Liberal leaders have joined in any such
assurance, and that therefore the Tories
dare not take power. The Queen is
said to be particularly anxious that the
Conservatives form government. and 1t
IS generally believed that her Majesty
is using all her influence to induce
Lord Salisbury to accept office.
Among the best informed the situation
IS deemed extremely critical, and the
issue absolutely in doubt. When Lord
Salisbury was recently asked how his
party would dispose of the remaining
parliamentary business in the event Of
assuming power, he intimated he would
not object to votes Of censure on what
they should do, provided the votes were
moved by responsible leaders. lie ex-
planned the probability of being met by
cenSre by saying that if his party took
Office they would abstain from intro
ducing any new legislation during the
remainder Of the session. and would
treat such legislation as they inherited
in the manner they had treated it while
they were the party Of opposition.
On this plan Lord Salisbury said he
would not object to votes Of cenSure,
because vote of that kind would give
the Conservatives an opportunity to
properly appeal to the country for en-
dorsement. The Radical section of
Gladstone's following are particularly
DESTROYS Of having the Tories 60 into
Office. Clever and SPACIOUS leaders
among these Radicals would haraSs
any Conservative Ministry in order to
bring the present parliamentary session
to a close. Ii is believed both parties
may agree to dispose Of the budget by
retaining the proposed addition to the
income tax, and by agreeing to provide
the remainder Of the deficiency to be
met by an issue Of exchequer bonds.
The report is current in some quar-
tiers that the Gladstone Cabinet has con-
Cluded to give all the aid that may be
in their power to enable the Conser-
natives to take office. Ii is also
said that the Cabinet adopted a
resolution to this effect. There
are other reports. however, that
the Tories have refused to accept the re-
sponsibillty Of forming a Ministry un-
der existing circumstances. and that
Mr.. Gladstone will resume the pre-
mierShip.
TIE GLADSTONE CABINET.
LONDON. June 2O.-The Gladstone
Cabinet met this morning and discussed
the scope Of the assurance of aid to
cary on the Government which it IS
proposed that the Liberals shall give
10 the Conservatives.
The PGH-NaH Gazette, in an editorial
article, says that the opinion is grow
ing that nothing will break the exist
ing deadlock but the return to office of
Mr.. Gladstone.