New-York tribune., 1885-03-01
THE NEWS IN LONDON.
MK. GLADSTONE'S MINISTRY DIsCREDITED
BY A MORAL DEFEAT


ITS FUTURE COURSE
rBY CABLE THE TRrBUSEl
IoxpoS Feb 2s-The debate on the vote of
censure has nearly monopoacd public interest.
Sir Stafford Northcote's motion is censured by his
own party as weak and his speech as weaker still.
The discomfort among the Tories was so keen that
q meeting of the party was called to restore
discipline, at which Tory read extracts from
the leaders speech and invited the audience to say
whether they had ever heard greater nonsense
than that They agreed to close their ranks In the
presence of the enemy.
Lord Salisbury proposed motion of censure in
the House of Lords in order to strengthen the
debating case the truth being that the Tories have
not one speaker in the Commons capable OF making
tbe best use of the splendid materials for attack
kindly aprovided by the Ministry. 1T is this
incapacity on the Tory side which explains the
result. This Government could easily have been
turned out if the substance for strong Tory
Government had existed.
THE MINIsTRY's PLIGHT
Few men except partsans think that the Ministry
have good defence on the merits of their Egyptian
policy The Radicals condemn them for doing too
much and the Tories for doing too little and that
little too late The true opinion OF the House OF
Commons is discoverable by adding the III who
.npported Mr.. Morley to the 2SS who supported
Sir Stafford Northcote. The vote would then
stand for tho Ministry, 100; against, 400. Inc
Ministers got their petty majority OF Ia soiey
because the House was not prepared TO SUBSTITUTE
for this weak Government another still weaker
Morally they are beaten. Na more dlscrtdl'eu
Ministry ever clung to Office Whether they retain
Office is the question of the day
The Cabinet meets this afternoon No guessing
Ais worth much but their chief London organ douo's
whether the majority of fourteen will justify
retention of Office and advises them to pass the
hill for the Redistribution of Seats to wind up the
session. to dissolve Parliament and to appeal to
The new constituencies in November, it being
probable in such case that majority of the Liberal
PARTY will approve the abandonment OF Egypt
THE DEBATE.
: Four nights of debate in the Commons ana TWO IN
the ords produced only two speeches of the highest
order-Lord Salisburys and Mr. Forsters' Mt.
Gladstones speech was mainly occupied In trying
70 answer the charge that he had abandoned
General Gordon to which unhappiy there Is no
Jonsver. He did not believe General Gordon TO be
I;, danger and refused to send to prepare an
1expediton while relief was practicable; ana he
Irefuses now to announce tho ultimate ann Oh t'o
new military expedition beyond that OF destroying
1.-The mower of the Mahdi at Khartoum'
/ In vain did Mr. Goschen appeal to the MINISTRY 10
their real purpose warning them that he ieit
ia 3, sunnort Sir Stafford Northcotes motion
| .;.o The Cabinet put up Sir William llar-
| corrt to answer Mr. Goschen. The Home Secretary
always the strongest advocate in the Ministry ol
| +he nolicy called scuttling, now made spee'"
admirable as a debating effort but plea io'
evading responsibility and getting out oil Egyp' "'
.,o oarlest moment Mr. Morley might have made
Isir william Harcourts speech OF DIT "N.i"'''
Iuorconrt might have supported Mr.. Morley .
Imotion for an gaominious and Immaculate Ie'Io''
l Uhor he sat down the House believed that the
doom Of the Ministry had been sealed.
Ar Eorste, last night summed up the case agains'
ILo covorrment with tcrseness and power when
| .,,oal,ers ever surpassed. lie plainly declared
| bot mo sbonld vote for censure' not because oi
mistakes in the past, numerous ana ihoei'"Si''' :"
they were. but because it was Impossible 10 iepo''
loonadence in the future policy Of Government
l.ho. was always doubting what policy to ador'
Ibecause it was always divided
Lord Harrington closed the debate with speecl
,h;ob disnelled the hopes some Wings had wildN
o.,.,sd of a plain statement of what the Ministry
Intend and convinced them that now "' '','''
I,bev refuse to disclose their policy because 'H'
Ihave no policy.
THE DIVISION.
% apv division more dOubt