Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1885-07-10
THE CHANGE OF MINISTRY IN ENG
LAND.
An Englishman's Views.
To the Editor of the Free Press and Tim

at oxford (England) and we were all .
deeply interested in anticipating what
would he the result of the general cleo
ton Mr. Gladstone who for nearly half
a century has posed as the peoples
friend" had just made his wonderful mid |
lothen tour. If entrusted once more with |
the formation of "A ministry it was to be II |
government of the people and by the |
people. He was going to rally round him
new blood. He was going to give the
most advanced Republicans such as
Messrs. Chamberlin, Dixie and Others II |
fair chance of showing what they could |
do.
At last the days of the election arrived. |
There were now no very urgent QueSti ms |
at stake. times had been bad for farmers |
and traders aud when asked n voter that !
| knew had been a Conservative, why he |
had promised his vote to the other side I
the reply was nearly always the same. |
"Let us give them a chance and see what !
they can dc"
The elections of the first day decided |
the question and the British empire by
the sovereign will of the people was in
trusted to the care of Il government more
than half of which was composed of men
who had risen from the ranks-men who
had long preached Republican ideas. But
no sooner were these gentlemen in office
than the usual transformation scene took
place. Mr.. Chamberlin, the working
mans friend, was placed in charge of the
Board of Trade, "a department of the gov
eminent which has most to do with work
ingmen and trade in general, but the first
time Il deputation of eX-brother artiZans
called upon the new President of the
Board they We're received with as much
arrogance as though they were the scum
of creation.
For five years this government has been
left to try its best and show what it could
do, but at last the people would bear it no
longer. and the friends of the people"
(the new found friends) have been order
ed to make way for men who are better
known. 1t is a greater blow to the little
party in England that calls itself Repub-
licah than is generally believed on this
side of the water.
Only those who have lived in England
can understand rightly what part the peo-
pie really take in politics. During the
last fifty years politics have been shorn of
all pecunialy profit. The ballot, introduc-
ed from this country, is unlike its model.
1t is so arranged that you cannot show
your ballot. You can give no proof to
any one what way you have voted.
change Cf government only means
change of some fifty gentlemen, not one
single employee in the government service
| has any fears of dismissal for for some
years past it has been the custom to put
young men in office and promote them in
! rotation according to merit. Neither the
ministers nor the members of Parliament
/ have now any soft seats with which to
reward their friends. The consequence is
that an election or Il change of ministry
in England is fought or brought about by
the fact that the majority considers that
such Il change is required for the good of
the empire rs at this moment.
! Mr. Gladstone and his advanced party
have had very fair and impartial trial
and have been found wanting, but in
nothing so much as is IA foreign policy
| when il is borne in mind that the British
empire consists of over Utrcc hundrod
and trc millions OF subjects and com
plete net work of colonies and stations
all over the globe, that more than one
half the ships of the world sail under her
flag, and that the interests and asplra-
tons OF other powers often clash with
those of England, and it is easyto see that
the post of prime minister Is no Snecure.
| Know there is Il good deal of ill feeling
towards England on the part of large
class of Americans who have very crude
ideas of English institutions and that
there is a corresponding friendship for
Russia us the old and fixed foe OF Eng
land, but | have been much amused to see
the United States press in general, during
the last two months aud read the curious
calculations it made as to the power of
Russia.
, During the last twenty years ! have
politics my study. was in Turkey dur
ing the last. war with Russia. | like to
, form my opinions upon facts, don't be-
lieve in gas or advertising, when the hon
J or of a country is at stake. About a
! month ago, think it was the 23rd of May
read in your paper the most able article
; on the Anglo Russian question which
/ had seen in any paper on this side of the
i Atlantic You most rightly explained &
very difficult question which had beer
brought about by the impotency of Mr.
Gladstone. | must admit with some shame
q that he has disgraced the British nation
: by his unfounded timidity. ! say unbound
O ed because there is no need for the Brit
0 ish empire to fear Russia-and | formed
4 this opinion upon my own observation
during the last war. Turkey was at tina
- time total wreck. The stories of thu
n Bulgarian atrocities had lost for her thu
' last few friends she possessed. Russi'
was permitted by the whole world t.
8 chastse 1.-The unspeakable Turks" bu
what was the result. The Russians cross
ed the Danube but were soon driven back
When the late Car came to the front
brought his guards and picked troops, h
asked Roumania and even the little Stat
= of Servia to help him, but for weeks tn
n whole forces of Russia were held at ba,
l, by Osman Pasha ut Plevna and had it no
X been for the treachery of another Turks
general, the Russians would secon
It Danube.
The fail of Plevna left the road to Stan
l. bowl opeu anu I've Russians were que
o 10 take hat road, When they found tina
l. the English fleet was in the BosphOru'
It Tnele was lnen n cnanGe Of tactics. Tn
% Russians had only been performing pc
lice du ieS'' aud were willing to retire an
N ney old lellle, Ge,tnG virtually nothln
l. for heir long Campaisu aud loss of live
lie and treasure.
y As you stated in your article the Rus
% saus we e anxious in this last case
IF choose their own ground. They kno'
l. that Turkey is Il strong arm of EnglanC
IF but one thai Mr.. Gladstone could not ava
ct himself Of Now a change of ministry ha
taken place and am confident that yo
a. will see marked change in the attitud
ID of Russia.
&c The new "Jehu" may have no easy tas
ic in eXtricating the State coach from tn
deep ruts into which Mr.. Gladstone Ia
,e driven it, but Englishmen believe
"thoroughbreds, y not only in horses br
1t men and think they will give the me-
..,, Phi. Il in n