The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-07-06
BRITISH POLITICS.
Alarm Among the Liberals-A Short Life
for Salisbury's Ministry.


for Salisburys Ministry.
from Our Second Edition of Yesterdayl
LONDON July 4.-The results of the Parlia-
mentary elections Which took place during the
past week to fill vacancies caused by the change
in the Ministry have rather alarmed the Liber-
ais They were beginning to feel sure of an
easy victory in the coming general elections, but
the Tories have more than held their own in the
special pollings and have increased their ma jor-
tiles in such hotly contested boroughs as Wake
field and Woodstock. The Liberal election
agents in many sections, have sent in discourag-
ing reports about the outlook. They say the
agricultural voters are falling away from the
Liberal interest," and that the laborers appear in
different about taking advantage of the enlarged
franchise. These agents further de-
clare that in most of the rural
regions of England both the agricultural la
borers and the workingmen, this year, are
especially under the influence OF control of local
squires, parsons, farmers, and authorities. This
is accounted for by the fact that times have, for
a long period past, been unusually hard and
that these classes of voters are under more than
ordinary obligations to their employers and
patrons.
are nearly all Conservatives, and with bright
party prospects before them are exerting all
their influence to retain control Of British poiit-
ical affairs. The Tory managers in locating
polling places in remote districts controlled by
Liberals have selected the places in such way
as to make it difficult for voters to reach the polls
They also issued circular among farm laborers
declaring that the character of their ballots will
inevitably be known to their employers. The
Irish leaders arrayed the Irish vote throughout
q W. t0 hnlr fha Nnp
dldates in all close districts. The Liberal man
ayers, thoroughly frightened at all these things,
will. early next week, obtain solid union be-
tween the Whig and Radical factions of their
party on the electoral programme. Both Glad
stone and Chamberlain have advised that Liberal
candidates be selected or at least approved by a
central body OF electors in order to save the
party strength from being frittered away by con-
rival Liberal candidates. Both also urge
the appointment of a national campaign
committee to direct the entire canvass
upon mutured and uniform plan,
instead of the disiointed and anarchical
method heretofore in vogue.
The hope OF an early and pacific close of the
present session ofP Parliament is daily diminishing.
The new Cabinet is determined to meet the
factious or obstructive opposition in the House
of Commons with the announcement. that unless
the Liberal leaders prove themselves willing and
able to assist the Conservatives in passing the
budget, the Tory Ministry will resign, and COM
pei the Liberals again to attempt the
task which but recently brought about
their downfall. Sir Michael Hicks-Beach, the
new Chancellor of the Exchequer will announce
this decision soon after the House of Commons
resumes its sittings. The chances tonight,
therefore, are that the present government will
terminate within month Gladstone already
regrets his resignation. He now evinces a GER
tain degree of willingness to resume office. He
has gone so far as to deny for publication, the
report that he told the Queen nothing could in
duce him to take office again. 1t is thought the
leading question in the coming general electoral
contest will be local government. The speech
of Earl Roseberry, Gladstones Lord of the
Privy Seal, foreshadows solid agreement
among the Radical members of the Gladstone
Ministry in favor of elective county councils
electing national councils in Ireland, Scotland
and Wales.
An active agitation is now being carried on in
England against the practice of allowing
members of government to retain positions iI
the drectorates of public corporations. This
agitation has elected The information that the
Marquis of Salisbury, present Prime Minister
Sir Michael Hicks Beach, Chancellor of the Ex-
chequer; Sir Richard Assheton-Cross, Home Sec
retary; Arthur James Balfour, President of the
Local Government Board; Right Hon. David r.
Plunkett First Commissioner of Works.
Right Hon Sir William Hart
Lord Harris, Parliamentary w Secretary Ur
for India; Viscount Folkestone, Treasurer, aud
Right Hon. Robert Bourke, Under Foreign Sec
retary, all hold directorates in one or more
public companies Lord George Hamilton, First
Lord of the Admiralty. and Mr. Bourke, each
hold, at present. positions in four busines cor
porations, while one other member of the gov
ernment holds positions in SIX, and still another
in seven Unless these statesmen re-
sign their posts in these companies,
the Radicals will raise the question, during the
coming campaign, and contend that no member
of the government shall be allowed to hold a
post in any trading company. Sir Henry Drum
mond Wolff. who is in the directorates OF six
different companies, having been called upon to
resign from each on account of his present
mission to Egypt declined, and asked instead to
be accorded by each company leave of absence
for six months, with the continued right to draw
his fees.
THE MEMBER FOR WOODSTOCK.