New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-09-27
NOTES FROM LONDON.
LIBERAL DIYISIONS-MR. PHELPS ON DE-
MOCRACY-PERSONAL AND LITERARY.

the platform gave him an opportunity OF replying
to Lord Harrington on the land question. Lord
Harrington at Waterfront made a moderate protest
against the adoption Of socalstic schemes as part
of the Liberal programme. This Mr.. Chamberlain
understood as the rejection of his Hull proposals
His retort is good illustration of the tendency OF
English politics. He speaks through Birmingham
paper and says to Lord Harrington in substance
If you do not accept the Radical ultimatum, we
will split the Liberal party leave your Wing candi-
dates to DO beaten at the polls insure your defeat
In the House If you form Ministry, turn you out,
and 90 to the country at the new election with
Radical programme" This is tho true Radical
spirit. The Radicals are minority in the Cabinet,
a minority in the House Of Commons, minority In
the country. In the last Cabinet they numbered
two ont of sixteen; in the House perhaps seventy
out of the Liberal 370 in the country the proper
ton is pretty nearly the same. But they say 20 the
majority: You shall give in TO lis or we will smash
tho party. They meant to break up the Cabinet If
they did not got their way about Ireland. at
present Mr.. Chamberlain's attention is little
diverted from Ireland. and he is going in for that
war of classes which Mr.. Phelps has just described
as the danger OF democracy.
It is not likely that Mr.. CHAMBERLAIN on the eve OF
general election means TO execute these threats.
What he means is TO get better terms. He knows
very well that tine only chance Of working Liberal
majority in the next Parliament is in the unity of
the Liberal party; in tie cordial cooperation OF
Wings and Radicals. The party programme has
vet TO be defined. Neither lie nor Lord Harrington
can give fra shape to il. Mr.. Gladstone is to carry
tie umbrella and both Mr.. Chamberlain and Lord
Harrington will have TO walk beneath its spreading
shade. The aim of the Radical CHIEF Is to put what
pressure he can on Mr.. Gladstone; 10 magnify the
impoi lance of the Radical section; to secure If
not sanction, liberation for Radical ideas. The
duel between Mr.. Chamberlain and Lord Harrington
is never fought out and never can he so long as Mr.
Gladstone is Oh the ground to parry the decisive
thrust. Mr.. Chamberlain knows that Lord Hart
ington has Mr.. Glgdston@s confidence. and that he
himself has not So Of the party in general; Lord
Harrington is trusted. Mr. Chamberlain inspires
anxiety. 1t is only by rerpctually r;akng himself
board and Ly a policy of menace. that he can get
portion of what lie wants. Tho game he plays. now
as so often before. is what IN America should
call, pcrhips too biuntly, q game of bluff.
On tho Irish question hear that Mr.. Chamberlain
is ready TO resent SIR. Parnelrs demand for srpara
ton. lis friends say no will denouncc secession
even more strongly than DID Lord Harrington. Mr..
Chambcrain's present ultima;um on the Irish
question has been delvercd 1t is the local govern
ment scheme winch hIr. lIeay dismisses with so
mnch contempt in one of the monthlies. When it
comes TO repeal of the Union the Radical leader will
have nothing to say 10 it, or nothing but an
Incorporating No. To uss the phrase of q man
who knows him very well. Mr.. Chamberlain is an
" authoritarian He believes that a government
SHOULD govern. and that Minister OF the Crown
who listens to schemes for dividing the Kingdom
betrays his trust If he will say 50 at Warrington
tit. t,lt1 cstsl,i /.
his Hull speech lost him.
Mr.. Phelps has made two speeches this week the
FIRST and more important being n speech ut the
opening Of a wofkngucn's club in Clifton, near
Rugby The Tines remarks that he is trcadins
successfully in the footsteps of his predecessor and
adds the observation Mr.. Lowell early perceived
that in no way could he so commend himself and
lis country 10 the Englisl people n by turning to
account his remarkable power OF int re- tlEe
specch~ Then comes one of those cOmparis ons
between tie two Ministers meant. u would lee seen
To bc equally civil To- both man may make an
excellent speech without Qnie attaining 70 the Ter
fcciinn OF form of which Mr.. Lowell had the
mastery: and MT. Phelps Says what u worth hear
lug even IL his epirrdms arc fewer and little less
highly finished than his predecessors Presently
sentence f!Om Mr.. Pheps's speech Is quoted IL
~ not the custom of either the American or the
Engli-iman t. lie down IN iurrOw when crcum-
stcnces are discouraging ms, We are told, is
phrase worthy OF Mr. Lowell himself.
The address 10 the workingmcn Of Clifton ia in
truth remarkable one, and nothing - moro
remarkable alont it than the fact than Mr. Phelps
has cnntfiyrd TO talk politics without Offending
no iican. of either party AZ least no criticism has
been beard. Mr. Phelps says IN substance that the
new Franchise Act will prove blessing or curse
as il i well or i'll used. The Radical might say
that this smackcd OF Toryisn, but IL il none the less
the language OF truth and fohcrnoss and wise
common sense. II 4 timely and it comes with an
aut. orty from Mr. Phelps which may secure atten-
tion from Mr.. Jesse Ceilings himself. The Ameri-
can Miuis.er far from meaning 10 aim shafts at
III. Jesse Ceilings or anybody else. Iie has not
been long in England. and very likely has set 10 bc
made aware of Mr.. Jesse Colings's existence. But
that large dealer in political r0strnms might wei!
enough find something 10 consider IN Mr. Phclpss
,yav of putting the case. q II men allow them
elves to le driven lie sleep; II they are 10 lie
drawn iatO that worst curse that cnn come upon any
cnuntry TINT 1 know Of the warfare of one class
against another; if they allow themselves 10 forget
that the prosperity Of one class % necessarily aud
alwavs the prosperity of all classcs. that nothing
is To- Ee giined by dragging anybody down; thai
the reverse process is tHr one 10 work for II they
first last and always that tho inhabitants
of country are all embarked ~ one ship together,
that class canlot save itself NJ the expense OF
another why, then, as IN America. rs general
rule the extension Of the franchise viii work well
and tuin out 10 be wise and happy measure
Otherwise il viii not
That i admirably said But hanned the paper
inst now Ia IN Englishman sitting III The room who
Is all ornament of tic Liberal party. "Wcn'
observed he | can pm il shorter tnau Mr.. Phelps
does Democracy IN Tins country will be blessing
II IL turUs out something totally different from what
If has been in every other country ii the world My
LIBERAL was One Of the strongest advocate, Of the
new Reform Bill; spoke for It, voted for II, was
for il n n member of the Government
by whom il was prepared. And, you see, he is
a Ircady cTngking III the more reason why
Amcrican Minister shond impart 10 himaul TO other
Tnplshmcm some of tue results OF American ex-
per.enco
Mr. Gladstone has returned from his Norway
Yachting trip and has made q speech. The speech,
l.at far all IN In .aI
the Sunbeam Every prccautiOn is still taken with
respect TO his voice and his general health. But
aSk ed Que Of his friends the other day what no
believed To he the real truth nhoIt it. "Wcll,'
he rs soon a. the color of the umbrella
has been settled. think You will find the voice all
right" And with this enignaticaI utterance had
to be con ent.
Sir Charles Dixie Is still staying with his friend
Mr.. Chamberlain at the house OF the latter near
birmingham / near he has recovered his spirits
and il now confident that things will turn out all