New-York tribune., 1886-05-17
THE PROSPECT IN ENGL1ND.

~
Forecasts of new English Ministry are not
premature, since the certainty of Mr.. Glad
stones defeat is generally conceded in Eng
| land. Lord Harrington has rece, assur-
ances of Conservative support and is the only
available candidate for the succession. With
help from the Radicals he will have little diff
Guilty in forming a Cabinet of marked admins
trative capacity without recruiting it from the
Tory ranks. With Sir Henry James as Lord
High Chancellor, Mr.. Goschen as Chancellor of
the Exchequer, and Mr.. Chamberlain, Mr. Tre-
velyan and the Whg peers for the remaining
offices. composite Ministry can be readily
created which will include the prominent Lib
eral opponents of Mr. GadstOne's Home Rule
policy. If Mr. Chamberlain declines to enter
the coalition, Lord Hartington's immediate
difficulties will be multiplied, since Wing
Ministry, pure and simple, would have no hope
of commanding Radical support and would
have to act largely IN the interest of the Con-
servatiye party. On the other hand, If Mr..
Chamberlain consents to take Office with Lord
Harrington and Mr.. Goschen, the combination
will be one with inherent elements of weakness
and instability. Those statesmen have mo-
mentarily found common standing ground in
opposing Mr.. Gladstone's measure but they
differ widely on general issues and in the re-
cent past have dctested one another.
The Conservatives will act wisely from a
political poiut of view if they courteously de-
cline to take an active part in the organization
of new government. With a close approach
to certainty they can assume that the lines of
cleavage in the Liberal party which have
opened under Mr.. Gladstono's administration
will rapidly widen under a Coalition Ministry
Whether Mr. Chamberlain joins Lord Harting-
ton, or holds aloof. this must be so. If the
Radicals are represented in the Cabinet, dis
sensions in council will quickly follow, and if
they have no voice there they will be anxious to
reOrganize the shattered Liberal party on their
own lines and to drive the Wings Into perma-
nent alliance with the Conservatives. The
Tory election agents, if they are shIewd, will
prefer to postpone the general election until he
dismemberment of the Liberal organization is
completed.
Lord Hartington's Ministry when it enters
upon Office will have to formulate policy, and
since it will include the conspicuous Liberal op-
ponents of MI GladstOne's schemc-united on
that if on no other grOund-that must be in the
first Instance an Irish policy. Our special cable
dispatches have stated that these leaders have
already agreed upon the principles of an alter
native scheme of what they consider patriotic
Irishmcn should be willing TO accept as genuine
Home Rule. If this be Mr. Chamberlain's plan,
it will not satisfy the Irish members. The
fntility of attempting to cOnclllate them by
Offering them an artificial scheme of federation
and local and provincial councils will soon be
made apparent. The Coalition Ministry will
not be prepared to deal with the Irish demand
for Home Rule in broad and statesmanl,ke
spirit. 1t will not command Nationalist sup
port. and English reforms that are crammed
down TIE throats of liishmen without regard
for their requirements and aspirations will be
little better than. coercion. The Coalition Min
stry will offer the island the minimum Of what
England is willing to grant, and nothing will
come of it. 1t viii be short-lived and will exc