The Washington critic., 1886-06-08
DELAY BUT NOT DEFEAT.


As has been expected for a long
time, and especially since Mr.. Glad.
stone postponed the vote on its
second reading in order to bring buck
to the Liberal ranks as manyas posi-.
BILE of the disafTectel members Of that
party, the Home Rule bill was defeat.
cd last night In the House of Commons.
But 1t was far from being an over
whelming defeat Outof vote of Gj2
there was but a small majority Of
thirty against the bill, which fact con-
stitutes one of the best evidences Of the
immense progress which has been
made by those in favor Of homc rule
under the joint leadership of Mr.. Glad
stone and Mr.. Parnell.
A year or eighteen months ago the
statement that any proposition Of the
character voted on last night would re-
ceive as many favorable votes as 1t did
would have been laughed at in derision.
But under the combined leadership of
the foremost man in all the domain of
Great Britain aud the foremost man in
Ireland, gigantic strides have been
made towards the goal which they
have both worked 50 harmouiously and
so ably to reach. An adverse majority
of 80 in vote of 6j2 in the popular
branch of Parliament on the question
which so vitally affects Ireland means
more than column of words in dem
onstrating the advance made on the
line from which there will be no
retrogression.
One of the most important things to
be taken into consideration in this con.
nection is the fact that the defeat of
the bill very probably means q dissolu.
tion of Parliament and an appeal to the
country. Now, the member of the
House of Commons is as anxious to re.
turn to his seat as is the member of our
House of Representatives, and is Just
rs liable to vote with that ambition In
view. The large number of those who
voted for Home Rule showed much
confidence that should there be an APP
peal to the people the result would be
favorable to them, and they acted &C.
cordingly
is doubtless heavy disappoint-
ment to Mr.. Gladstone, but he has no
cause to be discouraged. He had
steadily in view the almost certainty Of
defeat, and upon that expectation
predicated his action. He has beea
urging the importance of dissolution
in case of the contingency which has
just occurred should be the result. He
has paid great deal Of attention to
this phase of the contest, rs such Il far
sighted politician naturally would
The question now is: Is it to be dis
solution, or shall new government of
Conservatives be formed without an
appeal to the country? Lord Salisbury,
the Conservative leader, would natur.
ally like to be sent for by the Queen
and instructed to proceed to the forma.
tion Of new cabinet without delay,
but Mr.. Gladstone will insist that there
shall be dissolution. Queen Victora's
sympathies, 1t is true, are with the
Conservatives, but it Is doubtful If In
view of the fact that her subjects are
thoroughly aroused on the question
involved, she would pocket policy and
let Tory predictions prevail A
Conservative government coming in
without previous appeal to the polls
would not be commanding body,
AS the always emphatic Henry La
bouchere says, it would be but "a
party creeping into power under the
skirts of woman's petticoats." That
= is not an elegant expression nor one
full of reverence for a sovereign, but it
explains what the situation would be
should there be formed conservative
anti Home Rule government without
the electors having a chance to say
something about 1t through the ballot
box.
In nny event, the cause Of Home Rule
will have lost none of its momentum.
Upon the one sharp issue, now to arise
unobstructed by parliamentary in
trigues and combinations, the triumph
OF the Premier is assured beyond Il
peradventure.