The Labor enquirer., 1886-08-07
A Bourgeois Victory.
London Justice,


London Justice. /. II
The complete route of the liberal party
at this election is most gratifying re-
sul5 to Social Democrats. Whatever
may be said of the conservative party as
an "organized hypocrisy"- and we are
not prepared to say anyGhing for 1.-THE
great liberal party has been the greatest
sham that has ever humbugged long
suffering nation, and its utter discom-
future can tie cause for nothing but
rejoicing to all earnest workers in the
popular cause. The more so since this
defeat does not mean, as so manv are
assuming it does, that the masses" have
declared against legislative independ-
ence for Ireland. True, Mr. Gladstone
appealed to the dem ocracy against the
classes" but it was to democracy
without votes, without the power to re-
spond to his appeal. The proletariat
does not vet control the polls, and can
no more expect to win under existing
conditions than an unarmed crowd,
however numerous, could expect to
hold its own against the armed forces
that the possessing classes could bring
against it.
The shameful neglect of the metropo
lis by the liberal leaders, the utter in
difference shown by the late liberal gov
ernment 10 all working-class questions,
and tie absence of anv proposal for
dealing with the frightful distress from
which the workers are suffering, un-
doubtedlv did a great deal to ALLEVIATE
the sympathies of large portion of the
working population and to drive them
into the reactionary camp. But in spite
of all this and more, in spite of the
Dlundering policy of butcher and bolt"
in Egypt, of repression in Ireland and
disgraceful incompetency at home, the
democracy would, if it had the power,
have emphaticallY declared in favor of
justice for Ireland; and This, too, not
withstanding the contemplate character
of so MANY of the men whose return
such declaration would have secured.
The enthusiasm displayed by the
masses with regard to the question at
issue was greater than was to be ex-
pected under the .rCumstances, but
something more than enthusiasm is nee
essary in order to win an election, and
the result of this contest is victory for
the bourgeolse. The small shopkeepers
the most tlmid, the most ignorant, the
most selfish, and very often the most
heavily -burdened class in the commn
nity-Went almost to man dead against
home rule. Even in the exclusively in
dustrial districts, this class forms very
considerable proportion of the electo-
rate, while of the purely working class
population probably not one IN twelve
has VOTE this at any rate was the pO-
sition of the majority of those who were
most enthusiastic in supporting Glad
stonian candidates at their meetings.
For this defeat the liberals have only
themselves to thank. During the six
years they were in Office, with strong
majority they did absolutely nothing to
carry into effect those political reforms
which they profess to advocate, and
which would give the masses political
power They have their reward. The
middle class has deserted them, their
party is shattered, and a reactionary
ministry will soon be in power.
In all this we see no cause for des-
pondencY; quite the reverse. The
ground is now cleared of the party of
shams and shoddy, and homeopathic
doses of reform; these half-a-loafers,
with their alternate policies of coercion
and concession, slaughter and surrender,
repression and concili ition are played
out. We are getting all our enemies in
front. The struggle of the future is be-
tween Revolutionist and reactionist !;
and upon one side or the other the scat
tered elements of the liberal party will
have to range themselves.
| So far as the immediate question of
the daY-that of Irish national inde-
pendence-is concerned, settlem ent
cannot be long delay it will probably
come much sooner than is generally i'm
agined. But there are social questions
which will have to be dealt with in the
near future, by the side of which such
mere political issues will sink into insig-
ni6cance. We do not believe in the ca
pacty of any middle-class government
to deal with these questions, and failure
on their part means a reversal of this
triumph of the bourgeoise, and victory
for US. II. QUELCH.
Two Who Won't.
The shah of Persia, having given Off
cial notice that lie will offer Americans