National Republican., 1886-07-05
The English Elections

The result Of the British parliamentary
elections cannot yet be forecast with GER
tainty, but 1t were vain to deny that the
hopes of the friends Of Ireland on this side
Of the Atlantic have been dampenel by the
opening elections in the boroughs not that
there Is any doubt as to the ultimate and
not distant triumph Of the great cause, but
because the chances at this hour seem to
favor the return of an anti-home.rule ma
jority to the next parliament.
The general tenor OF the London tee-
grams to the Sunday press is dlscouragIng.
For example, Wm. Henry Hurlburt tele-
graphs to the New York Sun:
The election returns so far vindicate the ex.
treme confidence of the conservative mani
gers in the force oil the reaction against the
premier.
The London special to the New York
World says;
The elections show continually increasing
majority against Mr. Gladstone. The liberals
were never hopeful, but they are now despon-
dent for II is clear that Mr.. Gladstone has re-
ceived great blow From all parts OF the
country the reports come in of conservative
successes, At this hour g q. nj the result
stands lI5 conservatives &c Gladstonans, u
unionists, and is Parnellites. Tue Glad.
stonians hope If they are defeated that the
tories may get a large enough majority for q
working government, in order that the country
may feel the effects of thorough tory rule for q
while, and thus ultimately strengthen the lib
eral cause. But while things look so bad Mt
present for the minist0rialists, no safe calcula.
tions can be made OF what the final result
will be.
The New York Tribune says, edltorlally /:
The expectations OF the political managers
on both sides have been bafEled, and while
Cheerfulness is affected the most sangune par
tisans admit that the issue remains in doubt.
The polling discloses marked decrease every
where, indicating abstention on the part of
many liberals who did not care to sanction
home rule, yet were unwilling to vote for tory
candidates or to oppose Mr.. Gladstone. The
government have failed to wrest from the con-
servatiNes certain seats which Mr. Parnell had
apparently transferred TO them at the last
election, but on the other hand gains have
been scored In Manchester and Liverpool where
Irish votes were numerous. The elections are
very close in many boroughs, tiYe successful
candidates winning by the narrowest margin.
Perhaps the only conclusion which can be
safely reached is that the United Kingdom Is
very evenly divided on the question of home
rule, and that the government, If II remains in
power, will have, even with the aid of Mr.. Par.
nells contingent, only "A scant majority.
The Philadelphia Record, in brief and
cheerful editorial review of the returns, says
So far there is no ground for dependency on
the part OF the friends of Ireland, as the Glad
stonians have already made gains on theii
strength, as indicated by the vote of the house
of commons on Junc7, Even where the torie,
have been successful 1t has not been by any
such gains us their confident boasts showed
that they reckoned upon.
Judged by any fair standard defeat by Q
small majority, on the first appeal to the
country, will be a grand victory. Mark
where the cause Of Ireland WIS five year:
ago, when most of its chief advocates were
in jail, when oil the prisons OF Ireland were
filled with suspects" and then note the
height of the tide to-day, and you will find
1t impossible to doubt that the only posi-
ble end-success--is near.