Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-12-24
FOREIGN NEWS.
TBouBIEIN THE BRITISH CABINET
The Resignation of Lord Churchill
Causes sensation-The Government
Believes in Coming European War.

B a .
LONDON. Dec. 23
Lord Randolph Churchill has resigned
from the British cabinet. This resignation
has caused a sensation in London
fne desire u increase The expenses OF the
sdmiraitv ana war offices to which Lord
Churchill was opposed indicates, il is be-
/ iieved, that the governmeUt are of the opin-
ion that European war is imminent and that
extra naval and military prepsrS.ions on the
/ part or Englsnd are required to make her in
( tiuence fit on the contiLent.
Lord harrington will return to London i'm
mediAtely and until he arrives the MARQUIS
of Salisbury will remain quiescents Il is
thought improbable that Lord Harrington
will accept the office as chamberlain and a
majority OF the unioniSts leaders object to
his doing so. On the other hand il is learned
from reliable source that the Queen will
use her utmost pressure to induce MIN To Join
the ministry ana become conservative leader
IN the House of Commons. believing he
alone can neutrslize the effect of Lord Ran
dolph Churchill's course.
1t Lord Harrington refuses To take the or
| fee the conservatives favor Sir Michael
hicks-Beach resuming the duties OF chan
ceiior OF the exchequer and the appointment
"f Rt. Hon. EDWARD Stanhope, the present
colonial secretary. 10 the Irish chief secret
arvship.
Lord Salisbury had long conference with
Rt. Hon. W. II. Smith, secretary OF state for
war, and Sir Frederick Bonsonby. The
prime minister returned to the Hatfield
House this evening. b
The Queen has summoned Lord Randolph
Churchill and Lord George Hamilton, first
lord of the admiralty, to Windsor. Tuesday.
Failing repnnpil. Lord RanHnlph IN ha
cabinets views the Queen gave him time to
consider the points at issue
Lord Salisbury was aware of Lord RAN
dolph's decision yesterday morning and the
matter was whispered at the ball given at the
Hatfield House last eveaing
Lord Randolph's premature divulgence of
his Hk9erson to the Times is considered a
breaM of faith.
Lord Randolph Churchill in an interview
| today said his health was better than it had
been for months past. His decision to retire
he said, was a result of due deliberation and
arose tr m no i'll temper or WEAKNESS of Of
flee. He has abandoned his conte mplated
visit to Ireland.
Chamberlain made a speech at private
meeting of the Birmingham liberal council
last evening.
He said the political situation was criti-
cal one. 1t had totally chsnged within "a
hours. although have often differed with
Lord Randolph Churchill, have never failed
to do justice to his great ability and quick
appreciation of public sentiment. Though
reared in old toryism he has often risen SUI
perior to it and his position in the present
governmt mt was guarantee to me that they
would not pursue Il reactionary policy. His
recent speeches displayed liberal principles
upon the most important questions. His
resignation is very significant announce
ment. 1t seems that the old tory influences
has gained the upper hand. The key note of
ChurchilPs policy was to maintain alliance
with the unionlsts. thought that perhaps
the tories had grown wise bv experience and
were prepared to govern in a liberal spirit
If they have abandoned that intention Lord
Salisbury must be prepared to face the con
sequences
1t seems to me that the Gladstonians have
great and perhaps a final opportunity. My
opposition to Gladstone's hill has been gross
ly misrepresented | never said | was op-
posed to the land scheme. | opposed the
Gladstone bill mainly upon two grounds.
First believed it would involve a loss which
the British tax payers ought not to bear.
Second. was not prepared to do anything
providing an arrangement to make Ireland
independent.
IL is one tHin9 10 use ali tue resources 0i
the state to benefit your fellow citizens and
it is different thing altogether to undertake
risk for those about to drift from you, but
! never doubted 1t possible to devise a plan
for the settlement of the land question.
am convinced that any of the three liberal
leaders can soon arrange scheme which
without throwing an unfair risk on British
taxpayers will in short time make the Irish
tenant the owner of the land he cultivates.
We could go even further in the direction of
unity, even of the question of local govern
ment difference recedes. We have all agreed
on scheme applicable to England and Scot
land and we are prepared to apply it, with
the necessary change of details, to Ireland
1t we don't agree on every point at lease we
can agree to carry these important reforms
on which there is no difference of opinion
between US and leave it to time and frank
discussion of the subject to say whether when
we have accomplished these reforms we NAV
not go step further in the direction of the
views of those who are now unfortunately
our opponents"