Omaha daily bee., 1888-06-25
CLADSTONE'S OPPORTUNITY.
The Tories Likely to Split If Let
Alone.
QuARRELlNe WITH THEMSELVES.
The Rank and File Displeased With
the Course Of Their Leaders
Dillon's Case in the
House To-day.
A Conservative Wrnnglc.
tCopmIght 1883 by James Gordon Beunc

LONDON, june A,-INew York Herald
~Cable-Special 20 THE BEE There cannot
be much doubt now as to how the English
parties stand. The conservative chiefs have
unwisely advertised to the world the serious
differences which exist in their ranks. OF
course the whole truth has not come out,
but enough is known to convince everybody
that the followers are disconnected and the
leaders irritable. The only question a year
ago was, Can you keep fast hold of the
liberal unionists' Now this party may well
turn to Salisbury and Smith and ask, Are
you quite sure of the conservatives! 1t is
more than ever necessary to receive with
suspicion the version of affairs which is daily
put forward by most of the London news
papers. Some of them cherish a
deadly animosity towards MIR.
Gladstone, others are influenced
by social considerations. You remember
what Disraeli said about the Times and
gilded saloons. All are dependent upon the
ministry for early tips and they speak on
party matters as the heads of the party di-
rect them. Now they are saying that the
meeting last Thursday has improved the
feeling of the conservatives towards their
leaders. The talk of the house and the lob
bies is very different. The grumbling at the
local government bill goes on harder than
ever. Salisbury'S lecture has only created q
feeling of soreness among the country par
ties. AS for the left wing it is satisfied be-
cause it has made good its position and
knows that it is bound to win. After all it
only desires to inform the public service of
the cessation of jobbery and the honest eX-
penditure of the public funds. This may
sound rather radical to some ears but it is
not reasonable. a man could not be sent to
prison for holding such views even in Ire
land.
These and other clements of discord being
in existence, what is the best course open to
the Gladstonians? 1t is to stand by and let
the dissensIons do their work. That seems
quite plain but the leaders do not think so
They deem the moment favorable for max,
ing a general attack on the conservative
camp. They choose a question which en-
ables Mr.. Smith once more to sound the
rallying cry of The union in danger.n Moth
ing else would have induced the conserva-
tives to close up their ranks and put aside
the minor differences. More than once dur
ing the last two years Mr.. Gladstone has re-
united the tory party, certainly without in
tending, perhaps without suspecting it. He
has now made another tactical mistake. He
should have left the tories to go on wrangl-
ing, holding meetings supposed to be
private, but of which garbled and deluslve
reports are promptly dispatched to
the newspapers, reports emincntly favorable
to the ministry and much the reverse towards
everybody else. This has been permitted 10
continue with as little interference as posi-
bic from outsiders, but Gladstone came to n
different conclusion and now the unionist
forces will rally to the rescue of the per-
picked and disheartened ministry. This is
| very fine, no doubt, but it is not the way to
win battles. Let the old political hands
among your readers judge for themselves.
The case Of Mr.. Dillon and the general adj
ministration coercion act, such is the theme
for discussion on Monday. The defeat of
Morley's motion is certain and inevitable but
of course there are other considerations.
The Irish members need a field dag now and
then to keep them in spirits. Something, too,
must be done to influence the course
of public opinion. My W belief is
that the customary reaction against
the policy of coercion is setting in conse-
| sequently it is a good time to bring forward
the case of Mr.. Dillon, who is now person
ally well known to a large number of Eng
lish constituencies and whose Imprisonment
for six months will undoubtedly produce a
sensation. The cold and heartless tone of
Balfour's answer on Friday about Mr..
Dillon, also about the eviction of the dying
man, will produce a powerful effect upon
the public mind. The discussion itself may
tn ercfore be useful to the Gladstonlans in
the country but the effect of a severe defeat
in parliament is always discouraging. Twice
in one week the government were beaten
and what was the result? A meeting was
called in haste, the panic-stricken leaders
reproachlng their followers, rccriminations
banded about from one to another, and
the great party driven to proclaim
its embarrassment to the world. If defeat
does this for n powerful ministry so
much more mischieVOus must be its COnse-
quences on a minority which has been wan
dering in the desert of opposition for W
long years. DissentiOns are rife among this
party also. Exclusion from office always
prOyokes unpleasant on the tactics
of the leaders. Not every man who serves
in the Gladstonian ranks is a friend at heart
to Mr.. Gladstone. Come what may, the de
bate will take place.
The ministry played a sharp move in fix
ing the dates for Monday. AS little time is
left for preparation l am afraid observance
of Sunday Will not be followed by the speak
ers on the other side. Morley opens the ball,
and it was plain to all observers that when
the ministry named Monday he was a good
deal taken aback, but the opposition gave
notice of their intention TO demand a day and
they could scarcely refuse to take the first that
came, There are many grave legal points in
which the GladstOnians win do well to look
into with great care. Mr.. Dillon has been
sent to Jail on the charge of criminal con
spiracy and the law on that point is capable
of a wide and generous Interpretation, as the
recent decision in the Dublin court
of the exchequer sufficiently shows. If
Mr.. Dillon's case had been taken be-
fore that court might not that conviction
been quashed as that Of Barry and two others
was last week. Itseemst to say the least highly
probable all legal forms of redress should be
tried before action is taken in the house of
commons This is a point which viii unques-
tionably be raised on Monday, and if the
Gladstonians have not a good answer to it
they will not improve their own position or
Mr., Dillon's.
A MEMBER or PARLIAMENT.
nE ~ EsHn.r.rg a . e q A 4