The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-03-25
RITCHIE.s BILL.

Belief that 1t rs Strong Political Gard De-
vised by Lord Salisbury.
Special TO the indianapolis Journal
LONDON, March 24-Shrewd politicians who
have closely studied the details of the local gov
eminent bill have now come to the conclusion
that the measure is q strong political card.
and that Lord Salisbury contemplates
q coup d'etat, having for its object
the .dishine" of Mr.. Gladstone and
also the governments Liberal U nionist allies.
1t is known that for some time the government
has been hanging on. as it were, by their very
teeth, owing to dissensions in the Conservative
ranks and those OF their Unionist allies, the
chief difficulty with the former being com.
plants Of Conservatives of lifelong allie
glance that Lord Salisbury conceded too
much 70 the Unionists. The last
concession. the local government bill, which was
undoubtedly prepared by the leaders of the dis
sidents, will now be used to wipe them out of
existence, as in the event of another election,
which wiseacres believe is Lord Salisbury's de-
sign the Liberal Unionists will have to face their
constituents either as Tories or as Liberals, or
meet defeat It is certain that as Liberal
Epiouists they will receive assistance from the
Tories and it is equally certain that under such
contingencies the Liberals will also reject them.
Both the great parties will bring for
ward candidates in every constituency
where there is the least chance OF
winning The Tories believe they can carry
nearly all the Liberal Unionist constituencies
and a number of Liberal English constituent cies
under the promises OF reform IN the
claim as their own, but which,
il lie alleged, they have no intention of allowing
TO become law. A member Of the governments
confessed, on Friday, to some doubt whether the
would
session. owing to the multudinous diversities
which have arisen on its details But" he
based in any case" Such sKepticism
as to the prospects if the measure is
among the experienced members of the House.
Mr. Gladstone and Mr.. Parnell have become ex-
ceedingly suspicious of the govern ments inten-
tions regarding the bill. They will employ all
their parliamentary skill in pushing forward
the measure and defeating any Interior
object which the Tories may have
in view. The leaders of the opposition
admit that the government bill would strongly
influence the English constituencies in of
ties will have to be employed to prevent Lord
Salisbury from riding for fall" until it be
shown by slip here and there. during the dis
cusaions in the House, that the measure was in
tended solely to hoodwink the English democra-
ey in order return the Tory government to
power with good working majority without the
Unionats.
The Spectator. the Saturday Review and the
Economist unite in deprecating Lord Rose
bery's proposal to reform the House OF Lords.
TIE Spectator says it would be glad to a
wedding out. the addition of few life peers,
but cannot commend the methods proposed by
Lord Rosebery. The House of Lords. it
believes. be easily purged of its
weakest elements without making it as formida-
bic the House of Commons. I'VE do not
desire it continues, ITO the elections prin-
eiple adopted until dread danger to the democ-
rRey arises similar to that which led to the
establishment OF the American Senate after the
war for the Independence of the colonies"