New-York tribune., 1889-10-20
THE NEWS IN LONDON.
POLITICS AND MUSIC HALLS DIVIDING
PUBLIC ATTENTION.

TEE BY.EIECrIoNs- NO WORD YET Ffso"
HswARpEN - AGITATION IN WALES - THE
MUSIC HALLS FINALLY GET ThEiH
LICENSES - DEATH OF GREAH
SCIENTIST DoINGs OF EMIL
NENT AMERICANS ABROAD
ray c.pIr TO TIRE TRIBUNEJ
ooovrioht: 1889: BIZ The Aer- l0F" I''o'''e'
London. Oct. 19-It is not clear whetner pol
Itics or music halls is the most ensrosSlhs qU'I
,ion of the week in London; but let us take poi
H. frs. There can be no doubt that the
80 of Home Rule victories, Peterboro, Elgin
and North Bucks. have produced some change IN
,be sitnatiou. Precisely what that change is can
not be known till the result of the conference at
Hawarden is known. Mr.. Gladstone summoned
his lieutenantS early in the week to council OF
war Sir William Hsrcourt, Mr.. John Morley,
Mr. Marjoribanks, Lord Ripon, Lord Granville
and Others all have been viii be present. Slr
William HafcOJrt has since spoken IN
Wales, ani every politician has read
his speech with eager curiosity to
find in it some disclosure of what has been re-
solved on at Hawarden; but there is general dis
appointment. The result of the Hawarden con-
clave thus far Is entirely negative. What people
hoped Was that these electoral triumphs would
induce Mr.. Gladstone to show his hand, to take
his party and the public into his confidence, and
to say plainly what Home Rule now neats and
what the next Home Rule bill will and will not
propose. But he will not. He still prefers the
roe Of the Great Mystery Man, and all tlG.s Sir
William Harcourt can do is once again to appeal
10 the party TO trust their great leader Well,
Mr. Gladstone probably knows best. If he wins
by-eections by perseverng in tins often-criticsed
policy of silence and secrecy, why should he not
win the general election when it comes?
One other thing has been determined, il the
hints let fall by the faithful may be trusted
a fresh attack will be made on the Government
at the opening of the session by the combined
forces of the Opposition. Ministers are TO be
told that they have obviously forfeited the con-
fdence of the country, and arc TO be pcremptory
challenged TO take the opinion of the country.
Mr. Labouchere adds that for his part he intends
to obstruct more continuously than ever before.
But the opening of the session is still long
way off, and much may happen before this and
next February. Nor can any such attack over
come the Governments majority, which still ex-
ceeds eighty.
There has been much beating of the big drum
throughout the week on both sides. Sir William
Harcourt is an unrivalled performer on this IN
strument but Mr.. Chamberlain's style also is mus
cular and Mr. Chamberlain has been eXpounding
the Unionst doctrine of defeat That they have
been defeated even he admits and even he can
find no better excuse for defeat than that the
Gladstonians did not fight fair. His chagrin ap-
pears in astounding accusations against Mr. Glad
stone. He retorts upon Mr.. Gladstone charges
which Mr. Gladstone has lately brought against
Pitt Pitt employed corruption TO create the
Union. Yes, cries Mr.. Chamberlain, but what
ti,c ,lus Nj. sc
which employed corruption in order 10 destroy
the Union? And he alleges in distinct terms
that, whereas when Mr. Gladstone's Home Rule
bill was first introduced hardly anybody approved
it, votes were obtained for it by
persuasion, Establishment, entreaty, threats and
bribery. There are men, adds Mr. Chamberlain,
who owe their titles and their social dis
tinction TO the fact that they voted against
their convictions for the second reading of the
bill. These are grave charges, or would be if
they were credible. But neither Mr.. Gladstone
nor any of the other accused have yet thought
them worth notice, nor has any serious politician
replied TO them. Young Mr.. Herbert Gladstone
however last night told his constituents IN Leeds
that he supposed that the persons accused
would answer. and that Mr. Chamberlain. when
in the Cabinet. used to betray Cabinet secrets.
Personalities are, in fact, the order of the day
VirtuouS Mr.. LabOuchere calls Mr.. Chamberlain
a traitor adding, in his elegant way that he might
like Judas, go hang himself if he liked. Mr. Mat
thews, who holds of the most dignifed offices
in the Cabinet, declares that Mr.. Gladstone's
authority over his party is almost gone and com
pares his colleagues to vipers in jar, each strv-
ing TO get his head uppermost. Sir Robert Peel
is angry because Mr. Ritche speaks against
him dt Brighton that he calls him pompous ass
which is descriptive than civil This
Brighton is SiP hort Pool jS
capital candidate in the old style, who can speak
and chat. He has none too many scruples
but so much personal popularity that some of his
friends believe that he can overcome the Tory
majority of 5000. No other election occurring
at the same moment, both sides are sending their
forces into Brighton and the spectacle, unusual
In England, may be Of two journalists adj
dressing audiences-nOne other than our friends
Mr.: Sala and Mr.. Yates; both good speakers.
Perhaps not less really important thnn this
loud talk on the platforms, or even the quiet
talk at Hawarden, are the proceedings OF the
Welsh National Council. In Wales as in Scot
land-perhaps more than in Scotland-there is a
growing party which wants something which
it calls Home Rule This council has for its
president Mr.. Stuart Rende one of Mr. Glad
stones intimate friends Its programme includes
Isestablishment, fundamental changes in rhe
Land laws and the organization of a Welsh partv
IN Parliament. The Eadical wing of the councl
want to start a Welsh National League with
Welsh Home Rule on its banner They were
beaten but they nevertheless believe themselves
masters of the situation, and Home Rule for
Wales is distinct issue with a strong party
at its back. Mr. Gladstone has reused a spirit
which will not down az his bidding. Whether
IL bodes any good TO this Empire is a matter of
opinion
With all this animation in mere politics, the
nuslc-hal question is one which has really inter
ts.ed London most deeply. The Licensing Com
uIttee Of the County Council has been inquirng