New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-03-21
LORD S4LTSBURY'S RESPONSE.

Lord SaIisbury's response to Remington is
a Prime Ministers usual answer to an adverse
by-election. He challenges the Opposition to
turn him out of Office. He knows how large
his majority in the Commons remains at the
close Of his third year, and that he is amply
protected by the Septennial Act. He declares
that he will hold his ground until dislodged
from power By vote of lack of confidence.
lie may announce his intention with amazing
frankness and cynical indifference to public
opinion, but he is acting as nearly all his re-
cent predecessors have done in similar exigen-
cies. No English Prime Minister loses heart
and talks of quitting Office when by-election
goes heavily against him. The Constitution.
il the United Kingdom can be said to have
one, expressly exempts Ministry from tho
ycissitudes Of special elections. Parliament
has Its statutory term of seven years, and a
Prime Minister is secure so long as he can re-
tain the support of a working majority in the
Commons. Lord BeacOnsfed at various
stages of his long Premiership was compelled
to face popular agitatons against his foreign
policy and significant reveses in by-elections;
but he went on his way unmoved and undis-
mayed, and appealed to the country toward the
close Of his term when he considered the pO-
litical conditions favorable for his party. Lord
Salisbury may not be equally prudent in perse-
vering with his own policy when signs of pub
lie disapproval are multiplied, but he is acting
as any other Prime Minister would do in wait
ing for an adverse vote from the Commons.
The Remington election was an unmistak-
able reverse for the Unionists, and indicated a
radical change Of public opinion In London re-
speeding Coercion and Home Rule. 1t was the
Spalding election over again; but the Ministry
recovered from that defeat before six months
had elapsed, and regained in another quarter
the seats lest during the reaction against Co
erci0n. Last years by-elections were numer-
ous and hotly contested, but the Home Rulers
only made net gain Of two seats, notwth-
standing their brilliant victories during the
previous year. Ministers will say that the
Remington breeze will speedily die out and
that they have only to wait until the wind is
blowing from another quarter. They may be
wrong in forecasting quick reaction against
Home Rule, but they are undoubtedly right in
assuming that by-elections are most untr1st-
worthy barometers. When Lord Beaconsfe,d
finally appealed to the country he was influ.
enced by several notable triumphs In special
elections where the conditions happened "a be
peculiarly favorable; but the Liberals obtained
an overwhelming majority, his defeat being
certain after, the first days voting. Mr.. Glad
stone when in office has been deceived in the
same way by special verdicts from single con-
stituencies, Not infrequently has by-elec-
ton been carried triumphantly by one party
q few months before dissolution, and then tho
same constituency has been rccaptured with
sweeping majority by the other side in a gen
eral election.
a Government that is apparently losing the
support OF The country ordinarily profits BY the
earliest warnings received from weathsrcock