New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-11-17
ENGLISH SOCIALISM.
AND WHAT ITS DELEGATES HAD TO SAY TO
MIR. JOHN MORLEY.

n
- h. understands il, and Trades Unions. far
no,s Interesting and instructive view of the whole
ma,ter NAV be had by studying the colloquy be-
,,vasn the Socialists of Newcastle and Mr.. John
kJorlev NJ = for Newcastle. There has been noth-
,ns like IL In modern politics. For convenience
sake will speak of the gentlemen of the deputaion
as Socialists, though Labor Party is the name
under which they have recently fought and lott
An important election at Newcastle They chose
three members of the Newcastle School Board last
January. Inspirited by their success they set up
labor candidates at the municipal election last
Friday, and were beaten all along the line. 1t is
not difficult TO see why. The electors of Newcastle
may have been willing to give Socialist opinions
hearing on the School Board, where minority Of
three could Ito NJ great ham good. But they
altogether decline 10 hand over to them the con-
troll Of the municipal affairs of Newcastle. Inc
Socialists, however, are not men to give up after
o defeat. They are used TO defeats. They had not
converted Newcastle They seem to have thougnt
they might convert Mr.. John Morley; or
IL not convert him, put cerV'ih
amount Of pressure upon HIM. ln'S
asked him 20 receive deputaton. lie consented.
The deputaton paid him visit last evening" anu
then IL was that the very curious cohVerS"'io"
took place of which will try to give some uo-
count The chronicler OF Newcastle preserves for
us the names OF SONIC, ouO VHN '"h'O' -
socislistic missionaries Mr.. Alexander Stewart
matchmaker: Mr.. John Ladder, bricklayer; Mr.
w. Hill blacksmith; Mr.. John Hall, joiner There
were others but these are the men who took part
in the dialogue with Mr.. Morley.
Americans who follow Mr.. John Morley's career
and there are few which better deserve their close
nttention-will remember that his Newcastle moor
constituents tried last year to coercc him INTO
summarizing an Eight Hours Law But Mr.. Nor
Icy Il NAV borrow little American slang, does
no. coerce worth n cent lie did not believe I'D an
Eight Hours Law and told his friends SO, anu
refused TO vote for il. They threatened nm WIN
electoral pains and penalties-he was to lose tneir
votes and lose his seat, but he only replica 'haO
lie would rather give up public lie thah hiS coh-
victions Nobody who knows him doubts that ne
wonId or that he would go 20 the stake Tor them'
II he would carry his independence one step lui-
Their. and decline to receive dcputauoh Oh ,hiS
CIV, be wonh be doing a public service They
come with q whole string OF questlons they pun
him through II regular catechism they cross
.xsmine him. and once at least they tried to
thresten him as did the Eight Hour people, but
aiscro.tlv dropped that line. No election Is pend
inn pone near. there is no obvious reason why
,h.ss complicated intcrrOgatOries should be admin
;.tsrad or why Mr. Morley should submit 10
,hom II is an indignity which he might wei
rosent and resist His acquiescence nus
',..tho,oes this advantage that the Labor party
in Newcastle where il is perhaps as strong as any
where in England, has shown It's hand IL IS
s;,,,a IN understand the aims Of these gentlemen.
and see what they would do If they could MI
Morley did not content himself with answering
oues.ons: he sometimes asked them; and made
some very vigorous comments on the propositions
laid before him.
An the early part was plain sailing. The easy
ouestions-those on which the victim and his tor
mentors were agreed-came first Manhood SUI
fraee. the abolition of plural voting shorter Par
liaments elections all on one day, payment OF
members of Parliament by the State. payment of
election expenses out Of the rates-out OF local
taxes. that is. and not by the candidates them
selves. as now-and a second ballot where no can
ddate has an absolute majority at the irst-cn all
these they were all of one mind, and none of them
has ANYTHING 10 do with Socialism. No more has
lIome Rule but the Home Rule nterrogatory is
worth quoting and shows the drift of socialistlc
or radical opinion. They asked Mr.. Morley If be
would grant Home Rule TO each particular nation
atty or country demanding it in the British En-
pire Including India The latter staggered
even Mr.. Morley lie declined to give a general
answer -" will consider each case as it arises If
the demand is made, and when the demand is
made Pressed as TO India, he said it was an
enormous question, and he would not bring in
measure TO grant Home Rule to India at once
II he means that he would even consider it, he
means that he would consider the question OF
giving up India. Her two hundred and fifty mixed
millions would never agree-they never have
egrced-among themselves any form of govern
ment, but they night agree TO throw off the Brit
ish yoke To propose Home Rule for India is TO
reduce the cry for Home Rule to an absurdity.
Mr. Hall, who did much of the talking his
side, hoped Mr. Morley would not object 10 his
giving definition Of Home Rule. Mr.. Morley
said he would not but would listen with attention.
But when Mr.. Hall came TO the fence he would
not take it; he only said. 1t is such a vague
phrase, Home Rule am puzzled myself" Yes.
Mr.. Hall, and wiser men than you have been puz-
zled and still puzzled Mr. Hill gave his views.
but Mr.. Hill is not reported.
The Home Rule question proved to be the apple
Of discord the period of unanimity came 10 end
Mr.. Morley and the Socialist Inquisiton parted
company on the Monarchy. The Socialists want
to abolish it; Mr.. Morley does not. /" l am dead
against the abolition OF the monarchy" cried he.
with emphasis; phrase which henceforth comes
often 10 his lips. 1t comes, you will hear with
pleasure, in answer to the very next question on
the naturalization of land " am dead against
IT, and will vote against it, was Mr.. Morley's
declaration. In between the two interiected
refusal to approve, at present, the abolition Of
the House OF Lords. He is still for his famous
phrase 1t must be mended or ended" but he is
no' yet clear that the Lords may not be mended.
men came one Of those searching questions OF
'r Nicrieys and the following dialogue:
e'i' "oriey-What do you mean by national
iring9
MT. L@idler-By naturalization we mean
'."y commission should be appointed
r'n"o, l" the commission appointed in
Ireland upon the rent question. that the land
snouiu GRADUALLY iall into their hands, and that
they should transfer il to the variou. r,nnioiaI;