New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-06-15
LORD SALISBURY'S LEADERSHIP.

The craftsmanship that asprcS to lead mus
lead. Lord Salisbury has no idea of allowing
the rank and file of the Conservative party to
shane and direct Ministerial policy. When he
decided upon a common-sense method OF deal
ing with the obstruction tactics OF the COM
bined Opposition, he expected his followers To
support him. The meeting at the Carlton Olup
disclosed strong feeling of opposition 10 MS
plan of carrying measures from one session 10
another, and taking them up at the stage WheTe
they were dropped. The rank and file clearly
preferred more aggressive campaign against
obstruction They favored the passage OF the
leading Government measures by the applca-
ton Of the closure, by perseverance ana ue-
termination in pressing them, and ny the CON
tinuance of legislative work in the autumn
Lord Salisbury resolved TO represS inSubordiha-
ton at any cost He called to his aid his TWO
most serviceable associates, Lord Harrington
and Mr.. Smith. Lord Harrington at once sum
mOned a meeting of the Llberai-t nlonl>tS
whipped the stragglcrs into line, and carried
a resolution in favor of Lord Salisbury PROJECT
for transferring important measures 10 the
next session Mr.. Smith co-operatcd in the
same work BY threatening to resign the leader
were agreed upon. Under pressure from both
quarters the Conservative revolt speedily col
lapsed Lord Salisbury remained master OF the
situation.
Ii is one thing to enforce discipline in the
ranks of the Conservative party, and 1t IS an
other thing to command public respect. Lord
Salisbury in his intense eagerness to teach his
followers that he only is competent to lead
them has adopted course which has brought
the Ministry into contempt. The Land-Pnr-
chase bill which was 10 have been the crown
ing work of the session, has practically been
abandoned for this session. Ii Is t. be carried
70 the next stage of procedure, and then hung
up until next February. The Opposition has
its triumph in blocking the progress OF meas
ure which Ministers have loudly proclaimed
should be enacted this year. English pubic
opinion, always impatient when organized at
tcmvts are made 10 ObstrUct legislation by
illegitimatc means will be certain to discIedit
a Government which lacked the courage and
determination required for overcoming the re-
sistance of the Opposition The reduction OF
the Ministerial majority TO 81 on a critical
amendment to the Licensing bill Is warning
that the right measure was not deferred to the
next session, but the wong one kept before
the Commons Mr.. Gladstone, while seriously
embarrassed 10y his own record on the question
of cOmpenSating public houses. was enabled
to make a fierce onslaught upon most UNI
popular measure. The Government after a
week of dissension and perplcxity, is unmiS-
takably weaker both in the Commons and be-
fore the country Lord Salisbury'S imperious
will has prevailed but Conservatives and Lib
erals alike know that it has been laundering
| leadership.
The controversies leading to the resignation
of the Chief of the Metropolitan Police have
intensified public dissatisfaction with the Home
Secretary, and may possibly involve his re
tirement from the Ministry. RumOrs are re-
vived that the Cabinet is to be rcOrganlzcd
and both Sir Henry James and Lord llarting-
ton brought i'll as new members. These Cab
met changes would greatly strengthen Gov
eminent whose prestige is now waning. Min
sterial reorganization would involve the utter
eifacemcnt Of the Liberal-U nOnStS as a third
party, and provide seats as Conservatives in
the next Parliament for the Liberal secession
lists from the Gladstone policy. With the Gov
crnment discredited and in contempt, as it is
at present. some manOeuvre of this sort il
really needed in order to hold the UnionistS
together and to prOlong the hopeless campaign
against Mr. Gladstone's Irish policy.