The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1890-06-27
Signs of Weakness in the Unionist Gov.
eminent.

The last week has witaessed a notable
change in tho attitude and in the spirit of
the Unionist coalition. Although it will, no
doubt, continue 10 cling to Office with des-
perate tenacity, the SALISBURY Government
10 virtually beaten, having been forced to
abandon two measures whose passage 1t
had pronounced indispensable. Its ostensl-
BILE majority OF about 100 has shrunk on one
occasion to 4. and was once entirely wiped
out through inefilciency on the part OF the
Tory whips The Ministry may lie COM
pared with ship whose pilots have lost
their bearings and whose crew is mutinous,
and which manages to keep afioat only by
casting oveGbOard the most important por-
tions of the cargo.
BY the Irish Land Purchase bill tho Gov
eminent expected, while pro:essedly fulfill
Ing its promise to provide substantial rene
dics for Irish grievances, to relieve the
necessities OF favorite landlords. and by q
shrewd distribution OF the huge fund ut its
disposal among purchasable tenants, to ex-
ercise considerable influence on the next
general election. This measure was Mr.. A.
]. BALFoUR's specific for carrying some OF
the close districts In Ireland. Mr. GoscHEN
electors In his licensing proposals, which were
obviously intended to array the liquor inter-
est on the Tory side At the beginning of the
session Lord SALISBURY told his followers
that tho former bill must at all hazards be-
come law before the adjournment OF Par
Lament; and at the meeting called at the
Carlton Club the other day 1t was announced
that neither this measure nor Mr.. GosCHEN's
licensing proposals would BIO dropped, but
that their passage must be assured either by
an autumn session or by a new provision
that bills shall BIO taken up In the next regu-
lar session, not de mono, but at the point
where the previous session left them 1t can
nOe be said that the non-execution OF these
avowed determinations Is due in any degree
TO lukeWarIn support on the part OF the Dih-
sident Liberals. The adherents OF Lord
HARRINGTON and Mr.. CHAMBERLAIN stand
In such terror OF a general election, which,
they foresee, will condemn them to OBJ.
scurity and impotence, that they snatch at
any expedient for enabling the present Par
lament to live out its statutory term.
Nevertheless. the Ministerial programme
is a fat failure. There will DO no autumn
session, and so much opposition has been
shown by far-sighted Tories who fear lest
hereafter they might be hoist with their
own petard) to carrying forward bills into
new session, that in conformity with Mr.
GLADsToNE's suggestion the expedlency OF
the proposed innovation has been referred to
select committee proceeding equivalent
to its death and burial In this predicament
the Government has formally abandoned
the Land Purchase bill. which, II We
ever hear of II again, cannot be brought
up at all events before the session
of 1891. Moreover, Mr., GoscHEN has been
forced to drop his licensing proposals, but
he still hoped to rivet the publicans to the
Unionist rartyb by providing for tho accumu-
lati' II Of II special fund designated. or "ear-
married." as he called 1t, for eventual appli-
cation to the com e"sntlon Of liquor sellers
who should lose thelI licenses. The Tories