Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-10-26
The Fund Started by the National Liberal
Clab Said to be Nothing but a
Political Scheme.
NO GENERAL ELECTION. THIS YEAR.
Light Shed Upon Many Dark Points in Tory Diplomacy
and Craftsmanship By Work From
Andrew Lsng's Fen.
LORD SALISBURY ANNOYED By TIE BOOK


The week has been one of the pleasantesi
spert bv the Liberals since the Tories went
into Office over four years ago. Their grand
old chief has been travelling and making
sneeches at rate and in a manner which
proves him to be as strong physically and
intellectually as he was at the commence
meut of the struggle; and on "Wednesday
was vouchsafed to them what Cromwell
would have called the crowning mercy oi
Eccles.
A fortnight ago it looked as though the
election would tur1 as much on the labor
ouestioa as upon home rule, and the Tories
for time did their best to strengthen that
impression. But it soon became apparent
that the miners had made up their minds tc
vote strictly on party lines. irrespective Of
the eight-hour bill, ana from that moment
Liberals and Tories alike, put home rule al
the top of the programme.
Fighting the Home Rule Issue.
The latter are now making absurd efforts
to prove that the Irish question has little, If
anything, to do with result so disastrous
and unexpected to them, but they have
been convicted OF lying out of the mouth OF
their own leaders. Lord Harrington, for
instance, upon the very eve of election, sent
this telegram to the Conservative candidate:
Notwithstanding the side issues which
have been raised, union as against separa-
ton is the vital issue before the electors"
Eccles is in truth the most significant
triumph for home rule won since that ques-
tion was put in the forefront of the political
/ le. Msst of the preceding victories
we're due to the return to the Liberal fold of
the electoral sheep who went away in 'S6;
but Eccles not only confirms the conversion
Of the dissentient Liberals, but proves that
three-fourths of the new voters are also home
rulers.
Result Unsatisfactory.
In one respect victory so emphatic as
this is unsatisfactory, because the Tory
Government will be more than ever inclined
to hold fast to Office for the full legal term,
which will not expire for two years to come.
But Eccles on the other hand, will con firm
the Liberal leaders in their resolve to make
Government legislation the next session inn
possible, and so compel an appeal to the
country. On the whole there is no reason to
modify the belief that a general election
will take place some time next year.
Mr.. Balfour has tardily gone on a tour
through some of the districts in ireland
threatened with dire distress BY the failure
of the potato crop. He is accompanied BY
q select assortment of Dublin Castle officers
and preceded and followed by magistrates
and policemen. The latter are common OBJ
jects in any Irish landscape, but Chief
Secretary is very rare bird, especially in
Connemsra.
BaIfour's Investigation.
But the gaunt peasantrV are now being
doubly blessed, for Mr.. Baltour is accom-
panied by his sister, and both have conds-
scended to show themselves to the common
people and to travel on common iaunting
cars. II all the world did not know that Mr..
Balfour is very serious person, one might
suppose that he is endeaVoring to establish
q racing record. Before he is back in Dub
lin again he will have covered more ground
in given time than John Morley or any
of his predecessors in the work of investi-
cation.
But Mr.. BalfOur's flying trip will not be
marked by much investigation. The men
who accompany him are responsible for re-
ports furnished him as to the absurdity of
all the statements about threatened famine
or unusual distress, and they are not likely
to let him see or hear more than they can
help OF matters which must falsify their
arguments. TIE trip has been undertaken
chiefly to appease the public feeling which
has been reused by the speeches of John
Morley and Mr.. Gladstone.
Projected Cures for Distress.
The same spur has moved Balfour to give
the world an idea of his light railway
panacea for Irish distress. Not one of
these works has vet been commenced, but
those projected are from Galway to Clifden,
from Ballina to Killala, from Westport to
Mulvany, from Donegal to Killybegs, from
Stramrlar to Glenties, from Downpatrick
TO Ardglass, from Skibbereen to Baltimore,
from Kenmore to Headferd and from KiIlor-
glin to Valentia. If these works be started
within reasonable time no famine or even
very serious distress need be appreheaded
in the districts covered by them, but several
OF the most sadly stricken regions lie out
side of the scheme and apparently are 10
shift for themselves.
The fund which has been started by the
National Liberal Club is not for the relief
of distressed peasants, but is avowedly a
political affair, as its name "British Fund
in Aid of the Irish National Struggle" i'm.
plies. 1t amounts already to over a5. 600
and its promoters say they will not close il
until it shall have reached a total of at
least e2O 900.
Light on Tory Diplomacy.
A remarkable work has been published
This week, made up of selections edited bv
Andrew Lang from the letters and diaries
Of the late Lord Iddssleigh. better known as