The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1890-07-12
The Political Situation in Great Britain.

There is no record in English parliament
airy history of Ministry ostensibly COM
handing q large majority being forced to
make such an avowal of impotence as that
which was made on Thursday by Mr.. W. II.
SMITH in the House Of Commons. An
nouncing the abandonment OF the last
remnant of tho ministerial programme,
he acknowledged that the work on whose
completion the Unionists had counted at the
beginning of the year must be begun all
over again at the next session, which. to the
disgust OF the Tory country gentlemen, is to
open in November. Meanwhile, as some
thing must be done, if the Government is to
keep the respect even OF its own supporters
a reconstruction of the Cabinet is predicted
whereby Mr.. SMITH will be transferred to
the House Of Lords and Lord RANDOLPH
CHURCHILL will be reappointed to the lead
ership of the House OF Commons.
1t will be remembered that a few weeks
ago the Tory Ministry expected to be able
to tighten the ship without throwing over
board the whole OF the cargo. When, after
the abortive meeting OF Lord SALIsBURY's
supporters at the Carlton Club 1t was de-
cided to drop the Land Purchase bill and
those clauses OF the Local Taxation bill
which provided compensation for the liquor
sellers unable to secure renewal OF their
licenses, it was still supposed that the
rest of the programme could be carried
out and that even the time expended
on the abandoned projects need not be
wholly lost. The plan, as amended, was to
pass the Tithes bill; to "earmark" or set
aside the fund intended for the compensa-
ton OF publicans, so that it might be ap-
piled to the same purpose hereafter; and.
finally, to introduce an important innova-
ton in the procedure of the House of Com
mons, whereby bill falling to pass in one
session might be taken up in the next at the
stage where it was left. Incredible as it
seems, when we remember that the Union
lists have nominal majority of about 100,
even this restricted programme has proved
total failure. The first rebuff came from
the Speaker, who declared the earmark-
ing Of funds for special purpose not yet
sanctioned by Parliament unconstitutional.
Then the project OF continuing bills from
session to session encountered so much OPP
position In the committee to which it was re-
feTed, that its adoption was seen to be hope
less; and the scheme has accordingly been
Withdrawn. And now even the lithes bill,
whose enactment Lord SALISBURY at the
beginning of this session declared indis-
pensable, has had to share the fate Of its
companion measures.
From the moment that the Tory Govern
ment had to forego the hope OF continuing
bills from session to session, reilssembllng
OF Parliament In the autumn was inevitable
1t was equally certain, inasmuch rs Mr.. W.
II. SMITH had said that should an autumn
session be resolved upon the state OF his
health would force him to resign his present
met could no longer be deferred. AS leader
OF tho House of Commons, Mr.. SMITH,
like Sir STAFFORD NoRTHCoTR, was too
good natured and fair minded to
please the aggressive members OF
his party; and it is rather the OPP
position than the Unionsts that will regret
his removal to the Upper House. Until re-
Gently it has been taken for granted that,
unless Lord HARRINGTON could be persuaded
to take Office, the vacant place of leader
would be filled either by Mr. GosCHEN or Mr..
BALFOUR. This assumption overlooked the
causes OF the Governments predicament.
The source Of the Cabinets failure to accom-
plish anything OF moment during the
present session Is to be sought for, not in
any lukewarmness OF support on the part
OF dissdGnt Liberals, but in the silent, sui
len dissatisfaction OF tho Tory rank and file,
revealed In their refusal to fulfil their par
llamentary duties. To these discontinued