The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1891-11-17
Irhe British Conservative Programme.

WI Tho serious defeat experienced by the
Forbes ct the by-election held In the South
Motion division OF Devonshire will cause
IItheif leaders to redouble their efforts to put
Forth tempting programme at the ap-
Ilproaching Convention Of the Conservative
ASSOCIATIONS In Birmingham. The trans
IEEormstion Of a Unionist majority Of nearly
100 into Gladstonian majority Of more
|DthAn 1900 can only DO explained on the
assumption. first. that the Dissident
liberals. considered IS factors In politics.
IhAye disappeared. and secondly. that the
lately enfranchised agricultural laborers
Have refused to heed the wishes Of their en-
Njployers. The natural inference would be
iSthat but little Difference need be paid hence
Forward to the demands Of Liberal Union
lists. and that something must be done at
Ibnce to regain the good will OF the rural
Ioters.
n Unluckily for such representatives Of
Tory opinion as the London Standard. which
/ 3 anxious to make the best OF a bad situa-
iOn, the Ministers are tied up by prom
ees repeatedly made to Lord HARRINGTON
md Mr.. CHAMBERLAIN. and officially avowed
1pring the last session Of Parliament. Mr.
teassembling OF the House of Commons the
Government will introduce bill intended
Ospply to Ireland the principles Of local
overnment which are already In force in
England. To this measure the Tory chiefs
ne 90 irrevocably committed that 1t must
~ pushed OF the risk Of occupying the
whole Of the coming session. and even Of
provoking . secession of q considerable Sec
Ion Of the party headed by the eighteen
irish Unionists and encouraged by ct least
me influential organ OF the English Con-
Dervatives.
1t 10 scarcely probable that the Tory dis
Dentents will be numerous enough to
Throw out the bill for the local government
IF Ireland. but the prolongation OF de-
bate due to their opposition will prevent
Lord SALISBURY from making any sub
ptantial concessions to British working
men. and thus giving them q trust
worthy sample Of what they may expect
hereafter. The time has gone by when the
English proletariat could be gulled by
TRAITS upon a distant future: be-
lfdee. the Liberals can always beat
NE Tories at that game. 1t may
~ that at the meeting OF the Lib
Ioral Associations held In Newcastle Mr..
3LADsToNE did not bid high enough. and
e u certain that some of the labor leaders
have expressed dissatisfaction with his
speech on that occasion. But although the
IOries at Birmingham may make more at
inactive overtures to workingmen than have
yet been made by their opponents. the Lib
trails will have in all likelihood year In
which to revise the Newcastle programme,
md the fulflment Of their pledges can be
|reckoned on with much more confidence.
L According to an official announcement. the
Executive Committee OF the Conservative
NEGOTIATIONS have constructed the platform
EWhieh will be submitted at the Birmingham
meeting. The representatives OF the party
WIN be asked to approve the intention OF the
Ministers to extend local government to
ireland, but by way OF reconciling
the Ulster Unionists to this project. Lord
|GALHBURY will declare q purpose OF max
ling Ireland's representation In Parliament
pgoportionate to population. We need not
point out that relatively Ulster would
|9ain. while the other three provinces would
lee. by such reimbursement. A redistri-
BUTTON Of the lO3 seats allotted to Ireland
might be tolerated. but any reduction of
~ A8SIV86to uuiuDcr cOncou0u ny Inc Act
|pe Onion would probably be viewed by many
1Absral- Unionists. and even by some Tories.
- an unconstitutional infringement
of that compact 1t has been the nearly
unanimous opinion OF English statesmen
that under the Act OF Union with Scotland
tbs number OF members allotted to that
Kingdom might be increased but could not
Ibe cut down. 1t 10 hard to soc why what are
1eemed constitutional safeguards In the
oase Of Scotchmen should not hold good for
Iishmen.
\ IL 10 the proposed appeals Of the Tories
70 the labor vote that deserve more careful
attention. Lord SALISBURY, 1t seems. gill
Ask the Birmingham Convention to endorse
tho creation Of labor department under a
xnember OF tho Cabinet. to be termed the
Gfnister OF Labor. The Liberals will I'M
6Oubtedly make the same offer, and. what
- more. they can be trusted to designate for
the new Office man truly representative OF
Workmen's interests. The man designated
BY the Tories for the post OF Labor Minis
tsr would probably be repudiated by the
british trade unions. Another suggestion
- more plausible. namely. that In every
constituency Conservatives shall be asked
- vote for labor candidates who signify
Willingness to enter public life upon no