The Indiana State sentinel., 1891-05-27

They were afraid to refuse, and at that
very sitting it was decided TO have a COM
mission, and the announcement in paria-
ment shortly followed. But, though its
members have been appointed and the
commission is getting to work. the good
that is to come OF it is already generally
discounted. 1t is expected TO do rs other
similar commissions have done-take a lot
OF testimony and report 10 parliament, and
there the matter will end. 1t is looked
upon as political makeshift, to dodge, or
at any rate to defer, a real consideration
OF the social problem.
Much more than the appointment of a
royal commission is demanded by growing
sentiment among the masses. Paria-
mentary candidates are being closely
'heckled." They must state how they
stand on all public questions. and are be-
ing interrogated as TO how they will vote
on an eight-hour law, and on a number of
things breathing the spirit of democratic
| republicanism. The growth OF radical
ideas on the land question shows itself in
every constituency. So strong, indeed,
has been this influence that at the last two
national conferences of the liberals a
plank was inserted in the party platform
declaring for the principle of the taxation
of ground rents, in effect the beginning of
the single tax demand. In many places
trade union candidates have been put up,
and at two OF the by-elections have been
returned. The great majority of those in
the present labor movement have hitherto
voted with the liberal party, and at gen.
eral election, even though in some con-
stituencies they may have their own can
didates, they will still act with that party,
making a more and more radical wing, be-
fr(ppn " hich md fha or r-h ior
wing of liberalism there must sooner or
later come split.
With regard to the prospects of the gen.
eral election, which cannot be now very
! long delayed, the conservative party has
the immense advantage of being the party
holding Office. It's management, too, is
marked by great shrewdness and abil-
/ ity. Lord Salisbury, Mr.. Goschen, Mr.
Balfour and its other leaders are thor
oughly versed in the political arts, and
are, moreover, as honest and as thorough
| going in their desire to do something to
help t masses as at least a large section
| of the liberal party. Their proposal. for
! instance, to devote the surplus arisin z
/ from this year S revenues 10 the remission
/ OF school charges was singularly fortunate,
J as this charge has long been so unpopular
that both parties pledged themselves TO
/ ltS dOOllLlOn ana 10 the GSl1DllSuQeDI
free education"
The liberals, on the other hand, re-
ceived a serious backset by the Irish COM
/ plicatons. 1t is true, Irish alters were
! quickly laid aside and British affairs
| brought to the front, but much of the
prejudice remains. Then, too, the liberals
lack a proper general. Mr.. Glanstone is
now past his eightieth year. He still
| possesses, undimlnished, that extraor-
dinary personal magnetism that Of itself
makes him the most powerful individual
| in all the kingdom and he can still make
great speech. But he does not, and
| he cannot, watch details as he did.
The management OF the general work he
leaves 10 others. Most OF this work falls
on John Morley. Unfortunately, he,
while exhibiting much ability, has lacked
Judgment, and has lost the confidence as
leader, if not of all but small portion
of the party, certainly OF the increasingly
important radical wing. To MOrlev's i'll
fuence is charged Gladstone's advocacy oi
two things utterly inconsistent with radi
cal principles, namely, of the exclusion oi
Irish members from the imperial parlia-
| ment in the scheme of home rule for Ire
land and Of buying out the Irish landlords
Mt the expense of the British taxpayer
popularity by openly and unreservediy
throwing his weight against the eight-hour
| movement.
Many things point to Lord Rosebery rs
| the rising man for the liberal leadership
He is of high standing in the party, has
held many responsible positions. served
with distinction in the last Gladstone
government, and, as chairman of the
London county council. developed re-
markable capability. His few political
utterances have been marked bv discre.
ton. He is known to be radical. but
his keen appreciation of the social
and and political forces at work would
! prompt him, as good politician, to
90 far to meet political demands. II
is urged, however, that peer OF the realm
can never again hope to lead he radicals
More than this, the recent death OF his
wife having caused his withdrawal from
the craftsmanship of the county council, il
is uncertain what part Lord Rosebery will
in the future consent to take in public af
fairs. As it is, then, the liberals will go tC
the country for general election in some
what loose order, and relying mainly on
the strength of radical ideas and the
tremendous power OF Gladstone's name.
When precisely that election will come
endeavor to select a time when some
adroit stroke has produced a favorable
impression, and it is thought by some
close observers that this will be in the
fall, when their popular free education bill
has just gone into operation. However
much depends upon the unexpected moves
that will take place on the political chess
board. If the elections to fill vacancies
occurring during the term of this govern
ment are of any value in forming a judy.
ment of which party will be success
full then the liberals would be said
to have most in their favor, for of Ill by.
elections they won 81, with so for the con
servatives; whereas, of the came constitu
encies at the last general election in 1885
they won only 45 and the conservative,
Co. But thought is moving fast, and what
may have turned results at most of these
by-elections, would now exert but small
influence. Only the radicals, as distin
guished from the larger body of liberals
are confident HENRY GEORGE, JR.
| sorry He spoke.
Crf--