The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1891-12-01
The Tory Convention at Birmingham.

When the Tory leaders determined to
hold convention OF their party In Birming-
ham. which lie the principal stronghold Of
the Dissldent Liberals. they must have
hoped that local influences would bring
home to their own followers the importance
of deferring to their allies and OF maintain
ing the Unionist coalition. The captains.
however. were unable to control the rank
and file. In spite Of the presence Of Lord
SALISBURY and OF his known wishes on
the subject, a motion to endorse the
declared intention OF the Govern
ment to pass at the next session
bills for the local government OF Ireland.
and for the promotion Of technical educa-
ton in that country. was voted down by an
overwhelming majority. Another sign Of
mutlny was a resolution framed ostenslbly
in the interest Of federation, but which
meant. il it meant anything. that duties
should be laid on tho products Of foreign
countries wherever these come in COMPETE
ton with colonial staples. AZ for instance in
the case Of wheat This. OF course. IL pro-
lection. and to the Dissident Liberals the
faintest hint Of protection is as exas-
perating as red flag to bull.
VIII the Ministers yield to the protests
Of their supporters and reconsider their
purpose Of introducing a bill for the local
government of Irelandp Lord SALISBURY
gave no indication Of such a change Of mind
in the speech which he delivered on the
evening Of the day on which the desire that
Irish business should be shelved had been
expressed. On the contrary, he insisted
that the maintenance OF the union between
Great Britain and Ireland was still the
burning question Of the hour. and that it
was impossible to dispense with the copper
alton Of the Liberal Unionists. who. for their
part. were pledged to substitute reason.
able measure Of Irish local government for
Mr.. GLADsToNE's project Of homo rule.
He could say nothing else. II he desired
to leave Lord HARRINGTON. Mr.. GoscHEN.
Sir HENRY JAMES. and the other conspicuous
seceders from the Liberal camp. any plausi-
bic grounds on which to appeal to the cleo
tore. We may take for granted. therefore.
that an attempt will be made to carry out
Mr.. BALFoUR's Irish programme. But In
the face OF the unsparing criticism and per-
sistent obstruction sure to be offered by
Gladstonlans and Nationalist. and Of the
sullen discomfort Of their own partisans.
the Tory managers will probably be forced
to devote the whole OF the next session to
the passage OF the Irish measure. They
will therefore 60 to the country without full
filing any OF the promises made at Birning-
ham to English constituencies. As mat
ter Of political strategy. 1t might have been
better to hold no convention at all. II its
almost unanimous declarations Of opinion
are to be disregarded.
1t WAS made evident at Birmingham that
old-fashioned Toryism is almost extinct. and
that the so-called Tory Democrats are the
real masters OF the party and must at no
distant day become the dictators OF its pol
Icy. 1t seems to an onlooker that the men,
bers Of the Convention had more accurate
the personal entanglements Of their leaders
permit them to form. and that the proposed
concessions to the urban and rural proleta.
riat OF Great Britain offer the best chances
OF success at the ballot box We may be
sure, for instance. thst the Glsdstonishs
were not pleased with the resolution that,
considering the great Importance OF
labor questions. It was desirable that a
labor department should DO formed by the
Government to be presided over by q Min.
lister Of tho Crown. to be termed the Labor
Minister. Equally distasteful to the Lib
erals, because 1t forestalled their own inten-
tions. must have been the unanimous en-
dorsement OF the principle that local au-
thorities In Great Britain should be as-
sisted to acquire land for the purpose
OF facilitating the creation OF small
rural holdings. Unwelcome. also. was.
We doubt not. the adoption by the
Convention OF motion in favor Of
female suffrage. the Liberals having been
hitherto the chief advocates Of what Ia
called woman's emancipation. Addressing
the Convention in favor Of this motion. Mrs.
MILLIoRNT GARRETT FAwcErT. widow Of
the late Postmaster-G General and mother Of
the Senior Wrangler. said that the Glad
stoplans had lately been inclined to change
their attitude on this question. because
they were afraid that the representation Of
women would powerfully reinforce the party
OF order. These were high bids for the sup
port Of reiormers generally. but II nothing
is heard OF them In the next session OF Par
Lament. they will be regarded as insincere
professions, and will have no weight with
the electors.
Luckily for the Gladstonlans. tho Tory
Convention made snna niatakeas fI,or In.