The Portland daily press., 1891-09-23
English Politics,

The life OF the present English Parliament
is getting so far towards its natural end that
the leaders of the Liberal or Gladstonian
party are already anticipating the result of
general election favorable to them, and are
determining the constitution of a prospec.
tive cabinet. 1t Is announced that Mr.. Glad
stone will accept the premiership, having
sir William Vernon Harcourt as deputy with |
a full share of the responsibilities of leader |
ship. Lord Spencer will lead in the House |
of Lords. and the Earl Of Rosebery will take |
the foreign portfolio, now SO ably managed |
by Lord Salisbury, the present premier. |
The present parliament was elected in 1886,
and its statute life Is seven years. This will
bring the next general elections in 1898, some
over year hence, unless something may
happen to force Lord Salisbury to dissolve
parliament and appeal TO the country before
that time. The change In the political con-
ditions in the years that have passed since
Mr.. Gladstone left Office is interesting. 1t
was in 1880. 1t will be remembered, that Mr.
Gladstone became premier, the Earl of Bea-
consield having been forced to retire by the
defeat of the conservative party in the general
elections. Mr.. Gladstone conducted the gov
eminent without trouble until 1885. He en-
forced coercive policy In Ireland by means
OF the "Crimes Act" and carried on military
operations in Egypt, among which was the
bombardment of Alexandria and subsection
of Arab Pasha. On account Of the Alexan-
dria incident the peaceful John Bright left
the cabinet, but the greatest troubles were
caused by the dispute with Russia about the
Afghan frontier. 1t was felt that Mr.. Glad
stone lacked frmness. and much dissatis-
faction was felt. Finally, in 1885. the House
Of Commons failed to support measure adj
vocated by the ministry. An incident of this
sort, II happening in connection with meas
ure which the ministry regard as important,
is regarded as reason for the resignation Of
the ministry. Such a resignation is followed
by the formation of new ministry or an ap-
peal TO the country. In this case Lord Sails
bury was asked to form a cabinet, which he
did on conservative lines. This cabinet was
makeshift, however. and Parliament was
soon prorogued to take the voice of the
country In general election. Up to this
time the Parnellite party had been In alli-
ance with the Conservatives. This alliance
was maintained through the campaign; and
on the Liberal side not word was idabout
home rule. by Mr.. Gladstone or other accred-
tied leaders Of the party. The result Of the
election was as follows: Liberals 1888 seats,
Conservatives 251, and Parnellites Sc. 1t
was at once evident that the Conservative
Parnellite combination had 1877 votes, ma
1ority OF four over the Liberals. Mr.. Glad
stone was evidently out, unless something
should happen to shake the Conservative
Parnellite alliance. That something did
happen. Mr.. Gladstone announced home
rule programme which gave him the support
OF the Parnellites. The new alliance at once
tipped Lord Salisbury's ministry out and
installed Gladstonian ministry in its place.
1t was April 9Th, 1886, that Mr.. Gladstone
brought into Parliament his famous home.
rule bill. He was then in the nth year of
his life, and the world looked upon this effort
as the last great work of his life. The home
rule bill opened great chasm in the ranks
Of the Liberal party. A large part Of the old
aristocratic Wing element. led by Lord Hart
ington, opposed the bill. They included five
sixths of the Liberal Peers and four-fifths of
the Liberal capitalists. In addition Messrs
Chamberlain and Trevelyan led about fifty
radical Liberals against the bill. which was
defeated by vote of 341 to 81. The dissent
lent Liberals were styled Liberal u ionists,
and have remained such. Parliament was
at once dissolved, and another general cleo
tion was ordered, the issue to be home rule
for Ireland. The elections resulted In the
return OF 3l6 Conservatives. "a Union Liber-
ais, 1876 Gladstone Liberals, and "a Parnellites
giving 800 against home rule to $50 for 1t. ION
the popular vote In Great Britain, however
the 1ladstonian Liberals had 1874. 900 votes.
the Liberal Uni0nists but $4,000 and the
Conservatives 100000. The popular ma
jority against Mr.. Gladstone in a vote OF
nearly three million was therefore only about
10000 He was justified In expecting that
this might be overcome; and the general ex.
pectation was that the coalition was not
stable enough to enable Salisbury ministry
to last long, But Lord Salisbury has shown
unexpected abilities in the conduct of affairs.
1t was admitted that he was a strong man
but his conduct of the government in the
last six years of trial has fairly entitled
MIN to rank among the greatest Premiers of
England. This Parliament seems likely to
exist for its natural life, and expire with a
record Of strong and successful government
In Ireland, and prosperity, peace and dig
nifty elsewhere in the empire. Yet the
chances Of the coming elections seem To be
IN laVor Oh Mr.. Gladstone. There is ALWAYS
elscontent with the party in power, and the
Dy,eiectlons have shown drift towards the
Liberals. Ii the Liberals come into power.
nome rule for Ireland will be the leading
feature OF theEprogramme. Mr.. Parnelps
pontlcal influence seems to have become ex-
tlhcI' put Mr. Gladstone continues the cham.
plon OF nome rule. The survival of Mr..
Gladstone In health, influence and persever.
ance through Lord Salisbury's long and nm
expected success is one of the most inter
esting OF the strange events of the last six
years.