The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1891-09-25

Fight for New York!
Morley and Labouchere on the Pros
poets Of British Liberals.
1t Is still doubtful who will be chosen as
Mr.. GLADsToSE's successor to direct the
Liberal party. Even admitting that the
post may fall to Lord RosEBERY. We cannot
yet predict with certainty whether Sir
WILLIAM HARcoURT or Mr.. JOHN MORLEY
will lead the next House OF Commons. But
whatever arrangements may be made for the
purpose OF conciliating the old-fashioned
Liberals. and OF facilitating the re-
turn Of tho Dissentients to the fold. Mr..
MORLEY Is unQuestionably the most
trusted representative OF the Radi-
Gals, whose influence In framing meas
ur"s will he rrcponderant. Next to him
since the death OF Mr.. BRADLAUaH. Mr.
LABOUCRERE seems to have the strongest
hold on the good will Of the Radicals. These
two men are we'll qualified to forecast the
outcome Of the approaching struggle at the
ballot box. and to outline the programme
which tho Gladstonians. II successful. may
he expected to carry out.
In asserting that the next general election
will be u contest between Tories and Glad
stonians exclusively. and that the Dissen-
tient Liberal party will he cxtinguished.
Mr.. MORLEY is little too sanguine. A rem
nant Of the secoders. who numbered over
20 at the opening OF this Parliament. will
undoubtedly survive. Nothing can prevent
the return Of Lord HARRINGTON. nor is it
likely that he will profess himself convert
to Toryism. or abandon his present
independent position. Mr.. CHAMBERLAIN
also will keep his seat. and. IL tho
Tories let him alone. as their chiefs
are inclined to do. he will probably
control all the seats allotted to Birming-
ham. as we'll as few Of those belonging to
adjacent districts. These. however. are
likely to constitute the whole array Of the
Oissentients In the next House Of Commons.
vari nantes in aur0ite rasto. the dwindled and
discredited fragments of once powerful
combination. They will be negligible fac
tors. therefore. in political calculations.
and to this extent Mr.. MORLEY is unques-
tionably right.
No exception eau BIZ taken to Mr.. Nor
LEY's criticism on the grounds on which the
Conservatives will base their appeal to the
electors. They will undoubtedly put for.
ward their foreign policy. which is described
by their organs as at once safe. dignfied.
and spirited. their efforts at constructive
craftsmanship. and their claim to have
pacif1ed Ireland AS tn their foreign policy.
the Ministers before going to the country
will he forced to define their precise
relation to the Triple Alliance Have
they given to tho three central pow
crs. or to any one OF them. as for in
stance Italy. assurances OF cooperation I'M
der any specified or have they
insisted on maintaining an attitude OF strict
neutrality? II they havo ventured to mix
up England In Continental complications.
the verdict of tho nation will be overwhclm-
ingly against them. II they have not So
venturcd. and have adhered to n neutral
policy. they will simply have douo what
q Glndstoninn Government might with
even more confidence bs trusted tn do
The Foreign Office will also lie called
upon to explain whether tho landing
OF British sailors a. Sigrl masked
any political intention. aud whether
that Intention WIS to warn Turkey,
as tho London Standard has sug-
gestr'l. that England would fight to bar
ont Russian war ships from the Mmiter-
rnncnn. II la at least ques tionablc whether
the tinln has not gone by when the English
people would tolerate u war for such n pur-
posr. and vlm;her an nvowal II it might
not be fatal t" tho Tory party. Moreover.
Mr.. MORLEY Is rig!Iy In thinking that tho
French Government itsol: is no. moro any-
Ions thar sre tho great majority Of British
voters the whole ~ them. In fact. minus
the holders of Esy'pt.an bonds to know
exactly what the Government means to do
In regard 40 Egypt. An lnle.in.tn nr even
. greatly prolonged occupation Of the Milo
lnLd wcu!: involve responsibilities which,
the arcra 80 British taxpayer has probably
no wish to confront.
Tho Local Government and FREQ Eluci,-
ton acts. GU which tho Tories plume them
selves. arc described by Mr.. MORLEY as
moro skeletons. Tho metaphor Is inst
one: the hesh and blood Indispensable to
mako such Ei,sLsur,s attractive to the mass
OF tho electors can be looked for only from
the Libsrsle. Tho Irish Land Purchase act
"a called by Mr. MORLEY u piece Of destruc-
tive rather than constructive statesman
ship. He raisht have added that not even
tho most optimistic Tories expect to gain by
1t single scat IN Ireland; for the three or
fonr additional seuis which they hope to |
win III Ulster. they count exclusively |
Oh the schism Ia tho Nationalist party.
In England tn, r!Trtt OF tho measure
will be rather adverse than otherwise 10 its |
Ruthors. tho landowners regarding it rs "a |
dangerous precedent Much the same thing
may be sail OF tho Irish Local Government
bill. which IL promised for the next session
The restrictions with which ii i certain to
he accompanied will cxasperate instend Of
the Irish Nationalists. while
British Conservatives will consider it as in
principle betrayal OF the English garrison
N Ireland. In word. the Tories have dono