The record-union., 1891-07-25
LONDON GOSSIP.
THE LIBERAL VICTORY IN wISBICH
SURPRISES BOTH SIDES.
The Gladstonian Candidate Wins in
the Face of a Powerful
Opposition.
Special to the REcoRD-US1oN.

Special to the RECoRD-UNIoN.
LONDON, July 24.-The liberal victory
in Wisbich division is surprise to both
posed by powerful local trade interests,
and it was hardly calculated that he
would do any more than reduce the Con-
servative majority to such minimum as
would justify re-contest of the coming
election.
Amongst the Conservative strength
were the publican and brewer interests,
long dominant in the constituency.
These were thrown in full strength
against the Gladstonian, whose victory is
therefore all the more significant, but
neither this nor the result of any bye
elections will alter the determination OF
the Government to try to complete its
scheme of Irish legislation before dis
solving Parliament.
The period for the reconstruction of the
Cabinet depends upon Smiths health.
He has been i'll enough to render it inn
probable that he will ever reappear as a
Minister. Unless he improves he will
withdraw from public life wholly on
taking the Peerage. The Duke of Rut-
land, who has long been an invalid, will
also retire. Mathews, Home Secretary,
will get judgeship.
The new Cabinet, with Chamberlain,
Gorsy and Harrington as members, who
will add further Liberal clement to
Government legislation, must have time
to settle into working cohesion before
risking dissolution of Parliament.
The reason for Salisburys recent de-
nouncement of the action of the Irish
priests against Parnell as clerical con-
spiracy has been the subject of keen sur
prise. The McCarthyites have shown no
intention to obstruot the Government
Irish legislation recently, but the minis
ters, besides recognizing the essential
agreement between the McCarthyites and
Liberals, have private information in the
nature of communications between the
Liberal leaders and Irish Bishops uniting
them in common action against the Gov
ernment,
To counteract the policy now supported
by every bishop except O'Dwyer of Linn
eric6, Lord Salisbury recently renewed
overtures. to the Vatican to intervene, and
asked the Pope to promise to pronounce
on the eve of q general election q decisive
word against Episcopal interference The
Conservatives now see that the bishops
hold supreme sway in Ireland, and that
Parnell's decadence began on the day the
DTlcSIS UeS6ClOQ MN.
No more striking proof of the utter
loss of Parnells strength could be given
than in the character of the delegates sur
rounding him at Yesterdays convention
at Dublin. 1t was meeting for which
careful preparations have been making
for q long time; yet hardly n man
OF any local or general prominence could
be got to attend. Campbell, NJ. p, is no
longer ParnelFs Secretary Mrs. Parneu
undertaking the active secretarial duties
Among the closing incidents of the
Congressional Council was the proposed
union with the Baptists. The proposal
excites discussion in both communities
DR.. Goodwin's vindication of the Congre-
gational orthodoxy aroused DIR. Parker's 5
ire. When interviewed, Parker said he
would rather not speak on the subject at
large; that his wife had written 4 letter
which fairly represented his thoughts.
The wife's letter excels in strong
language. She compares DIR. Goodwin
to u theological corpse that had lain in
the grave for 200 years, and had been
dragged and sinking, with grave
clothes not too gracefully draped
round him. TO much more of this style
OF criticism, Parker adds that he was
in bed of sickness ten days, yet
delegates preaching in the temple failed
to remember him i'll their prayers, thus
exemplifying their unholy Calvanism,
and that they We're so much concerned
about their own orthodoxy as to neglect
the simplest decencies of civilization.