The sun., 1891-06-26
Tho English Political Situation.

We have at last definite statement Of
Lord SAL1sBURY's intentions with regard to
. dissolution Of Parliament. This event will
not, we are told, take place until the close Of
tho first session Of 1892. The ostensible rea-
son for the delay is the wish to pass not
only the Free Education BILL now under dis
cussion. but also an Irish Local Government
bill. which Is to be brought forward at the
beginning Of the next year. The latter pre-
taxi Is plausible, for after the pledges given
by the Unionists In the canvass OF 1886. they
cannot go to the country without at least
protesting to have fulfilled their promise.
They must offer ireland at least a fair equiv
alent of the County Government act con-
ceded to England and Wales.
No one doubts however. that Lord SAILS
BURY might have arrived at different con-
clusion II the miniature general election.
which has recently taken place, had given
the Tories any encouragement AS it hap
pened. six seats in the House Of Commons.
which had been held by Ministerialists.
became vacant almost simultaneously. Be-
lieving his party certain to keep control OF
those six constituencies, Lord SALISBURY
himself described the test afforded as more
decisive than that Of any preceding by-elec-
tons. The result did not justify his con-
fdence. Three OF the six seats, indeed, the
Conservatives were able to retain by major
tiles large enough to indicate that their
grasp OF them was probably unshakable.
Two. on the other hand, they lost, and in O
third their majority was cut down almost to
nothing. II. then. any calculations may be
based on what Lord SALISBURY calls q
miniature general election, the Tories are
likely to lose thirty-three per cent. of the
seats now occupied by them. and to escape
the loss OF fifty per cent. will require the
exercise of all their energies. That is. at all
events, tho situation as 1t exists to-day, 60
far as we can outline 1t with the light de-
yfced from recent events. For the Tories to
60 to the country now. would he according
to all indications, to face inevitable defeat.
II is, of course, the conviction that nothing
could be worse than the present outlook, and
hope that evonts may take more favora-
bic turn In tho course OF O twelvemonth,
which have determined Lord SALISBURY to
defer the general election until 1892.
There are obviously several ways In which
the Conservative position might be ma
terially improved within year. It is to be
Ieared that Mr.. GLADsToNEs death figures
among the contingencies which are secretly
contemplated. It has of late been noticed
that even moderate exertion on the part OF
the Liberal leader Is followed by good deal
OF exhaustion. and 1t Is we'll known that his
followers regard his physical condition with
growing anxiety. Whether the hetero-
geneous forces now grouped under his
banner could be held together by any other
chief Is becoming with every month
more doubtful. The rivalry between Sir
WILLIAM HARcouRT and Mr.. JOHN NOR
LEY for the succession to Mr.. GLAD
STONES place is now 30 intense and
bitter that oven their personal relations
are extremely strained. When one speaks,
the other makes no pretence of listening.
and often leaves the House. The advanced
Radicals. moreover. have recently shown an
inclination to cut themselves entirely loose
from that section OF the old-fashioned Lib
erals which still remains Gladstonian. 1t is
questionable whether. In the event OF Mr..
GLApsToNE's death. his less progressive
adherenis would not be more powerfully
attracted to Lord HARRINGTON and the Dis
sldent Liberals than to Radicals OF the ag-
eressive type. The return Of Sir CHARLES
dixie to Parliament which 1t seems can no
longer bs prevented. Is also likely to give
the Liberals good deal Of trouble. II he 10