The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-11-28

the electors. not on tho homo rule ques-
tlon ut all. but on q reform OF the
franchise, which In England would prove q
much moro attractive issue. The reduction
Of the term OF residence required for regis
ttntlon from twelve months to three would
command tho enthusiastic support OF the
working population. This is piece OF
strategy so effective and so obvious In view
of Lord SALIsBURys premature defiance.
that Mr.. GLADSTONE would scarcely forego
1t II ho were younger man. AS 1t is. the
refusal OF the upper House to permit re-
form Of tho franchise would doubtless be
followed by the passage OF the Home Rule
bill through tho Commons. and, when this
also was rejected. Mr.. GLADSTONE could go
to tho country on the double programme Of
homo rule and registration Improvement.
In tie resultant contest tho Tories would
find themselves seriously crippled by the
complication OF issues and by the luminosity
excited against the House OF Lords.
Tho other alternative open to the Tories
would DO to let tho bills against plural vot-
ing and reformed registration pass the up
per House. 1t Is not improbable that such
course would be taken, II the late Lord
BEACoNsF1ELD or II Lord RANDOLPH
CHURCHILL were now the leader OF the Tory
party. Each Of them would seize tho OPP
portunity to demonstrate the possibility Of
Tory-D democratic party and the existence
OF us much sympathy with tho proletariat
on the part OF the nristocracy as on TINT OF
the middle class. Tho prompt acceptance
OF the bills in question by tho upper House
would manifestly take the wind out OF Mr..
~ Do Il r
however. and Mr.. BALroUR arc committed
against such n line o! strategy. for they have
publicly declared that the abolition OF
plural voting will never be sanctioned by
the Tories, unless seats are ut tho same
time redls tributcd so that a vote will count
for rs much In ono constituency as In
another. What they have in view is cur
tailment OF tho 1903 seats allotted to Ireland,
whose population Is considerably less than
that OF the British metropolis. which re-
turns but seventy-two members to the
House Of Commons. Neither the Glad
stonians nor the McCarthyites will at pres
ent consent to such q curtaiment. and.
therefore, tho Tories cannot without disa-
vowing their recent asseverations suffer a
bill against plural voting to pass the upper
House.
It Is easy to see what the McCarthyites
would gain. and hard to see what they
would lose. by countenancing n strateglcal
stroke which would put tho Tories In the
obnoxious position OF practically disfran-
chising the large section OF workingmen
who cannot satisfy the registration condi-
ton of twelve months residence. 1t Is OF
the utmost moment to the Irish National
lists that the next general election. which Is
inevitable and not far distant. shall not
turn exclusively upon tho home rule ques-
ton. II 1t does. tho Gladstonians will
carry much smaller fraction Of tho seats
allotted to England than they did this year.
II. on tho other hand. the issue Of
home rulo be combined with that
OF franchise reform. and the Tories
can be shown to have resisted both
measures with equal stubbornness. Mr..
GLADSTONE may reckon upon obtaining a
much larger majority than he possesses In
the present House OF Commons. As for
guarantees against treachery on the part Of
Mr.. GLADsToNE's lloutennnts. should he
himself be withdrawn from tho public
stage. the McCarthyltes have an almost per-
feet safeguard in their power OF overturning
luc SHUlueU bI uuy MOucuJs uOC only ny u
coalition with the Tories, but simply by abb
staining from voting. What is true Of this
House Of Commons will be no less true Of
the next. for nobody imagines that Mr..
GLADSTONE under any circumstances would
obtain @ working majority over Tories and
McCarthyites' united.
The McCarthyites. however. would prob
ably not content themselves with the
knowledge that they could punish their
allies ut any moment for On exhibition OF
bad faith. They would doubtless insist on
having draft OF the Home Rule bill sub
mitted for their appreciation before permit
ting the prior introduction Of Franchise
Reform bill. It ia said. indeed. that Mr..
MORLEY has within a few days taken an
outline Of the Home Rule measure TO Dub
lin. In order to discuss its provisions with
the McCarthyite leaders. II the latter agree
upon tho terms OF tho bill. there is no rea-
son why they should not strengthen their
friends In England by acquiescing in pre-
liminary attempt to abolish plural voting
and to shorten the term OF residence re-
quired for registration.