The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-05-15
THE BRITISH ELECTIONS.

IL seems 10 De expected IQdJ the new eleC-
ton in Great Britain will begin in the last
week in June, and that the new Parliament
will be seated in the first week in August.
The TWenty-fourth Parliament has been
nearly six years in existence; it would ex-
pire by law in August 1898. 1t rarely occurs
that Parliament serves out its time. Since
1920 there have been but two Parliaments
whose life exceeded six years.
When the last elections took place the no.
blity, who were called Conservatives, and
embraced the remains of the old Wing and
Tory parties, went to the people On the false
issue Of danger to the union. They accused
Gladstone of harboring a design 10 dismem-
Der the empire, under cover of granting
home rule TO Ireland. The charge was
baseless, but il caught the ear Of the masses,
the party Of progress was defeated by a
large majority and the reins of power
passed into the hands Of a Tory,
Lord Salisbury. When he took Office his
views 50 widely departed from intelligent
politics that his speedy downfall was pre-
dicted But he has held power for the av-
erage period of Prime Minster-partly,
no doubt, in consequence of the forbear-
ance of Mr.. Gladstone, who was in no hurry
to resume the burden of Office. His admin
istTatiOn has not been a conspicuous sue
cess; but neither has ii been a conspicuous
failure. His foreign policy has been dis
Greet; his home administration has been
generally satisfactory; and he certainly has
made Ireland more prosperous and quieter
than it was when he assumed power. All
this he has done, though he has never
opened his mouth without exhibiting his IN
familiarity with contempOTaueous political
science.
II is now assumed that Gladstone will
have a majority in the new Parliament, aud
will become Prime Minister in August. 1t
would be his fourth term as First Lord of
the Treasury. He was member Of several
administrations before 1863 In that year
he first became Prime Minister, and held
power through two Parliaments. The
Tories beat him in 1874, and Disraeli had a
six years term Of Office. Then Gladstone
returned to power, and held il for FIVE
years. In 1885 Salisbury came in, and after
a brief lapse, during which Gladstone re-
sumed the seals, lie has held Office till now
If Gladstone should again form an admin
istration he will have been fifty-eight years
in ofiice-Bith few short intervals. II is
not known that any living man has filed so
long an official career.
The expectations Of his return to power
rest on cOnjectures as to the action of the
new voters to whom he gave the franchise
in 1885, and nothing is really known regard
ing their politics. In 1856 they went back on
Gladstone. They may do 80 again. They
constitute one-half the voting body of Great
Britain. and whichever way they go, they
swing the scale. No indication of their
temper has yet been manifested, except that
they are preparing to run q considerable
number Of WOTkngmen's candidates, whose
expenses are to be betrayed by labor unions.
OF these some 167 are already said to be in
the field.
The ways OF the English appear TO Us to
be past finding out. If there be principle
Of modern political science that has passed
out of the domain of controversy it is tnat
legislators should be paid by the State; but
when a committee called on Mr.. Gladstone
and urged that members of Parliament
ought to be paid he gave them no comfort.
A lot of 0rangemen in Ulster have formed
an association with the avowed purpose of
going down TO Dublin and cleaning out any
Irish Parliament which may be authorized
to meet there. In itself this merely proves
that at the present day in Ulster hot-headed
men will threaten TO do foolish thiDgs-as
the same class of individuals have done in
other places all through history. But the
feature of this case is that Gladstone and
his lieutenants fail TO make any political
capital ont Of the Orange threats, while
Salisbury holds them up in terrorism over
tie English people as an argument against
the bome-rule bill. An American is lost in
contemplation of English political ethics.