Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-05-14
he rapid development Of their wealth and


ton for me in her ladyship's picture of drunk
enness among women in this country, for had
feared that might be accused of overstating,
III my letter OF last week. the amount of
vice and drunkenness existing in Liver
pool, when l sought to show what American
newspapers might print if they emulated the
spirit of portion of the British press. Since
then have heard leading resident at Liver
pool Mt public meeting speak Of his city as
the black spot of the Mersey," and state that
while it vas 1.-THE most teetotar' it was also
THE most drunken" city in the united king
dom. In addition. a member OF Liverpool
city council, at a meeting Of that body few
days ago, quoted statistics from the returns of
police official. showing that 400 persons
under the age OF tventy-one were yearly ar
rested for drunkenness in Liverpool. This is
stated in support of my previous statements
and for no other reason, for l like this great
city, and believe i. will well repay Americans to
spend some time in it on their European trips
instead of rushing through it to London, as
they generally do.
PRIMROSE DAY.
was an interested spectator Of the ceremo-
MES Of Primrose day. that institution estab-
lished to keep the memory of the late Lord
Beaconsfield green, or rather. yellow. and Incl
dsntally to help keep in power the conservative
party. We have read in America Of the i'm
mense enthusiasm which this sporting of Ibis
favOrite flower excited in years gone by, but
this year did not see much of 1.-THE enthu-
siasm. mean-though there was a fair repre-
sentatiOn OF the pretty primrose. The modest
flower. in keeping with its character, did not
seem to be worn with ''faunting' air, and
that there was little political significance at
tached to it was shown by the fact that it was
pretty generally worn by liberals and radicals.
L met here home rule member of parliament
who had big bunch in his buttonhole and an
other in his hand. The dead statesmans name
nnW fhn th,r,,a xI,x
it could when, Mr.. Disraeli, he had
his long and bitter duel with Mr.
Gladstone. The world has made an immense
bound forward since his death. eleven years
ago. The tory party has since striven to be
progressive. and. indeed. Lord Salisbury has
given his country more useful constructive
legislation during the past six years than all
the achievements Of his predecessor put to-
6ether. The worst thing about this strange
cult of the primrose is the ruthless destruction
of the plants, which help to made spring joyous
for those who dwell in the country as they are
pulled up by the roots to decorate statues and
front yards Of loyal conservatives. 1t is hoped
that an increasing distate for the movement
will save the peoples flower to the peo-
pie. The wearing Of the primrose for
political purposes, in its effect, re-
minds me of one result of the Thurman
bandana in the last campaign. 1t will be re-
membered that to offset the enthusiasm aroused
among democrats by the bandana the republi-
cans adopted as their emblem miniature United
States flags. The bandana might be insulted.
but 1t wasn't in an American to insult the stars
and stripes. On the contrary, | know many
democrats wno bought the glorious emblem by
the dozen. Ii is the same way here. Those
who heartily hate the conservative party cannot
have any resentment for the primrose.
THE DISSOLUTION OF PARLIAMENT.
One sign Of the approach of the general cleo
ton in this country is the very frequent distri-
button Of favOrs for political workers in the
form of titles. 1t is way English governments
have of rewarding supporters whenever a dis
solution OF parliament is pending. 1t is es-
peciaily noticeable now in the many additions
to the army OF the great unpaid" as the JUS
tees Of the peace are called, and cannot pick
up paper from any quarter of the kingdom
without seeing long list announced. The
newspapers always honor the holder Of JUS
tees commission by printing u. p" after his
name, and custom calls for it every time the
name is printed or written. Such an Office
lifts man here socially above his neiShbors
and insures for him many privileges, including
the right to be called "YOur Worship and to
try police and minor cases, even though he may
never have seen the inside of law book But
there is always u well-trained gentleman APP
pointed as clerk to the Justices court whose
business it is, ION the quiet" TO advise the
bench; and then there are dictionaries and
rules published for his guidance and weekly
paper called the Justice of the Peace, which he
finds very useful.
Some people think that the dissolution will
not come till next year, though member of
parliament tells me that Mr.. Balfour has pri-
vatcly declared that it will take place this year.
Conservatives want the dissolution between the
harvests, SO that the general election shall not
interfere with the farmers, or. by being delayed
till the autumn, paralyze the shooting If Lord
Salisbury prolongs the existence of the present
parliament till beyond the middle of next year
he will do what no other prime minister has
done since the passing of the Septennial act,
Which, as will be remembered, was a measure of
precaution taken against the tory country gen.
tlemen Of that day and with the view of keep
ing the king upon his throne. The first parlia-
ment under the Septennial act lasted seven
days short OF seven years. The parlia-
ment which expressed the confidence Of the
country in Mr.. Pitt assembled in May,
1874, and he dissolved it in June,
1890. Since 1880 there have been ONLY three
parliaments whose duration has exceeded six
years-namely, the parliament Of 1920, which
lasted six years, one month and ten DAYS; the
parliament Of 1859, which lasted six years. one
month and six days, and the parliament Of
1874, which lasted six years and twenty days.
Six years as the limit of the life Of parliament
has been 30 much rule as to be now entitled
to be regarded as principle.
Francis ]. O'NElLL-
- ca.,~.s. <Hp>..