The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1892-06-02
The Coming General Elections in
ENGLAND
just when the present British parli:


Just when the present British parla-
ment will be dissolved and when new
parliament will be elected, are questions
which nobody, it appears, can answer.
The existing parliament began in 1886
and will compile its legal term OF exists
ence about the middle of 1898. 1t is not
customary, however, for parliament to
serve out its full term of seven years.
Political etiquette demands that it shall
forego triie of it's rights and show the
confidence of the party in power by an
appeal to the people in the fifth Or sixth
year, at the latest. Such, at least, is the
the view commonly held by the party
for the time being out Of power. 1t is
the view at present of the Gladstonians,
who are calculating upon Il large majori-
ty in the next parliament. Their belief
is that the general elections will be held
next July. Mr.. Balfour, the conserva-
tive leader in the House, says plumply,
however, that he doesn't know when the
cabinet, of which he is member, will
make up its mind to dissolve parliament
He points to long list of legislative meas
ures promised in the Queens speech,
many of which remain still to be acted
upon December next is more likely to
see the general election than July.
Mr.. Gladstone says he will have. when
it comes, a majority of one hundred. A
strategist of his party gives him ma
jority of seventy eight, which is one less
than the number of Irish nationalist.
England, it is assumed. will elect 245
unionists and 220 Gladstonians; Ireland
70 home rulers and "a unionists; Scots
land, so Gladstonians and 90 unionists;
Wales % Gladstonians and unionists
Totals: For home rule. 374 for the I'M
ion, $685. This estimate gives the Irish
unlonist control of affairs, since, without
their undivided support, Mr. Gladstone
would be without a majority. 1t implies
that the home rule bill, if passed, will be
of nature to satisfy Ireland. An in>
sufficient bill would have not the ghost
of a chance.
1t is to be noted, however, that the
Gladstonians are less confident and less
eager for the arrival of the general elec>
tons since the recent by-election in
North Hackney, London. The elections
for the municipal council had seemed to
show such growth of the liberal strength
in London that the party made hot
fight to capture North Hackney, or at
least to gain moral victory by cutting
down materially the unionist majority
But the liberals failed The conserva-
tive candidate for parliament won by
majority more than double that of 1885,
when the liberal party was united. Lon
don, therefore, it is inferred, is still con-
sentative in national politics, though it
may prefer liberals in local matters. 1t
is called forcibly to mind, also, by the
event of the election that the municipal
franchise and the parliamentary fran
chise differ, and that many who vote for
liberals ON the municipal ticket will not
have a vote in the general elections. TIE
feeling seems to be that Ireland is diff
cult subject. Without home rule, two
thirds of Ireland are in turmoil; with
home rule Ulster will rebel. Civil war
theatens in either case. What the Brit
ish voter will do to meet the dilemma
no one can say.