The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-07-09
Gladstone's Majority Will Be Small
and Of Motley Political
Character.
Long Period OF Political Turmoil
Predicted for the English
Government.
Old Man VIII Take In the Affairs
Of State

LONDON, July S.Out of twenty-four
county constituencies contested yesterday
the liberals lost two and won two. These
results dispose of the last possibility that
Gladstone will obtain a reliable working
majority. Az the elections held yesterday
are fairly representative no great liberal
triumph can be expected from the county
vote when completed. and the last hope
fades that a Gladstone government will be
buttressed by strong coherent party. On
the contrary, the liberal majority must now
depend on the Irish party. Even with the
support Of both Irish sections it 10 improb-
able that Gladstone will have more than
majority Of fifty. Conservatives hold that
a majority of more than twenty is improb-
able
Among tho certainties of the future
nothing is so certain as a long period of
political turmoil. Gladstone. with a small
majority composed of motley groups Of
liberals, radicals, laborites, McCarthyites
and Parnellites will be unable to effect any
serious legislation. This self-evident fact
has given rise to the rumor that he will de-
cline to form a ministry and will recon-
mend Earl Spencer for that purpose. The
liberals rightly ridicule the rumor They
know their chief even with q majority Of
twenty. is ready to take Office and produce
home rule bill. They also are beginning
to admit that tho chances OF home rule
passing the house are becoming remote. II
1t does pass, no strain will be put upon the
lords in rejecting it. Peril to the lords lies
in preventing home rule as backed by the
cd oil ~ %hn
jsct it now with light hearts.
Among other difficulties awaiting the lib
eral government 10 the formation of a labor
party not caring rap for home rule, and
ready to coalesce with any party. Already
Burns and Hardie. tho strongest represen-
tatives Of the laborers, declare their in:en-
ton to form new party of their own and
make terms for their support. In addition.
the new London members are determined
to form municipal socialist group, bent
solely on procuring social reform, Thus
the op. .tonents of Gladstone hope the home
rule scheme will be failure.
With regat d to the new rabinet Leading
treasury official told representative OF the
Associated press that he had obtained in
formation that Henry Fowler would be
chancellor of the excheauer. and Sir VIM.
Harcourt first lord of the treasury and
leader OF the house. This arrangement
contains the startling implication that
Gladstone will either retire to the lords or
take the liRhtest part in the government,
the vice. pr esidency of the council. Glad.
stonian followers riuicule the notion of his
accepting the leerage, and believe he will
remain IN the commons and fight home
rule through.
The Associated press has authority to
state that Gladstone Ieferred. when speak
v<H$k has 1yruk IS 1
dens Of ireland, to the proposals relating to
the national debt assigned to Ireland in the
bill of 1886. This calculuted one-tifteenth,
based upon estimates of taxation, rataple
values, etc. This was found to b. so gross
an overestimate that the financial Inquilv
has long engaged Gladstone's attention,
In IL he was assisted by Goschen. The in
quiry tends to show that the apportionment
should be one-twenty-second part of the
debt.
The strain of the Midlothian campaign
has not effected the vigor of Gladstone.
who is devoting his leisure time to research
for his coming Oxford Lecture on medieval
universities. After the elections Gladstone
will go to Paris for a few days to search
for material concerning the French portion
of the subject. If Morley becomes
minister his opponents in Newcastle mean
to nominate Joseph Cowan against him.
Cowan is immensely popular and might
oust Morley. The Indian government does
not desire tho appointment of Sir David
Barbour as delegate to the international
silver conference.
At ono a. m., July 8. the total number of
eturns SO far received are as follows: Con-
Bervatives 167, liberals 1872, liberal unionists
twenty-tour. MoCarthyites fifteen, Parnell-
ties four, independent labor three. OF the
344 known results. being over one-half the
whole. the unionists united have 100, against
q united opposition Of l54. The liberals
therefore would require tho capture of a
number of conservative county districts in
order to obtain q working majority. This
evening sanguine Gladstonians hardly
arb IN IL