Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-05-07
Mr.. GLADsToNE's ERROR.
It Is Promptly Taken Advantage OF by the

Copyrighted, 1892, by the New York Associated
Press.l
Loxnov. May 6.-Witbin both Mr. Glad,
stones immediate circle and the rank and
| file of the Liberal party his refusal to re-
| ceive the delegates from the worklngmen' 9
conference who desired TO present the
eight-hOur question TO him Is keenly
! felt 20 have been tactical mistake.
Quick to take advantage OF the blunder,
| the Conservative members Of the House of
| Commons for London held a meeting and
decided TO influence the government to
| take sne opposite course. Inc Liberal
members also held special meeting, but
| they hesitated TO take action condemnlng
| Mr.. Gladstone. They, therefore, referred
| the matter 10 a committee with instruc-
tions ~ report next week.
In the meantime the Conservatives stole
| a march upon them 10y inducing Lord
Salisbury and Mr.. Balfour TO receive a
daputotion consisting of duly accredited
rsnreSentatlyes of trades-unlons. The
| leader, of the Trades Union Council
ara almost without exception Radicals.
/ 'Ihev Wal not bo duped into supposins
| that the Conservative chiefs are more
zealous IN the cause of labor than the
! Liberal leaders, nor will either Lord
| Salisbury or Mr.. Baltour commit himself
| 10 the eIght-hour movement. But II ls not
doubted that a result OF the conference
| between the labor representatives, and the
| conservative chiefs will be the placing OF
| the labor questions at the forefront of the
programme of both political parties to the
| embarrassment Of the Liberal chiefs, who
are pledged 10 home rule first.
VARIOUS PRESS COMMENT.
Tomorrow the Speaker (LiberaD will put
n finger on weak spot IN the Liberal po-
1 IoN tho of hnpna
| rule. despairing of success by open at
/ tacks. mediate an operation on the flank
/ IN seeking to divert the attention OF
| tho Liberal masses from the Irish
| question, and thus convert a certain
| victory into rout. An expression OF TINS
| omipous importance coming from the
| Gladstonean organ is suggestive or the
strong alarm that prevails lest the party
| be wrecked on the labor difficulty before
Lord Saisbury's steps are known.
| The Times published a rare laudation oi
| Mr.. Gladstone for refusing to involve him.
| self in a discussion on the eight-hour ques-
| tiou. Tie Times upheld his conduct a. q
| model for imitation by weak-kneed people
and the effort of leaders to extort pledges
AT this stage of the movement was de.
nouuced az an outrageous attempt 10 over
bear the Judgment OF Parliament.
THE LIBERALS HARAssED.
THIS criticism does not affect the salts
faction of Conservatives over the policy
of their leaders, who are now obviously
| harassing tho Liberals aud attracting to-
ward the government strong body OF
! workingmen. The Official Unionist paper
declares that the action OF Dir. Glad
| stone has chilled to the core the
hearts of worklngmen who were
once warm towards him. IL adds that
the workingmen must apparently sacrifice
| everything and wait on Mr. Gladstone's
Convenience until he thinks the question
rotten-ripe. when he will step in and pro-
| claim his support. This the worklngmen
| refuse to do.
TIE LIBERAL OUTLOOK.
| A pretence of secrecy enwrapped the
! conference Of Liberal election agents, but
there was nothing of a startling nature 70
hide. Schnadhorst. at the close OF the
| conference. in summing up the reports
| drew an average. He calculated that the
general election will give the Liberals Q
majority of II in the hext House. and held
that the labor complications would exert
only minor influence.
Sir William Vernon -Harcourt, in con-
yersing with.the agents, stated that the
| elections were certain 10 be held at the
opening of July, following the Ulster con;
yention at Belfast and the All-lreland
Unlonist convention at Dubhn IN June
are privately subscribing money for the
purchase OF arms TO carry out their threats
10 rebel rather than submit to al Irish Par
lament.
WOULD WAR REsULrH
Whether or not the Tories really and
sincerely believe that an armed conflict
| would follow the establishment OF an Irish
Parliamsnt, they assume the sincerity and
cultivate the belief that civil war wculC
be the outcome of home-rule.
Mr.. Mcdonnell. Lord Salisbury's private
secretary, has written to an Oxford clergy
man that his lordship Is glad to see YOU
impress upon the electors the probability
that home rule would produce that great
est of all curses-a religious civil war.
After this it is no wonder 10 hear OF mer
drilling in Ireland and that rifles and mu
nitions of war are being stored in Eng.
land.
ANGLo-AMERIcAS NOTES.
Mr.. Fithian's free-ship bill and the re
port that the Inman Line VIII build two
ships in America are causing considerabl,
discussion in English shipping cir
cles. The first effect of the passage OF the
Fithian bill, according to English opinion
will be to advance the value OF English
tramp screw steamers, many OF which vii
replace the wooden slde-whesl steamer
now engaged in the American coastinl
trade. A subsequent result will pc thai
some of the large Atlantic lines Will be pu
under the American nag.
A report on the Birmingham gun trade
shows an increase of per cent. In TIT
number of barrels proved during the yea
the McKinly tariff has been in operation
over the previous year. American import
ers are supposed TO have found way t.
evade the tariff by taking the gun mate
rails in parts.
ROMAN CATHOLIC LORD MAYOR.
Alderman Stuart Knill. representing tn
Bridge yard, who is Q staunch homaI
Catholic, will be the nsxt Lord Mayor 2
/ London. and 10 Is expected that he WI
i e.as,e;.k NsAh.,li0 DPieat A hia chnnla1u