The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-11-12
AN EMPTY PROGRAMME.
SNUIL CONFERENCE OF THE CON-
sERVATIVE NATIONAL UNION.
The Conservatives are Working Upon the
at the Next Session Of Parliament.

Copyright 1898 by the United Press)
LONDON, Nov. 1.-THE arranging Of
the programme for the annual conference
Of the Conservative National Union was
only finished last night. AS finally an
nounced, it presents nothing new. 1t
avoids making any declaration on the
questions OF electoral reform, the discs
tablisEment Of the church I'm Wales, OF
other political issues. on which It would
be dangerous to commit the party. Lord
Dunraven, who, besides being a genuine
sportsman, takes rather great interest
IN the success Of the Conservatives, will
preside at the conference, and Lord Sails
bury VIII make a speech. on the second
day Sir Ellis Ashmead Bartlett, who sits
in Parliament for one of the Sheffield divi-
sions, Will move the adoption OF a resolu-
ton approving the rejection by the House
of Lords Of the Home Rule bill, whiNl,
it is scarcely necessary to state, will be
unanimously adopted. Sir Albert Kaye
Rollit, who represents the south division
OF Islington in the House of Commons,
will speak in favor Of boards OF arbitra-
tion for the settlement Of trades disputes.
Mr. Arthur Hugh Smith-Barry, rCpresen-
tatlve IN Parliament Of the south division
OF Huntington, will call the attention of
the cor ference to the time wasted by Par
lament by discussing an impossible Home
Rule bill.
AmAng the more prominent resolutions
to be submitted will be one affirming that
Great Britain is suffering from the abJect
submission of Parliament TO the demands
Of Irish demagogues.
Oh uyfr
gramme was ever submitted to a great
party caucus. 1t is significant that moth
ing is said in the programme about fore
ing the dissolution OF Parliament The
conservative cue now being followed by
the press and on the platform represents
the government as certain TO be ousted
at the next session either on the measure
providing for the disestablishment OF the
church in Wales or on the budget. 1t is
an undoubted fact that unless the anti
Parnellite section Of the Irish parliamen-
tary party gives the government unre-
laxed support during the divisions on the
disestabllshment bill, Mr.. Gladstone and
his ministry will be compelled TO resign.
The budget, too, will prove a point OF
danger The trade Of Great Britain is so
depressed and the customs receipts so
diminished while the expenditures are
not lessened, that an enormous deficit
will stare the government in the face.
The only possible solution of the financial
question will be the imposition Of iresh
taxation, and this will. Of course. make
trouble. Having deficits in mind, the
Conservatives argue that there is no need
TO clamor for the dissolution Of Parlia-
ment. They are satisfied to make the
ministry stew in its own Juice.
In regard TO the fidelity Of the anti
Parnelites, on which the govern
ment Will depend for its existence, # can
be plainly said ...a, 10 IS being subjected
10 a heavy strain. The visit Of Home
Secretary Asquith to Dublin, for the pur-
pose Of comforting with Mr.. Morley, chief
secretary for Ireland. was fruitless Of re-
suit, so far as benefit to the Irish polit-
ical prisoners and tenants is concerned
Mr.. Morley was I'm favor Of making con-
cessions on these questions 10 the Irish
members Of Parliament in order to Sc
cure their support 10 the government, but
his policy was oyerridden by Asquith.
The latters return from Dublin has been
followed by a sequence Of coerci"e meas
ures similar 10 those that prevailed dur
ing the regime Of Balfour as chief secre-
tary. The eviction campaign on the De-
freyne estates and the prosecution Of
William Field, Parnellite member of Par
lament for the st. Patrick division OF
Dublin, Luke Patrick Hayden, Parnellite
member of Parliament for South
Roscommon, and the others who were
committed for trial on charges Of rioting
while these evictions were being made,
followed the old tyrannic rule so we'll
beaten by the Conservatives when in
power.
Eleven Of the most popular men I'm
Connaught have been unwisely selected
for prosecution by the Liberal government,
which entered Office pledged to end coer-
cion, to restore eyicted tenants 20 their
holdings, and 10 dismiss from office non |
resident Tory magistrates. Nothing keeps |
Dillon and OBrien and other anti-Pamell- !
ties faithful to Gladstone except the fear |
that without him home rule would die.
Private representations made By the |
Irish leaders 10 Gladstone and Morley on |
the difficulties Of their position receive a |
sympathetic, but not practical response |
The strong element In the cabinet opposed |
70 Morley triumphs for the time, but il /
requires little gift as a political prophet |
10 foreteH that the future contains dangers |
to the present administration that will |
admit the resOurceful energies Of Glad |
stone 20 avoid.