New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-11-06
POLITICAL POINTS.
THE HOME SECRETARY AND NEXT SEQ
SION-LORD SALISBURY AS AR
TIST IN wORDS-MR. F.
HARRISON.


| reference to quote the exact words used by IN.
| Home Secretary with reference to the reintro.
ducton of the Home Rule bill next session.
There have been two such references, and thu,
matter is the more important because the second
was supposed to qualify the first. II qualified n
only in the sense of strengthening It, but thu
TWO passages may probably be read together
Mr. Asquith, at Glasgow, Tuesday evening.
/ October H. by way Of comment on Mr.. Glad.
stones Edinburgh announcement that thu
measure which had foundered in the waves
this year, would emerge next year. said that Il
was not just or accurate construction Of his
words to assume that Home Rule bill would
be brought in next. session. Then he added:
ANY rumor, any Interpretation, which at.
tributes TO the Government fixed determine.
ton to reintroduce that bill in the House Of
Commons during next session is entirely dest.
tute of any foundation
Then followed the remark about keeping the
question alive in other ways; reinforced by the
declaration that to drop II would be gross
treachery" Nevertheless, it was pointed out
that Mr.. Asquith's denial did not quite cover
the case He only denied that the Government
had fixed determination to bUng in another
bill next session. But at Leven. in East Fife
shire, on Saturday, October 2l, he spoke more
explicitly:
II say I repudiate purely imaginary in.
! tention imputed to the Government Of reintro-
ducing the Home Rule bill in the House Of
Commons during the next session of Par.
| lament"
And he uses twice over the words purely
imaginary intention" 1 do not quote the whole
| sentence because the meaning comes out more
clearly in the words which / do quote. But
there Is absolutely nothing in the context which
affects modifes the meaning of the quoted
clause. Mr.. Asquith is not given to subterfuges
or equivocal phrases. He has thus far in pub
| lie life said plainly what he means and meant
what he said. have no doubt he did at Glas-
Cow and at Leven, and that he did intend to
convey to the public his own belief that no
Home Rule bill would be laid before the House
! Of Commons next session. Many Of the most
Radical Home Rulers say the same thing and
for the same reason that there must be .
British session.
On the other hand, 1t is pointed out by
Unionist critic. writing however, before the Sec
ond speech had been made, that Mr.. Asquith Is
not Mr. Gladstone. that 1t Is not certain that he
knows Mr. Gadstone's mind, and that 1t is not
| certain that Mr., Gladstone knows his own mind
or has made it up this particular point.
Many things may happen between this and next
January February Mr.. Gladstone may pre-
fer to keep his mind open on question of tao
tics. He has to reckon with Mr.. Redmond and
Mr.. Redmonds reiterated threat to withdraw
| his nine votes II there is no Home Rule bill be-
fore the House. He has to reckon with himself;
with his age for he will then be eighty-four.
and with his own passionate desire to carry
Home Rule or to press it continuously forward:
to reckon also with his own Indifference or dis
like to most Of the Radical measures, ecclesi-
...ftl cnI
him; and there are many other considerations
which l need not stop to mention. There Is.
therefore, great force in the view Of THE Spec.
tator':
Mr.. Gladstone is perfectly capable Of an
nouncing to the Cabinet decision. based upon
! his years and his health to which Mr.. Asquith
and the rest Of his colleagues must submit or
go. If the Premier says the Home Rule bill
| must be the main object Of next session. II will
be the main object. let the Cabinet or the Party
or the constituencies kick with vexation as they
like They are beaten men If Mr.. Gladstone dis
appears, and in that fact is the secret Of his
! autocracy."
The point more vital than any or all
! others in that enumeration of possible infu.
ences on Mr.. Gladstones mind is the constitu-
encies. His Cabinet he can control. The Party
| is at his mercy. The constituencies, however.
are his masters and there are known means Of
ascertaining the will of the constituencies in adj
vance Of a general election. and of imparting
this information, when obtained TO Mr. Glad
stone. He is himself the best eectioneerinS
agent in the kingdom. SO long as he chooses to
keep his mind open. and there is always Mr.
Redmond to help him keep it open. and there
is Archbishop Walsh who, for this purpose and
to that extent will cooperate with Mr.. Red.
mond.
The student Of English style will find Lord
Salisburys speeches worth his attention. even
though he do not love Lord Salisbury. The
Unionst leader is an artist in the use OF
words. His speech at Preston last week Tues
day is not, perhaps. glittering as some earlier
ones. but 1t abounds in phrases which are
felicitous. Lowell used to say it was impossible
to compliment a word or sentence more highly
than by calling ii felicitous. or, which he pre-
ferred happy. Lord Salisbury is happy in the
turn Of his phrase oftener than any other
orator of the day. and says more quotab!e
things. He is happy also in his illustrations.
and even his political indiscretions are committed
in good English.
His story of the Continental Congress, OF
which the president said, Il have conducted
this conference sometimes like gentleman and
sometimes like n sergeant-major," Is supposed
to refer to Berlin and to Prince Bismarck.
He applied It, with a necessary proviso to Mr..
Gladsone's method of conducting the Home
Rule bill through the House OF Commons.
Always as gentleman very often as
experimentation" is Lord Salisburys view OF
those proceedings Elsewhere he sums II up
differently with majority of thirty-four-
the opinion Of seventeen men-he has tried 10
reverse the policy of 700 years" He describes
the Parliamentary recess as six weeks or
'.feverish repose." Parish Councils have been
recommended as likely to amuse the rural
parishes But says Lord Salisbury Il do NOT
admit that 1t is the business Of the Government
to amuse the rural parishes; such conception
is an ''mbecile conception" He does not liks
bureaucracy in the "despotic Departments OF
Whtehalr'-the Education and Local Govern
ment Boards. Their thoughts are wooden
their system Is red tape, their one hope Is 70
reduce to a perfect uniformity the actions OF
hr,fc