The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-10-01
WAR ON ENGLAND'S LORDS.
The Rank and File Of the Liberals Hot
Against the Upper House.

maze very d1gh Dy the Surlke.
Especial Cable letter, copyright 1898, by the
United Press)
London, Sept. 30.-The agitation
against the House of Lords has abated.
This is due partly to Mr. Gladstones eau
tious attitude towards the subject, and
partly to the absence during the holidays
of the liberal and radical members
of the House of Commons. The pause in
parliamentary activity has given the con-
seryatives time to collect themselves and
make a show of courage. Home rule is
dead forever, say the Tory newspapers.
The liberal leaders rave against the up
per house, but on sober second thought
they dare not menace its existence, nor
countenance a national movement to end
1t.
The assurance with which Tory organs
like the Times and the Standard reiter
ate the assertion, is not however, well
grounded. Impending developments are
preparing within the great liberal or
ganizations throughout the country to
shatter this confidence. The quiescence
of the liberals and radicals is merely on
the surface.
THOUSANDS OF CIRCUMSTANCES.
Since Mr.. Gladstone made his speech
the executive committee of the National
Liberal Federation have received by let
ter, telegram and word of mouth thOus-
ands of remOnstrances against delaying
or abating the agitation against the
peers. Virtually all the provincial
branches of the federation have made
such remonstranccs and the executive
committee consequently have de-
ssf.l lnH al sfAFafa an
to consider thequestion before the regular
congress of the organization. The Ma
tional Reform Union liberal society Of
great influence in the provinces, has an
ticipated this conference by arranging to
make at Manchester, Liverpool Birming-
ham, and other commercial centers, a
series of demonstrations against the
peers. The National Liberal Club in Lon
don meantime will remain probably mac
tive, relying on the early action of
the federation executive committee. The
members, however, are ready to sub
scribe large fund with which to facil-
itate the present movement. To this
club is due the rise of the national
league, whose avowed object is the aboli-
tion of the House of Lords. The initia-
| tive in forming the league came from the
workingmen's radical clubs.
THE CLUBS WELL BACKED.
With all their enthusiasm these clubs
were almost without money to help them
spread their ideas. They have now the
assurance of help from the national lib
eral people and know that what
ever money is needed to make
the league strong factor in
keeping alive the fever of the working
| classes will not be wanting With this
backing the league, although but one week
old, gives signs of strong and practical ac-
tivity. After the encouragement given
it by the national liberal club, the main
cause Of it's vitality is the genuine earn
estness of its members. Their campaign
cry is: Away with the lords" Their
guiding principle is that the policy of
waiting is mere waste of the nations
| time and energy, and an obstruction Of
parliamentary progress.
Samuel Story, radical home ruler sit
ting for Sunderland, will present, in the
name of the league as soon as parliament
shall reassemble, a vigorous petition, ask
ing for legislation against the dangers
which have resulted from the continued
existence of the House of Lords.
To those behind the scenes the pros
poets of the movements against the peers
have been in no way darkened by Mr.
Gladstone's attitude. In fact many of
them prophesy that in the early future the
movement will be so accelerated as TO
embarrass those liberal leaders who now
show an inclination TO hold it back or
mask its significance.
STRIKE OF THE COAL MINERS.
The great coal strike has now assumed
political as well as a social aspect. The
few mine owners, who profess a willing
ness to compromise with the men, and do
not stand firm on their proposal TO reduce
wages 25 per cent, are solely Gladstoni-
ans On the other the Tory, and most
of the liberal unionist mine owners
proclaim themselves ready for war to the
death. Only one liberal uniOnist has had
the courage to cut loose from his Tory
colleagues. He is Charles Seely, NJ. p,
for the west division Of Nottingham, and
a large owner Of coal in three countries.
He has given the owners federation no
, tice of his resignation, and on
Monday will take back 5000
miners to work at their old wages
No political clause has been
introduce directly into the conflict, but
none the less the miners have been keen
to observe the political affiliations Of their
friends and enemies and will not be
likely to forget the Gladstonian candi-
dates at the next general election.
COAL MADE VERY HIGH.
The effects Of the strike on the prices Of
household coal become more noticeable
daily The people OF London complain
that they are in the hands of a coal ring
The coal prices have been in fact pushed
up at every opportunity by a crowd Of
SPECTATORS who manipulate the quota
tions. At all the great min
ing centers, where some of
the colleries are still worked, the advance
of prices has been considered. but far
from warranting the appalling figures
quoted here. Some mine owners even
deny that they advanced prices even a
fraction until few days ago. Oblivious
to all this, however, the coal ring con
tinues to make every failure TO settle the
dispute an excuse for new increase Of
retail values, and thus is gathering an
Unprecedented harvest Of profits. The
mildness Of the weather has mitigated
the hardship Of the crisis for the poor.
Nevertheless men and women are seen IN
almost every street, grubblng along after
stray bits Of coal and wood. In streets
where the old wooden pavemeuts are be-
ing repaired, hundreds night
daily for the chips. In
the coal districts affected Immediately
by the strike, the starvation is appalling.
The strike pay" in the few districts
still able 10 make IL is utterly inadequate
to tue needs Of the miners families.
Where there is no such pay all are desti-
tute The public, Just aroused 70 O reali-
zation Of this distress, have subscribed
freely for soup kitchens, etc.
DUKE KEPT OUT oF DANGER.
As soon as parliament shall re-assem-
L. 90. HHHHH