The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-12-30
Tho Cloud on MIR. Glaostone's Pros
pects.

pcCCs.
In 1885 Mr.. GLADSTONE was obliged to re-
sign Office, nominally because he was
beaten on q matter of domestic policy, but
really owing to the widespread Indignation
at his failure to rescue GORDON at Khar-
toum. an indignation which had extin-
guished his ostensibly large majority. The
principal danger which now confronts him.
arises not from the dislike Of any feature Of
the Newcastle programme, but from pro-
found mlsglvings touching the adequacy Of
Englapds present naval resources to the
protection Of her vast commerce in the
event Of war.
From the beginning Of the present Parlla-
mont. Mr.. GLApsroNE's political strategy
has consisted In placing his opponents in
series OF dilemmas. escape from which
would be impracticable without some loss
OF popularity. His plan has been to send
MP one bill after another to the Lords.
thereby subjecting them to the alternative
OF passing the measure and thus making a
valuable concession to the Gladstonlans, or
of rejecting 1t. and thus justfying the out
cry that hereditary legislators were thwart-
ing the peoples will. Could this strategy
have been prosecuted without interruption
for considerable period. 1t must. to all
appearances. have been fatal to the Con-
servatives. But now the signs are that the
tables may be turned. and that Mr.. GLAD
STONE himself may be placed In disagree
able predicament. VIII he refuse or will he
sanction an immediate and largo increase
OF the British navy? That is q question to
which. 1t seems. he must soon return an
answer. and. whatever his answer, 1t can
hardly fail to darken his political prospects.
1t will be remembered that recently Mr..
GLADSTONE. relying on the discipline of his
majority In the House Of Commons. Insisted
upon treating an Inquiry into the state OF
the navy as declaration OF want OF conf
dence. He put the question by. and his
followers sustained him In doing 30. But,
unluckily. In the course Of the debate, a
member OF the Government. Sir WILLIAM
HARcoURT. asserted that the naval authori-
ties were convinced OF the sufficiency Of the
national means Of defence at sea- This
statement has since been contradcted by
all the permanent officials connected with
the Admiralty. They declare. on the con-
trary. that they fully share the apprehen-
sions expressed by the Opposition. which
are based. first. on doubt whether England
mean route against the combined naval
force OF France and Russia; and. secondly,
upon the fact that England will be much
worse on few years hence. seeing that In
January she will have but four ironelads
building. while France and Russia will
have twenty-three. This protest OF the
permanent officials In the Admiralty office
was followed by mass meeting OF the
OF commerce In the city Of
London. at which shipOwners and mer-
chants. without distinction OF party. de-
clAred that a large increase OF the navy
was the most urgent duty OF the hour. |
The alarm OF the shipping interest was
caused not only by Mr.. GLADsToSE's re- |
lusal. when appealed to In the House OF |
Commons, to promise any augmentation Of |
he naval force. but by the proposal OF his |
Radical followers that In the event OF war |
.he Mediterranean route should be aban- |
Toned. which would involve, besides the |
oss Of Egypt and Cyprus. the humiliation |
II England's extensive commerce with all |
he countries bordering on the Mediterra-
lean and Black Seas. 1t Is improbable that
my British Minister. no matter what the
majority behind him. could safely aVow a |
willingness 10 subject Englands foreign
Tade TO such disastrous mutilation.
Suppose. on the other hand. that Mr..
GLADSTONE yields to the stress Of public
ceiling on this subject. and consents TO In
dude in the coming budget an appropria-
ion for the navy large enough 10 make 1t
superior to the combined French and Rus
ian force. even when the latter is increased
" the new ships already ordered. Such an
additional outlay at this time will impose
lpOn the Chancellor of the ExcheQuer a
most difficult task. and upon the taxpayers
} most unweleoms burden. England is
'assing through q period Of sXtrems indus
rial depression. There has been d late