The morning call., 1893-11-05
ENGLAND IS DISGUSTED.
LabouChere VIII Bring the Matter
Forward at Once.
THE GOVERNMENT MUST ACT.
Or Else Mr.. Gladstone Is Likely to
Find Himself Without a
Majority.

NEW 1ORh, NOV. 4-daroIQ Frederic
cables the Times from London: England
has resumed the thread of English Paria-
mentary legislation after the past year Of
boisterous embattled interruption as
calmly as if there had never been any
Irish question at all. There is some
chance Of partisan ENHANCEMENT over the
employers liability bill, shortly to be
taken up, the more as Chamberlain will
bv that time be home. But the parish
councils bill is swimming through with
only the merest ripple of dissent. The
sweeping provisions of this measure were
explained fully at the time of its intrOduc-
tion, and such amendments as will be ac-
cepted will not much limit its scope, which
is really far broader and more revolution
ary than any so-called reform bill since
1882.
Even under the limited powers given the
new county councils in 1888 the most as
tonishing and diversified experiments liz
State socialism have blossomed all over
the country. Only the other day, for in
stance. the Cambrdgeshire Council opened
a big poultry-school at Whittlesey, where
TIE entire rustic population of the county
was invited to come and study gratis, un-
der professional tuition. every phase and
problem of prOfita bic pOultry-raising.
With some thousand of min or bodies gwen
similar powers. initiative and expenditure,
we are likely 10 see things in England
which no previous SYSTEM of government
has ever dreamed of in its philosophy.
A great deal has been said about the
the manifesto of the Fabian Society in
current Fortnightly. and the Tories and
Unlonlsts are trying hard to persuade
themselves that its breezy onslaught upon
the Government signifies the DISRUPTION of
the Liberal party. No doubt it has been
elOquentlY represented as such by cable
1t is really only a very pointed and spirited
example of the kind of protest which the
advanced Radical wing is compelled to
make against the tendency of official
liberalism to fall comfortably asleep
once il gets control of the loaves and
fishes. Owing to GIadstone's absorption
In home rule and the growing fOndnesS of
the very old man for the counsel of eau
tIous Wings in his own immediate circle,
there is rather acute need just now for
some such robust application of the sharp
spur. It has been made and will have its
effect, and really that is all that need be
said about the Fabians.
Such excitement as this autumn session
yields will not come from its advertised
legislative programme, but from the deep
and earnest popular disgust over this
abominable South African business. On
Thursday Labouchere is to move an ad-
journment of the House, and thus secure
a day for discussion. If, as expected, the
Ministry declines TO give time this discus
g.
tant and impassioned which Parliament
has heard since the bOmbardment Of
Alexandria. The feeling, which is wide
spread, was vehement enough a week ago
concerning the details of the So-callpd
battle, where an entire army of brave men
defending their own territory, never got
within fifty yards OF the line Of the machine
guns. They strove TO attack. but were
moved down in CHASTITY proportion, one
thousand to every one of the invaders
they were able to touch. These details
have literally sickened civilized England,
and even the most strenuous jingoes in the
TeTy press. such as the Pail Mall Gazette,
have been forced to cry cut against calling
such a savage butchery by the name of
battle. Cecil Rhodes triumphant tale
gram that the Chartered Company's shares
have advanced 27 per cent links it self in
everybojy's mind with the question of
England's official duties in the matter. A
fortnight ago more than half the London
press talked as if it held brief for Cecil
Rhodes.
Now there is almost complete consen-
sus of sentiment against him and against
his ring being suffered 10 make financial
profit out of this shameful adventure.
Unhappily. there are signs that the Minis
terial bench is tagging a good way behind
the Radical feeling in the House and the
popular Indignation outside, and unless
this is remedied before Thursday the Gov
ernment may find itself in collision with
something several hundred times more i'm
portant than all the Fabians ever born.