Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1893-02-05
FROM DER THE SEA
Gladstone and Bismarck Are
Fast Losing Strength.
lABouCHERE HAS A SCHEME
To Do Away With the Engist. House
Of Losts-Prinee Bismarck Cours
Williams Favor.

LoSDox. Feb. 4.-Ths frss week OF
the new parliament nae brought With
II several disliluaona Mr.. Gladstone
Was expected to appear Ia fins form,
for his yesrs. aud TO show that anx-
iety 10 smite his foes hip and thigh.
which wAs. for almost half . century.
his most popular characteristic. I'm
doubted y Mr.. Gladstone has been nav
ing himself for the great effort OF his
lie, h.s home rule spsech next week; !;
hut making due allowance for this, lac
has fallen far short Of expectations.
Already in his first reply to Arthur
J. Bslfour. the leader of the unionists.
he gave evidence OF fatigue before he
had spoken ten minutes. and occasion
ally. toward the end Of his speech.
lsbored painfully to clear his VOICE.
Since the opening day he has saved him
sslt AL unnecessary exertlon. aud has
allowed much OF the & vernmenrs de-
Tense TO rest with SIR William llar-
court. chanceIior of the exchequer and
the coming leadef OF the liberal party.
Another disappointment has been
Nr. Balfolr's leadership of the opposi-
ton. Like Bismarck. this statxmsn
seemed 10 lose his ability when II fell
from power. A. first lord of the thas-
ury he made himself the terror Of No
erals and radlcSl ty his keen AID
bitter replies. his tenacious pugnacitl
and his quickness in shifting his9round
when caught at disadvantage. 80 far
he has been prosy and loquacious. and
has been unable To secure a point even
IN the hazard debate on the address.
.Isbby..- Great scheme.
The th,rd disappointment has been
Henry Labouc here, the radical leader.
who. instead Of picking a tight with
Mr.. Gladstone on foreign affairs. as the
torres had expected. contented HIM
self with mildly giving advice, and
then humbiy swallowing Mr.. Glad
stones retOrt that the advice had bet
ter been preserved for future use.
Lsboucnere. however. i$ bound 10
maze himself conspicuous a. soon as
the home rule excitement shali have
sbated temporarily. by introducing bills
10 suppress, gradually. the house of
lords. The fire. of the bills. "a Mr..
Labouchere described il on "Wednesday
night, will provide that the heads OF
all the chief executive departments
must he selected from the house of
commons. At the same time the lords
will be permitted to escape their opera
ton sgsinst them by becoming mem
bcrs of the lower house. The great
advantage claimed for this bill, by
Mr.. Labouchere. is that il will
render the house of lords even
more absurd and contemplate than
Il - now, snd thus prepared the people
To abolish It altogether. for It is hardly
posrihle that any man OF brains like
Lord Salisbury or Lord Kimberly would
remain on tho lords after tie member
ship became a bar TO cabinet Office.
A companion piece t. tais bill IS q
measure proposing that after 1895 no
man shall SIT IN parliament either by
hereditary descent or because lie il a
bishop. II the lords refuse 10 be
snuted out IN this fashion, Mr.. La
bouchere proposes that enough new
lords, of his way OF thinking, be cre-
ated 10 make majority for the bill.
Bi.marek Reco.eiIed.
The prospect of a reconciliation be-
tween Prince Bismarck and Emperor
William Is better than before IN tn.
last two years. Prince Bismarck. de-
splte many reports 20 the contrary. u
failing IN health. lie has lost some fif-
teen pounds since last summer and
does not sleep we'll. aud Is subject "a
frequent f,s Of depression. The belief
that his days are approaching their
end bas grown upon him recently and
his feelings toward the emperor have
| soiteacd win the growth OF
| tie belief. To tnis Is attributable
the reconcilia'ory announcement oi
the hamburger Nachr.cten that A
will not attack the foreign policy al
the governn ent further. ard that il
has only praise for the .mpcror's CON
duct during the visit Of the czarwitch
ararck's excuse for the change j.
tfaf the government has improved il.
foreign POLICY. but that u il merely n
pretext IL shown by the hitherto un,
noticed incident that before the toas
TO the czarwltcb. Bismarck cslebrated
~ Feidrichsrhne a dinner in honor ol
the emit eror. and himself proposed N
cordial word. the toss. 10 William III
/ The old chancellor has mad the fir.
advance. aud tut waits . rcspons,
d "a