Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-04-22
r.ord aalisbury's Speech.

| Lord Salisbury cut TO the core OF the
British political situation In his speech
| Thursday 20 the members OF the prim-
rose Club. He declared that the govern
ment were afraid 70 dissolve Parliament
| and 20 before the people. 80 they had sub
| stltu,ed agitation against the House OF
Lords for home rule as an issue which
would enable them 10 cling 10 power. lie
also said that II the government believed
the action Of the House OF Lords In re-
jectng the home-rule bill was opposed
TO the will OF the people they should order
dissolution and appeal TO the country.
Lord Salisbury's first contention ~
borne out not only by the tactics MT
Gladstone Tesorted 10 az soon as nome
rule was rejected by the Peers but 10y
Lord Rosebery's admissions as well
Knowing that he was doomed TO defeat
n he went 10 the final tribunal-the peo-
rle-on the main issue. the Grand Old
Man diverted the public mind TO the
parish councils and the employers la
blHty bills. and by refusing 10 accept any
compromise succeeded In stirring UP class
feeling against the House Of Lords. But
there IL a suspicion that in this manoeuVre
Mfr Gladstone ovcrreached himself. The
leavon Of mend or end" tho upper CHAM
Der was neither as effective nor az "lue-
spread In It's permeation "a ne had eH-
pectcd. The issue proved ephemeral. ana
an,iclpating a reaction he adroitly UNI
loaded.
More honest than his predecessor Lord
Rosobcry has not hesitaied 10 ooncede
that home rule would not be sustained
by-as he expresses 1.-THE partner having
the largest interest in the concern ahu
he holds that 70 grant it under any other
conditions would not be TO heneht Ire
land or the rest Of the United Kingdom
He also recognizes that 20 20 70 the peo-
plc on the question OF reforming the House
Of Lords would probably strengthen the
hands Of that body. His position Is. there
fore. anything but an enviable one Ihef'
appears nothing for him 10 do but trust
70 the luck that has hitherto attende1
him. and. Ike Mr.. Micawber walt ior
something 10 turn w. Lord SALISBURY
speech can hardly fail 20 have the erect
a. placing the government on the defeh-
give before the people. His declaration
that IL was the duty Of the government
10 appeal on difference that had eX-
t.tcd between two parts OF the kingdom
for seven centuries was "a covert charge
that the rights Of the electors had been
ignored. This would seem almost certain
10 bear fruit In the shape Of demand
for dissolution. 1t will therefore be very
Interesting 10 see how the now premier
will answer tie Conservative loader.
Lord Salsbury'a utterancos igust DO In
terprctcd as Indicating confidence that an
appeal would restore the Conservatives
to power. and Il would appear TO folio"
that all Of Lord Rosebey's tact ana
statoznlanship will be brought into play
10 stavc IL Off \ defeat Of Rosobery ~
the country would be exceedingly uufor-
tuuat. for ireland, for the hot-heads OF
the Irish party and the extreme Ensiish
Liberals to the contrary uotwith 'taniine'
The Young Premier seems TO champion
the only practical plan for securing home
rul. concessions that would be permanent
ana rebound 10 the real advantage Of the
Irish people The longer he remains az
th. head 81 the government the better
chance of course. there will be OF his
winning adheronts 10 his view Of the
question.