The sun., 1894-05-12
The Rosebery Government Escapes
Defeat.

The budget bill passed Its second reading
in the House OF Commons on Thursday by
q majority OF fourteen. which would have
been cut down to eleven had three Liberal
representatives Of the liquor interest sided
with the Opposition, instead OF declining to
vote. The narrow margin between the
Government and defeat was due almost
exclusively to the detection Of the nine
Parnellite members, only one Radical
cooperating with them. II follows that
during the passage OF the budget through
the committee stage the Ministers will be
at the mercy OF Mr.. LABoUcHERE and his
friends. who. by combining with the Pnr-
nellites. can bring about crisis.
To those who have followed the course Of
the group OF Radicals headed by Mr.. LA
BoUCHERE 1t will be manifest that the
RosEDERY Cabinet was saved from over
throw by the speech which Sir WILLIAM
HARCoURT made at the great meeting OF
Liberals held on Wednesday evening. 1t
Is well known that Sir WILLIAM. up to
short time before Mr.. GLADsToNE's
retirement from office. was generally re-
gardcd as the next Liberal Prime Minister.
and Mr.. LABoUCHERE and his coadjutors
have never ceased to maintain that the In
terests OF British Radicals were sacrificed
by the selection Of Peer-Premier. During
the last week or two. their dissatisfaction
has been verRing upon mutiny, owing. APP
parently, to a rumor that Sir WILLIAM was
so Ill pleased with his secondary position
that he intended to resign his seat In Par
Lament on the score Of i'll health. Had this
report been confirmed at the meeting on
Wednesday evening. or even had the Chan
cellor OF the Exchequer seemed to lend 1t
credence by preserving an ominous silence.
the conciliatory speech OF Lord RosEBERY
would scarcely have availed to gain the
undivided support OF his party. AS mat
ter Of fact. Sir WILLIAM HARcoURT denied
roundly that he was suffering from illness
OF any kind, or was even threatened
with loss OF sight. as was alleged and de-
clared that he had not tho faintest inten-
tion OF deserting his post. This firm and
unequivocal announcement took away from
Mr.. LABoUCHERE his chief motive for wish
ing an immediate defeat OF the RosEBERY
Government; for OF what use would 1t be to
thrust the Peer-Premier from the leader
ship OF the Liberal party. unless an accept
able substitute were readyp II Sir WILL
LIAM HARCoURT will not consent to profit
by manGuvres aimed at his present chief.
some other substitute must be found. but
time will be needed for that purpose. Ac-
cordingly. We find Mr.. LABoUCHERE and his
friends voting on Thursday to sustain a
Government which they could readily have
destroyed. Not. OF course. that they like
Lord RosEBERY a whit better than they did
last week. but they had then. as they sup
posed. the secret good will OF the Chancellor
Of the Exchequer. whereas now they are
without the countenance Of any politician
of Cabinet rank.
Since Mr.. LABoUCHERE beat the Govern
ment on his amendment to the address In
reply to the Queens speech no one has
been disposed to underrato the extent Of
his influence or his wire-pulling skill. 1t is
certain that he could easily command many
more than the eight votes which on Thurs
day could have overthrown the Cabinet. and
1t Is only question Of time and circum-
stances when he will deal the blow.