New-York tribune., 1894-10-28

that part OF the Prime Minister'S Sheiiieiu SPee0"
touching Madagascar. He declares mat In no re-
cent negotiations between France ana Ehgiaho
has the word Madagascar been mentioned. She
- viii a, once understand that she is 10 nave
free hand in Madagascar. and a message is
doubtless already its way to her buccaneerins
envoy. M Lo Myre de Vilcrs that ne need give
no thought to England. True. Lord Rosebery
Iiu,its his remark He assumes that France VIII
do nothing more than she may rightly do under
her protectorate Is Slam forgotten so soon
The French idea Of what may rightly be done un-
der ,pretenee OF. protecting Madagascar VIII soon
be made clear and England is likely enough 10
hnd France solidly established on the fank OF her
one road to india over the high seas
The French press. we'll or quickly in
formed had received yesterday but an imperfect
summary of Lord Rosebery's words and tneir
comments are cautious. They snatch at MS rec
ognition OF a French protectorate over MadaseS-
car as IL there had been some doubt whether Lord
Rosebery might not repudiate the unluckY sails
hurry agreement of 1890 That is absurd. They
will like much less his frank declaration neX'
day against the Channel Tunnel that mad scheme
20 which Mr. Gladstone under Sir Edward wat
kin's influence and In his most cosmopolitan
mood. lent his ill-consdered sanction.
The Prime Minister'S Sheffield speech is
clear appeal to the patriotic sentiment Of the
Nation. and there is clear response. lie mas
Act his foot on the Little England faction He
describes il in terms which they will not forgive
and others will not forget, as the party OF
small England. of shrunk England OF ue-
GRADED England, Of a neutral England OF SUD-
missive England" That party. says Lord Rose
- Berry has died. 1t Is at any rate now mlrled Pc
meath all these adjectives. The Sheffield speech
is its funeral grafton. The fact that certain con-
s.icuous member it also members, con-
spicuous and otherwise. Of Lord Roseberys Caol-
net. gives point to the oration
Nobody ever supposed that the present Prime
Minister had the least sympathy with that party
His predecessor perhaps had. More than once
Lord Rosebety came into collision with Mr.. Glad
stone on questions which involved the greater
question. whether Lutte England Greater
Britain was to prevail. More than once Mr.
Gladstone had TO decide whether he would give
way or lose his Foreign Minister He always
gave way Now that Mr.. Gladstone is gone, Sir
William Harcourt and Mr.. LabOuchere are COM
monty supposed TO be the leaders of the Clique
which regards Holland as the ideal common
wealth which England ought to copy. Mr. La
bouchere has hardly following. Sir Williams
sphere is finance The policy Of the Liberal party
is the policy of the Prime Minister.
The speech at Sheffield was not and could not
be political. There are politics in patriotism
or ought not TO be. The politics are to come to-
night at Bradford. There. as the Prime Minister
hinted, he is TO open his heart II has been
known for some time that the speech was 10 be
4 important. II Is quite possible, it is more than
probable that it will be the turning point in
the history Of this Government. At Sheffield as
have said he set one foot on one set of fanatics
II now al Bradford he will let the other drop on
another set and once more affirm his adherence
3 to the principle OF q Second Chamher, he and his
Ministry will be stronger on Monday morning
than a, any moment since he and they took
office. 1t Is critical hour. The fortunes OF
something more than Ministry hang in the bal
ance.
There was once Minister who said:
Beyond doubt the House Of Lords must be
reformed. but II you talk of abolshing that
branch OF the legislature. there are but two ways
in which il can be abolished suicide or revolution.
The House OF Lords Is not going to commit sui
eide, and am not going 10 head revolution
- Lord -Rosebery wll-make those words his
own. he will doubt anger the more reckless
section Of his party, a section too weak to do
without him. but he. will draw to his side the
great body of intelligent opinion in this country.
Mr. Asquith who may be called the Labor
member of Lord Roseberys Cabinet has been
speaking on labor. This is his third speech this
week The others OF no great importance,
but this is important because of the Home Secre-
tarys relations to the Labor party 1t is to both
sides disappointing speech. and for the same
reason, that ii is the speech of a politician, not
OF a statesman. II is an open attempt TO catch
votes. The workingmen see that just as plainly
as those who are not workngmen. Mr.. Asquith,
While civil. extremely civil. to every shade and
set Of Labor leaders. deprecates the formation Of
labor party such. He invites laborers 10
put their trust in Liberalism. and tells them
truly enough that to organize third party viii
help the Conservatives.
II is far more serious matter to find Cabi-
net Minister referring to the Trades Union Con-
gress resolution in favor of universal confiscation,
and passing it BY without word of condemna-
ton. Whatever may be his private opinions. he
speaks as a Cabinet Minister and Cabinet Min
lister contemplating cOnfscatiOn complacently Is
a new spectacle in this country Mr. Asquith
would do well to look across the Channel and see
what has been passing in Belgium. and what
Liberalism tainted with Socialism has come to
there.
The prurent fanatics Of the London County
Council have trumphed. and license has been
refused to the Empire Theatre except on con-
dition that the promenade be closed and no
drinks sold in the auditorium. The music halls
are. hear. waiting all considering that stand
must be made unless they are all to be closed
all placed under petticoat ordinances The
effect the next County Council election
promises to be considerable The workngmen OF
London don't like their amusements interfered
with and don't Ike being told they cannot
take care Of themselves Grandmotherly govern
ment whether parliamentary or municipal, is un-
popular in this country Unpopular also is the
obvious unfairness Of the Council in singing out
one hall, condemning it on the volunteered testi-
mony Of amateur purists, and leaving two others
In full blast. The Empire has closed its doors,
and its 500 employees the streets.