New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-07-08

Of the salary Of IN, War Secretary. and to perse-
we're In the struggle. at least until the Land Dill
and the Factories bill had been sent to the
House of Lords. Resignation was the logcai
result Of the hostile vote of Fviday. The whips
could not promise a larger majority than two Tor
to-day's session. and the Government would only
have exposed itself e ridicule and contempt II
It had made desperate attempt to retain Office
The responsibility Of ordering dissolution mas
been properly assumed by those who overthrow
the Government Ministers could not retire
gracefully. Defeated Governments never DO.
Ministers could resign office decently and without
disgrace and this was done They had proposed
an important scheme of army reform and been
defeated soon as it was presented. Their re-
tirement was not without dignity. especially with
SIR William Harcourt to make the final an
nouncement In the Commons with stately phrase
and a touch of emotion. which seemed to betoken
his own withdrawal from public Unfortunately
a false inference which was speedily corrected
WORKERS. NOT POLITICIANS.
While the Parliament elected in 1892 has ac-
complished the most meagre results in legisia-
tion 1t has not been from any lack OF IN
uus1ly on the part OF the Government IL was
a working Government while Mr.. Gladstone was
at the head Of It; and so 1t has remained durihs
the year which has interviewed since his retire-
ment. The measures which, like the Home Rue
bill. have either passed the Commons or. ike the
Welsh BILL have been blocked there, have been OF
the most complex character and those which
have been undertaken by the Rosebery Govern
ment have been both numerous and large. III
these bills have failed it has been because the
House of Lords either vetoed or INSTRUCTED them'
or else because the country has Withdrawn Its
support and paralyzed the functions of Govern
meyax Ministers have retired from Office after
making a remarkable record for legislative in
dustry and administrative capacity.
Hard plodding workers. but bad politicians
that will be the general verdict upon the outgo-
ing Ministers. The policy Of conciliating numer-
Gus factions by introducing a great series OF
measures. which could not be enacted into laws
has not met with public favor. Filling the cup
and ploughing the Newcastle sands have not
been occupations which have seriously impressed
the practical Englshman. He ceased to take
interest In politics when the issues were unreal
and fictitious. and legislation Of all kinds was
debated week after week. month after month
with no reasonable probability that anything
would ever come of II. The Rosebery Govern
ment has deserved much Of the ridicule with
which IL has been overwhelmed. Its prestige
has steadily declined in consequence OF the lack
Of a rational political policy. Its promises were
irredeemable. yet were issued as recklessly as
fiat currency In war time. Lord Rosebery may
not have had fair chance as Prime Minister
indeed. he has not; but his most ardent friends
will hardly venture TO assert that he has shown
himself to be a strong and resourcefu party
ho, hoo dcfip ifc MI of ran
paign. The party has been adrft in the fog.
THE DIVIDED IRISH PARTY
The overthrow Of the Government leaves the
Irish party hopelessly divided, with the Nc
Carthytes compromised by the failure Of the
Liberals to enact the Land bill, or to bring about
any reform legislation for the island. The Par
nellites are likely 10 make considerable gains In
the general elections in consequence of the re-
sentiment and disappointment of Irish constitu-
encies Mr.. Gladstone in his declining years has
the humiliation Of witnessing marked decline
OF public interest in the cause to which he de-
voted the last energies Of his iustrious career.
and for which he made the greatest possible
sacrifices. With his retirement from poll
tics. with Mr.. Parnels death and with the con-
tinuance Of feuds and factions in the Irish ranks
this result has been inevitable. All parties enter
upon the electoral campaign without adequate
preparation. The Unionists have the best leader
ship and organization. and If the recent by
elections are a fair test of public opinion, they
will have a majority. either large or small in
the next Parliament, but these signs often
misleading. and 1t is always hazardous to fore
cast the result of a general election The new
coalition Government will have the disadvantage
Of appealing to the country without any marked
issue definite programme upon which to So
lcit popular support Mr.. Chamberlain, with
his lucidty Of mind. will be the organizing genius
Of the Unionist campaign and can be depended
upon to do much 10 popularize Conservatism. He
is not a statesman who will be satisfied with a
programme of negatons- J. n. F.