New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-07-20
BEER DEFEATS LIBERALS.
gECRET OF THEIR DOWNFALL.
HERBERT AsQU1TH is RETURNED FROM
EAST FIFESHIRE.
s1R THOMAS n. CARMICHAEL. is ELECTED IN ME-.
GIADsTONE's DISTRICT CONSERVATIVE ARE
NOW PRACTICALLY ABLE TO MOVE
WITHOUT THE OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES.

NOW PRACTICALLY ABLE TO MOVE
WITHOUT THE LIBERAI~UNIONIsTs.
Although the British Liberals went out
Of Office a question Of armaments yet
the crushing defeat which they have
tained at the pollsa defeat stl further
intensified by yesterdays 'returns-is mainly
due to beer While Home Rule has been
the chief plank OF the platform which
Mr. Gladstone and his followers won the victory
that landed them in power in 1892. ii had to all
,ntents and purposes ceased to he vital issue.
The masses Of the English people had grown to
look upon the matter with an indifference verg-
ing on boredom. and for all practical purposes
II was shelved when Mr.. Gladstone Withdrew
from the struggle on its behalf and returned into
private life. The death duties merely served TO
antagonize the wealthy landowning class and
cannot be said to have affected the people at
large. But the taking up Of the Local Option
scheme as practical instead Of merely theo-
retcal issue. had been the case until then.
was the first rock upon which the Rosebery
Cabinet struck since 1t constituted n blow at
the brewing interests. and when few weeks
ago the Liberal Chancellor Of the Exchequer.
Sir William Vernon Harcourt in submitting the
financial budget to the House. proposed to in
crease the tax on beer the English people de-
destinies 10 hands less likely to interfere with
the shaking OF their thirst.
This is not the first occasion upon which
Liberal Ministry has SO to speak. been swamped
nv beer When Mr. Giadstone's Cabinet was
overthrown in 1885. the real cause Of its wreck
was the proposal Of his Administration TO aug
rnent the impost on beer. The English people
had submitted to all kinds of unpopular meas
nres and policies which it had inaugurated
They had permitted their hero. General
Chinese Gordon 10 be sacrificed at Khartoum
through the procrastination of Mr. Gladstone
and his colleagues without doing anything
more than grumble. But when the Grand Old
Man proposed to increase the revenue by rails
ing the impost on beer. the people one man.
arose and turned him and his out OF office.
Beer plays an important part in the political
affairs Of Europe. especially in Germany where
Cabinets innumerable have owed their rise and
fall 10 the public love for malt liquor. But no.
where does It exercise predominant an infu-
ence upon public affairs as In Great Britain
For where and what would John Bull be with
out his beer?
The event OF yesterday was the return Of Mr..
Herbert Asquith for East Fifeshre by an even
larger majority than that by which he was
elected three years ago. Mr.. Asquith held the
office of Secretary OF State for the Home De-
partment in the Rosebery administration. and
II had been feared that. following the example
Of his colleague. Sir William Vernon Harcourt.
In Derbyshire. and Mr. John Morley In New
castle-on- Tyne he would be defeated. His VIC
4. .ttory. therefore was a of agreeable sur
prise to the members OF his party. although 1t
must be accepted as a tribute to his personal
popularity and that Of his clever wife. better
known Miss Margot Tenant. the original OF
'Dodo." rather than to any liking for the party
or policy which he represents
Much the may be said with regard 70 the
election OF Sir Thomas u. Carmichael tie LIB
eral ticket for the Midlothian constituency 80 long
represented Ia Parliament oy Mr. Gladstone. Sir
Thomass defeat regarded as assured. and
his victory, although by greatly decreased LIB
era majority, pleasant surprise for his
party.
Yet these two victories. though they have
served momentarily 10 raise the spirits Of the
Liberals cannot be considered as In any way az
tectng the situation. which from their point OF
view could not very we'll be worse, as will be seen
trom the following figures.
The total returns thus far show the election OF
ConserTatiyes
Union,st
Anti -Parnetes -
,... -. $780,, f.. ~
Conservative majority without the Lberal-Unon- 90
lists
The returns OF yesterday. therefore. merely
serve still further 10 increase the Conservative
majority which IS phenomnally large as TO
render the party practically independent OF the
votes Of the Liberal-U L nonists. While this Is
source OF great satisfaction to the Tories. II fills
them with resentment when they remember now
many Of the choices. official plums have Deen
allotted to SIR. Chamberlain and his followers
on the unders ndng that their votes were indis-
pensable to the working majority OF LORD SAILS
iburys Cabinet. The Libera-Cnionists VIII not
even possess the balance OF power. since were
they 10 desert their Tory allies and TO return 10
the Liberal fold. the numerical superiority would
still remain with the Cons srvatives
The same may be said with regard TO the
Irish Nationalists who have for 80 long held
the balance Of power In their hands Judging
by the returns published up to date. they VIII
he more powerless in the newly constituted
House OF Commons than at any time since the
date when the late Charles Stewart Parnell
organized them into a cohesive poiitical party.
And IL must be remembered that the present
Parliament is elected for a term OF seven years
durinp which Ireland will be debarred not only
from the exercise OF any influence over the af-
fairs Of the Empire to which she belongs, but
even over her own internal interests. which are
now In the hands of those who nave never
ceased to denOunce the project OF granting
Home Rule to Ireland.
LIBERAL JOYS AND SORROWS.
they GAIN THREE SEATS But LOSE FOUR
srrcur REyERsEs FOR THE LIB