New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-03-17
THE NEWS OF EUROPE
LORD ROsEBERYs RESIGNATION By
LIEvED TO BE NEAR AT HAND.
HIS ILLNESS AND THE DIsINTEGRArIoN OF lhn
MINISTERIAL PARTY BOTH TENDING ~
BRING 1T ABOUT-THE CONTEST
FOR THE sPEAKERsHIP-
THE NEW CENSOR
OF PLAYS.
fcopvrfoht; 1896 BY Ths Tribune hssoet1t'o"'
fBY CABLE TO THE TRrBuNE.I

OF PLAYS.
fBY CABLE TO THE TRIBuNE.1
fropvrfeht; 1895: BY Trf'un, As'0etation'
Iondon March 16-Lord Rosebery is slowly
recovering from the effects Of the Influenza oue
his Illness has left behind it serious recurrence
Of his old trouble, insomnia. II this amic,ioh
cannot be overcome. IL is regarded as hishiy
proba BILE that Lord Rosebery will resign the fre-
miership. In any event, that result cannot 10
far off The force Of circumstances WILL peioro
many weeks compel ar appeal to the constituent
cies and no one doubts that the result OF gem
eral election will be the defeat Of the Ministry.
The last week has witnessed another symptom oi
the rapid dsintegration Of the Ministerial party.
You may remember that the introduction OF the
Veto bill into the seasonal programme was large
w. IL not entirely the work Of Sir William Har-
court The Irish members. while welcoming ths
assistance Of the veto party chiefly Radicals, IN
their Home Rule campaign. have never been ZEAL
Gus to purchase that help at the cost or pledges
to support the Veto bill. IN the case OF welsh
dsestablishment, they willingly adopted the we'll
known methods Of log-rolng. because Weish
aspirations In no way affected Irish interests;
but in the case Of liquor legislation. the Irish
members were naturally unwilling to give
pledges that would bring them into collision with
the very large liquor interest that specially pre-
walls in Ireland. Irish whiskey and Dublin stout
are staples Of the country. When therefore, the
Nationalist members realized that Sir william
Harcourt was about 70 force his pet veto project
upon Parliament in order TO discharge tie Min
isterial obligations to the Teetotal party, they
took definite action in order to restrain him'
1t has been lntimated to the Ministerial whips
nv more than a dozen Nauonalists that while
they were wiling to assist the Government with
liehr
resolution about the House of Lords, they de-
cIred to aid the passage OF the Veto bill This
intimation coupled with the possibility OF ntns
Redmondites going into the lobby against Sir
william Harcourts measure and the certainty
that many Liberal members interested In the
liquor traffic In England and Scotland VIII also
desert the Government, II they DO not actually
join the Opposition, seriously JeopardZes tns
massage Of one Of the most important measures or
the Ministerial programme. II shows further
that. excepting upon Welsh disestaollshment,
which is sure to be rejected by the Lords and
the resolution against the upper house, even the
Irish Nationalist vote has ceased TO be trust
worthy. Irish members know perfectly well that
the Government is helpless for legislation and
Mr. Redmond's demand for early dissolution Is
becoming the watchwori OF the entire party.
From these circumstances IT follows that disso-
The issue Just described Is generally ac-
ceptei by all politicians that surprise is ex-
pressed that Mr. Arthur Peel was unable 10 wait
TN the compAtion OF the session before resigning
the Speakership. The premature revelation OF
his intention bv The Times has hurried his de-
termlna ton and to-day witness something
like A struggle among rival candidates for his
mantle Three principal men whose claims are
under review are Mr.. Campbell-Bannernan, Mr.
Courtney and Sir Matthew White-Ridley. Mr..
Bannerman would be accepted by the Chamber
without division. He is thoroughly capable az
sustaining the Office and dischargng It's duties;
but the Liberals unwilling 10 select him,
mainly because there is some prospect OF his be-
coming leader OF the House in the event OF Sir
" illiam Harcourt's possible resignation. Mr.
Bannerman is deemed more suitable for that pur-
pose than Mr.. John Morley or Mr.. Fowler and
consequently many Ministerial supporters are
willing to offer the Speakership 10 Mr. Courtney.
Unfortuna tely. Mr.. Courtney has created enemies
for himself by his dogmatic manners, and he has
especially annoyed Mr. Labouchere by naming
him to the Speaker for misconduct when Mr..
Courtney was acting as chairman Of committees.
He has also offended some OF the Conservatives
because Of his Independence and direct opposition
to their views. though counting himself among
the Liberal Unionists.
II Mr. Bannerlnan cannot be spared by the
Ministerial party and If Mr.. Courtney cannot be
elected without opposition. TIE II )use may fau
back upon a Conservative member in Sir Mat
thew White-Rdley He is wealthy. popular and
capable. but not man Of robust health. The
Daily News says that Mr. Courtney has vrtu-
ally declined the nomination and for the reason
it declares. that he cannot ONT upon the Con-
servatlve vote. The refusal Of that vote would
be fatal.\ especially If the next election placed
the Conservatives in Office. Unless Mr.. Courtney
is assured that the Conservatives will support
him not only now, but also when Speaker IS
elected for the Parliament, il would be folly
to accept present proposal. The Daily News
takes credit II the present Ministry for Offering
70 vote. for MrA Courtney. bu; 1t is litely that
Mr. Courtneys refusal is quite as much owing
to the attitude of the Radicals as to the views
Of a few Of the sterner Conservatives. The issue
this morning seems 10 lie between Mr.. Banner
man and Mr. Ridley. The Speakcrship is one OF
the finest places I'm the State Its emoluments
are $500 yearly, with a pension OF $4,000 and
the retiring Speaker always receives peerage.
He has large suite Of apartments furnished
like a palace. and the cost OF his household is
largely borne by the State. Unfortunately. the
labors Of the Speaker are exceedingly heavy and
none but a man Of iron constitution ought TO
undertake them. 1t is sixty years since the Con-
servatives secured the election to the chair Of
one OF their own party.
The color Of the weeks Parliamentary debates
has been chiefly notable for the remarkable unan-
unity with which the men now In Office have ac-
ccpted the policy of their predecessors in regard to
the Navy The attitude OF Lord Rosebery's CabiH
is in striking contrast with the line adopted by
Mr. Gladstone and Sir william Harcourt, when
the latter In the Opposition. For this
the Conservatives OF to-day have par
doned the inconsistency of their opponents. and
last week has witnessed many expressions II