New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-08-04
THE ENGLISH REVOLUTION.
CAUSES OF LIBERAL DEFEAT-PROGRES-
SIVE TENDENCIES OF LOCAL GOV
ERNMENT-MR. CHAMBER
LAIN'S PROGRAMME.

London. July "a
The elections have virtually closed, and the
politicians are explaining how 1T all came about
They do not agree except upon a single point
and that Is intelligent appreciation of the mag
nitude of the Liberal defeat. 1t Is the most
overwhelming disaster which any political party
has known for three generations. Respecting
the primal of this stupendous revolution
I'm public opinion there is a wide diversity OF
views. The political commentator here as III
America. when general election reveals de-
lberate reversal of the popular WILL likes 10
turn neat phrase and to explain the result IN
a single sentence. Beer and bigotry' the
Radical politician exclaims. winking energeu-
callv with one eve TOO many Socialistic fads"
cries the commemorative Un.onist. with a snort
memory for Mr. Chamberan's promises OF Old
ace nensions and State grants to enable the
masses to own their homes. The SOBER con-
servative English the right sort ana ocs-
tined to prevail while the Irish are not 10 DE
trusted" is the deliberate reflection OF the
fanatical anti-Gladstonian. These are all Eooo
phrases but the results Of momentous eiecuon
in the United Kingdom cannot be summed up
I'm sententous catchwords or gltterng cpl
grams There is single cause of paramount
Importance which has produced this extraoru'-
nary revolution in public opinion. The Liberal
defeat is a composite result which must be at
tr.buted to many coordinate causes.
The personality Of Mr.. Gladstone has been
since 1868 the greatest single force on the LID
eral side The withdrawal Of that force mas
produced something like a storm centre. Inc
barometer has fallen steadily and the area OF
Liberal depression has extended to every
borough and county division. This effect would
have been inevitable even If his successor hau
been an exceptionally strong party leader, or II
Mr. Gladstones policy had been scrupulously
followed. But Lord ROsebery had not fuifileo
the expectations of his friends. and the course
which the veteran pilot had laid for the Liperai
shin had been altered. Irish Home Rule, the
only issue Of the Newcastle Pre- gramme in when
Mr. Gladstone had been deeply concerned had
been allowed to drop out Of sight. and welsh
d.sestablishment had been brought forward IN
SO aggressive and drastic form as to ALLEVIATE
his sympathies. Copous as the explanations
of the withdrawal of his pair IN the Commons
had BEEN there was a well-founded suspicion
that he disapproved Of the Welsh bill, and re-
scented the lack of interest taken by LORD Rose
berry in Home Rule the question to when ne
had devoted the physical energies and intellect
ual resources Of his declining years IL would
hardly be possible to overestimate the erect
upon the electorate Of the withdrawal OF MI
Gadstone's unique personality under these con-
dit!ons His followers were confused ana ais
heartened by his silence, sorely disappointed
In his successor and convinced that the party
was adrift without policy or leadership
MR. CHAMBERLAIN'S PERSONALITY.
On the other hand. the personality OF MIR.
Chamberlain was a powerful attractive lorce'
While he was neither Prime Minister nor eader
of the House. he was recognized as the strong
est man In the Unionist Government ana the
one who would have more to do than any one
else with determining its legislative ana pon'i-
cal policies. With Mr.. Chamberlain IN the Oapi-
net. there could not be anything like stagnauoh
or reaction under the Unionist government
Dissolution might be ordered with a negative
colorless programme which committed The new
Government to hardly anything except the
maintenance Of the Union and infexioie nos
tility to separate Legislature in Dublin; Out
Mr. Chamberlain was known to be statesman
of creative energies and progressive tendencies
His was the personality that drew discontinued
Liberals into the Unionst party, because MS
presence in the Cabinet was unerrng indca-
ton that there would be something new, effcient
and practical in Tory Democracy. Perhaps his
power in a Unionist Government was overrated;
and certainly it has been materially reduced by
bury and Mr. Bafour from dependence upon
hin, but the influence of this one strong man, to
whom the defeat of the Home Rule cause was
mainly 10 be attributed, unquest.onaoly
very great over the electorate. Other leaders
have been making speeches 10 local audiences;
Mr. Chamberlain has been the central figure OF
q national canvass.
The burden of Lord Rosebery's appeal 10 the
people was: Nothing can be done py Lipefai
Government while the House OF Lords STANDS
and blocks the way But he did not explain
how the block was to be removed. his course
would have been logical and consistent II ne
had shown the courage Of his convictions ana
proclaimed relentless war upon the hereditary
chamber His associates persisted in advocating
their own peculiar issues Sir William Harcourt
temperance Mr.. Morley Home Rule and MI AS
ouith Welsh Disesta bshment; but the electors
had Lord Rosebery's word for 1t that not one
of these measures could be enacted without the
reform or abolition Of the House OF LORDS. a
policy which they all shrank from discussihg
The country could not be favorably Impressed
with Liberal tactics II was asked TO send back
party to the strongholds OF power with no
assurance that any great measure could be
enacted while the House of Lords retained It's
veto privilege and without any warrant that
nostiye action would be taken to secure the
legislative supremacy Of the Commons. Natu-
rally II turned toward the Unionsts. who could
offer promise Of direct and positive legislation
on many questions 1t might have hesitated II
the Unionist cause had been identified with re-
dictionary Toryism Mr.. Chamberlain's increas-
ing power and influence were unerring ind.ca-
lions that the party had been broadened and
rberalized. and that important measures OF
aprarian and social reform would be brought for
ward.
The national and local issues upon when the
Liberals depended for swelling their vote seemed
TO lack attractive power. With Mr.. GLADSTONE
in retirement and with the Irish factions eN-
hausting their energies in rancorous warfare