The morning times., 1895-07-14
Liberals ARE CRUSHED
Their Defeat Much More Decisive
Than Was Expected.
HAROOURT OUT IN THE COLD
Local Veto Bill AIlenated the Work
ingmen and Caused This Able Lead
er's Downfall-Tories Wildly Ju-
bilant and Predicting Repinrkable
Majority In Parlia

London, July 13.-The Liberals tonight
are In very desponding mood. All day
long and far into the night the returns We're
coming in and nearly all Of them showed
there was not the slightest hope Of the party
holding its own in the elections.
This was not expected, for the Liberal
leaders went to the polls firm in the belief
that they would be defeated, bat they did
not expect the crushing blows that were de-
liyered to them i'll constituencies that were
held to be safely Liberal
The leaders were staggered when the
telegraph brought the information that
Sir William Vernon Harcourt, whom many
believed should have been the successor OF
Mr.. Gladstone in the councils Of the party.
had been defeated in Derby, together with
his fellow representative from that dis
trict, Sir Thomas Roe.
THEY BUILT ON SAND.
1t was never thought by the Liberals
that Derby would prove false to the
principles OF the party, but the figures
given show that the party had built their
house on sand. As straws show the dircc-
tion of the wind, so the assault upon Sir
William and. Lady Vernon Harcourt and
Sir Thomas Roe after political meeting
]
ings OF the electors, or at least a large
proportion OF them, were bitterly hostile
to certain principles advocated by the
Liberals.
The local veto bill had as many enemies
as friends among the rank and file of the
party, and Sir William Vernon Harcourt's
| strenuous advocacy of that meas sure was
no doubt responsible in great measure for
his downfall Certain classes Of working
men want no veto of any kind placed upon
| the liquor traffic, and when Sir William
! took the position he did upon the question
he alienated many of his supporters, how
many the figures show for there is
| scarcely doubt that this was the most
! important factor in his defeat
WHAT WILL HE DO?
| What he viii now do is, of course. an
! open question. Two courses are open to
/ him He can seek reelection in some other
/ he is undoubtedly the ablest man in the
! constituency or retire from public life As
| Liberal party to-day the public are keenIy
! alive TO the Importance of the decision he
may arrive at
From many other directions the returns
/ show a great falling off in the Liberal
! victories they have already gained, and
/ vote. The Tories are wild with the
victories they have already gained and
| the most exaggerated predictions are being
| made as 10 the SIZE of the Unionist majority
/ in the next house.
! That it viii be large Is conceded on
! every side, but the more cool l-headed Of
! the Unionists do not agree that an cnor-
nous Unionst ma jority would be the best
/ thing for the country.
They desire To have a well equipped and
/ active opposition that will make parlia :
/ mentary life interesting The Radicals
! and many Of the more outspoken Liberals
| declare that the party is now reapiug
/ the fruit Of it's mistake in making Lord
! ROSebcrry Prime Minister in succession
/ to Mr. Gladstone, aud that he has led the
| party to its Waterloo