New-York tribune., 1895-07-14
on THE HTSTINGS.

The electoral ball has been set a-roIS In the
United Kingdom. and 1t is spinning down the
ringing grooves of change" NJ merry pace
Our London cable letter to-day sets forth most
graphically some OF the salient features OF the
campaign. which are about as picturesque as one
could find in Oklahoma Imagine a candidate
paying a man a shilling for holding his horse
while he made stump speech, then demanding
II back again lest he be prosecuted for bribery
and thus actually driving the man to vote for
the other candidate. Or the chief managers OF
one party being openly charged with having
arranged for the husincsslikc purchase of num-
bcr of seats from another party for so much hard
cash. Or great party making appeal TO the
people on no general ISSUE but on this one In TINS
district, and that one in the next, and so on;
all things TO all constituencies by turns! Such
things in an American election would call for'h
the scotiings and dcrsion Of the critical Brion
Yet now they do such things and they say such
things" in Britain itself. from Lands End to
John oGroats.
As for the more serious phases of the si'ua-
ticIl their dominant note Is uncertainty. The only
sure thing is that 1t Is a hard fight all around.
Not every constituency is being contested Inc
Radicals are letting the Unionists have walk
over wherever Unionist victory seems absolute
ly certain. They will not waste their strength
on hopeless struggles, but will reserve 1t Tor
places In which they have at least fighting
chance. The Unionsts seem to be forcing the
battle all along the line, even nj the impregnabe
strongholds of Radicalism. Mr.. Morley himself
has got TO fight for his seat at Newcastle. And Sir
William Harcourt Is reported rs defeated at Der
by Over In Ireland the fray wakes hottest OF all.
McCarthyites and Parnellites are opposed TO each
other in deadly array, and II Mr.. Healy Is not
leading company of Free Companions on his
own account he looks amazingly like 1t. Dom
inant issues there are none I'nionists say they
will unfold their plans OF government when th'y
got hack 10 Westminster with q safe majority.
That is perhaps their most judiciouS course
Radicals have a dozen programmes TO suit the
various sections Of the country. Lord Roscbcry
gave for a keynote Reform the House OF Lords
Mr. Morley cries Home Rule forever. MT.
Gladstone-but he Is out OF the race. Person
aly that Is by far the most impressive fact IN
the whole business. though one OF the least re-
garded by pushing politicians, that that veteran
and venerable leader is now out OF politics for
ever For the first time In more than half
century his voice is unheard, his stately figure
Is unseen in the forefront OF the fray. That IL
an inestimable loss not only to the party he once
led. but TO the whole Kingdom he served and
honored.
There Is no use In speculatlng on the result
OF the elections now any more than fortnight
ago Nothing has occurred since the change OF
Ministry TO indicate the drift OF public sentl-
ment The Government acted shrewdly in bring
ing the elections on as rapidly as possible.
Every days delay, as well it knew, counted
against 1t and for the Opposition The last week
has seen a number Of members chosen. But
they are mostly from uncontcsied districts, and
therefore show no party gains or losses. THIS
week real business will begin. BY Thursday
night the polling will be completed In all the
boroushs, 2sl Of them, and we shall know the
composition Of nearly one-haf Of the new House.
On Wednesday or Thursday polling In the coun-
ties will begin, and may be prolonged throughout
ten days. though the bulk Of 1t will be- done with
in four or five Formerly the Liberals were
strongest In the boroushs and the Conservatives
In the counties. That rule does not hold good
now so generally as II did. Still we are likely
to see the best showing for the Radicals made
In the early par, Of the elections and that for
the Unonists later on. This, too, will be To the
disadvantage Of the Government, but II Is be
yOnd Its power Ia alter the circumstances. Those
who are watching the progress OF the polling
closely from day TO day To observe party gains
aud losses will bear In mlnd that ~ the recent
dissolution the House contained 3.i Vnionsts
Conservatives aud Liberal unlonlsls, 261 HAD
icals (Gladstonan Iibcras,, q Anil'rarncllics
dncludng Mr. Hcaly). and % Parn"lllcs, 10
have bare majority over all the Unlonsls must
gain Ii seats