The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-02-22
FLYING COL0RS.
oseberry's Ship Of State
Passes Safely Over Shoals.
Conservative Success Mainly Due ia
Goschen's Fair Argument.

S<ONDOS, req. Se.--boru hsoseDvsys nu-
ministration has passed through astorm
which it's opponents expected would over.
whelm It, and which many OF its friends
believed would require the most skillful
seamanshlp to weather. Despite the pre-
dictions of the Conservative papers and
the moro or less badly disguised fears of
the Liberal organs, the government came
out of the contest with flying colors. and
In manner that surprised even those who
at no time thought there was chance OF
defeat.
The question that precipitated the dan
gerous situation was motion made by
Henry James, formerly attorney general
In Mr.. Gladstone's cabinet, but who
abandoned tho Liberal party on the bring
ing forward OF tho Irish home rule scheme.
BY standing order No. IL of tho house of
commons a member may arise TO move the
adjournment Of the house for the purpose
OF discussing a matter OF urgentpublic I'M
portance.
Taking advantage of this order, Sir
Henry James yesterday moved the ad-
journment OF the house In order TO call at
tention to the import duties on cotton re-
Gently decided upon by the government OF
India. IL is claimed by many OF tho
manufacturers OF Manchester and other
cotton centers in Lancashire that the Inn
position Of the duties has serious effect
upon their business, and they desire the
imperial government to intervene TO Sc
cure their abolition.
Government Oppositionists Disappointed.
The cotton interest is strongly repre-
sented In the house, and when the notice
of tho motion was given 1t was conjec-
tured, not only by many Conservative
papers, but by some Of the staunch Lib
eral organs, that the government, which
was bound 20 oppose the desired change.
would be overthDwn by the Lancashire
party In combination with Conservatives
and Liberals interested in the cotton trade.
The Parnellites, too, were expected to cast
their votes against the government.
But the result did not bear out the fscrs
OF tho politicians, for. by q majority Of
l95, tho Rosebery ministry triumphantly
repelled the attacks OF It's assailants.
This result was In n measure due to tire
attitude of Mr.. Goschen, who, though .
Liberal Unionist, dealt with the question
In a spirit Of great fairness toward tho
government, and declared that the house
should support the ministry. He aug
gested tho holding OF a conference in order
10 remedy the difficulty In India, -~r
which purpose the cotton import duty and
the excise duty on cotton in India wcre
laid
When the division came TO be taken on
the motion II was found that large num-
ber OF Conservatives and Liberal Union
lists, and also several members represent
ing Lancashire districts, went into the
government lobby. Included among those
who voted against the government was
Joseph chamberlain, who, ID Is stated, was
responsible for the pushing of the motion.
De Rothschlld and several other Liberal
Unionists abstained from voting.
The Tines' Comment.
In a leader this morning on the dcfoat Of
Sir Henry James motion In the house Of
commons last night, the Times says: The
vote saved the government from defeat,
but in our opinion it saved the Unionists
from far more serious calamity. We re-
joice that the majority against the motion
was so largo and decisive rs 60 deprive the
division of the character Of a party vote.
Had the motion prevailed the Conserva-
tives would have come into Office pledged
to repeal the duties and to find means to
remove the Indian deficit.
AS majority OF those demanding a
change are binetallists tho success of the
motion would not only have pledged the
opposition 10 views inconsistent with the
imperalist principles on which we can
alone continue TO govern India with
honor and safety, but would have cast
grave doubts on their fdolity as party to
sound economical doctrines.