Evening journal., 1895-06-24

primo minister by The queen on March g.
1874, Mr. Gladstone having offered his
resignation on account OF his falling eye
sight Lord Roschcry had occupied the
position of foreign secretary In MIR Glad
stones cabinet ard had been prominently
considered for ten years as the probable
successor to Alr Gladstone i'm the leader
ship OF the Liberal purity when the time
Tor the retirement Of that gentleman
should come.
About the only objection urged against
his appointment as premier was that the
leader Of the party should be member Of
the house of commons, and that the party
cannot be managed from the house Of
lords. Lord Rosehery upon assuming the
premiership tool, the place of first lord of
the treasury In the cabinet and called the
Earl of kimberley to succeed himself as
foreign secretary.
The leadership in the house Of commons
was intrusted TO Sir William Vernon Har-
court, who retained his place in the cab
met as chancellor of the esshequer. The
retirement of Mr.. Gladstone was consid-
cred a severe strain upon the government.
Many persons looked for the defeat Of
the Liberals and the resignation of the
cabinet at that time
On March IL, 1894, Prime Minister
Rosebcry defined his policy to great
meeting of Liberal leaders held in Lon
DON The policy of home rule, " he said,
''will not be less definitely pursued. In
regard to the house of lords he snid "The
conviction has long been forcing itself
upon me that with the democratic suffrage
which we now enjoy a second chamber
constituted like the house of lords is an
anomaly" This declaration aroused the
hopes on the part Of the Radicals that the
Rosebery government would offer meas
ures for the abolition Of the house Of lords.
It's failure TO do so awakened much dis
! satisfaction in certain quarters.
The other measures which had been un-
| dertaken by the Gladstone ministry, Lord
Rosebery said the government would con-
tinue TO push forward, The course of the
new government on the subject Of home
rule was by no means satisfactory TO the
Irish members Of parliament, and then
support of the government on many meas
ures ever since has been grudgingly given.
Scotch Members Dissatisfied.
The Scotch members also were many OF
them dissatisfied with the attitude of the
government toward Scotch measures, and
especially toward the crofters bill. This
feeling eliminated in the resignation o.
DR.. Macgregor, member for rInverncsshire
q few weeks ago upon the refusal of Sil
William Harcourt to give a definite timl
for the consideration of the crofters bill.
The Irish members,were still further es
tranged by the proposal of the govern
ment TO erect a statue of Oliver Cromwell
at Westminster. Their opposition to tn
government on this occasion served great
" to shake the faith Of the leaders in thei
ability to continue in power
These and many other minor causes o
discomfort were accumulated upon tn
general dissatisfaction at the original OF
der Of business laid ont to the house @
commons by the ROsebery government
many Of the measures which were consid
cred Of little Importance being put fol
ward and blocking the way for the favor
ite measures Of the majority Of the govern
ment's followers in the house.
The by elections almost without exceI
ton since the Rosebery government ha
come in have shown a continued Dirt
away from the party-a drift which ha
already set in to a degree before Mr.. Glat
stone resigned. The failure of the govern
ment has been considered inevitable Il
over a year. and it has only been a que
tion whether it should come in a dissoll
tion Of parliament and an appeal to II
country or in resignation, as has prove
the case.