The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-03-23
What of the Future
OF English Politics ?
Why Lord Rosebery's Resignation Would
Probably Imply Speedy Dissolution.

The appended letter to the editor from
a valued Scrantonian, Mr.. Thomas A.
Aubrey, once resident IN London will
be read with particular interest,
in view OF the unstab BILE condition
of the Roseberry ministry in Eng
land. The writer of ii says: Your
comments ON the English political
situation in II recent issue contain a
statement, which, as it stands, Is liable
to create a wrong impression as 10 Il
point of constitutional law in England.
The statement to which | refer is that
the resignation of Lord Roscbery would
ncCCssitate a dissolution Of parliament
This is erroneous, as far rs relates
to the law ON the subject, inasmuch as
parliament can only be dissolved by
command OF the sovereign, the death Of
the SOVEREIGN, or the expiration of the
statutory limit regulating the duration
of parlamcnts: and the resignation Of
a premier, or even whole cabinet,
does not in itself or of necessity involve
an appeal to the constituencies.
Cases in Point.
During the reign of the present
where cabinets, supported at the out
set by working majority in the repre-
sentative house, but having in course
of time been defeated on some more or
less vital question, by the abstention,
detection, or other action of their ad-
herents, have resigned their seals of
office, their places being taken by an
other cabinet, usually the outcome of Il
coalition between the secess!onists, and
what is known as the regular oppOsi-
tom The most recent case of this kind
on record is that of the fail of Glad
stones ministry in 1885
Coming into power on a gigantic
wave of popularity in 1850, he formed
what was then regarded as the most
powerful English ministry Of this cen
tury, but even his magnetic influence
was powerless to hold together for any
length of time the heterogeneous con-
glOmeration known as the Liberal par
ty, and with trouble il. Ireland, Egypt,
South Africa, in fact all over the world,
dissensiOn and then detection eVentu-
ally accomplished the downfall of both
| cabinet and party. For six months the
Conservatives, with Lord Salisbury al
their head, assumed the reins, but like
all other stOp-gap governments, hold
ing office without power, they were un-
able to initiate or carry through usefu
| legislation and soon tiring of their
| thankless task advised the crown tC
dissolve paliament. Thereupon fol
| lowed the general election, the out
come of which was the introduction OF
! GladstOne's first home rule bill.
History Repeats Itself.
| "Now in some respects the position OF
/ the Liberal party today is parallel witt
| the case of 1855, and in that fact lie;
/ the only justification for the statement
| that the resignation of Lord Rosebery
wOulC neccssitate an early dissolution
of parliament The Liberal party ha!
always demanded that its leader shal
be chosen from the ranks Of the Com
moners, and have his seat in the rep
lcsentative chamber. The Radical sec
ton, now too numerous to be entirel!
ignored, with reform of the house o
lords at the head of their legislativ,
programme, We're therefor naturally in
censed when, on Gladstone's retirement
Rosebery was jockeyed into the premier