The evening times., 1896-07-04

WIN Ill. Dahooi . ACoo
ership has grown apace since the abandon
mentofthe educationbilL His mana cement
OF the debate on the next great ministerial
measure, the land rating bill, displayed SO
little tact, and so little desire TO be tactical.
as 10 cause the house to think that he Is
wearied OF the game of politics or of the
cares of leadership.
The impression has become general that
he Will soon relieve his party by resigning
and going to the upper house. He is wea red,
his intimates aver, OF the worries OF miu-
isterial life and tells them that he is "sick
of the whole thing aud would give up
office If the Conservative party could find
another leader who would keep the Union
lists together. Mr.. Ralfour seems to be OF
the opinion that Mt. Chamberlain leader
ship is impossible or that 1t could only
happe n at the risk of breaking upthe party.
The Unionists are not SO absolutely de-
pendent on MIR. Balfour's continuance in
place for their safety. In the lobby and
club discussions of the situation there Is
less anxiety expressed about the choice of
his successor than about his finally consent
ing to go. He has succeeded, not only in
convincing the bulk of the conservative
members that he has no strong heart for
his work, but also that he thinks himself
above caring about mastering its details.
His superior airs and impatience OF criti-
eism have led him into blunders. which the
speaker and his own colleagues have been
obliged to correct.
BALFOUR A LAUGHING STOCK
Outside very limited circle OF personal
associates his pretensions to superior po-
ltical insight are laughed ut, much as his
book on the Foundations OF Belier' was
pronounced by competent thinkers, Her
bert Spencer among others, TO be the crude
productions OF an immature thinker. Still.
he thinks so much of himself that he toIt
the house recently that he never read
the papers, and took his own way indie
pendent Of public opinion as obtained
through the press.
| His party do not appreciate this lofty
| level of impractical elevation. In seek
ing to replace him three names are under
consideration-Mr. Chamberlain, Mr.. Co.
schen and Sir Michael Hicks Beach
In this cable correspondence recently
| the difficulties connected with Mr. Cham
I berlain were partly mentioned. Mr.. Cham.
| berlain, who knows the situation thoroughly,
| appears to recognize that Tory OPPOSITION
| against him would be too strong, and there
| is high official authority for saying that
| he would accept tile lead OF Sir Michael
/ Hicks Beach for a time. Mr.. Chambe riain
/ has been opposed to the cattle diseases bill
| and would have the next education bill
| shaped anew II 1t were presented next ses
! sion under his leadership OF the house.
| No CHANGE IN THE BILL.
| Now both the conservative and liberia
| papers announce the education bill for S9I
| as certain to be brand-new measure. II
| can be predicted here, on absolutely re
| liable information, that the bill Of ne xt yea
is TO be the bill of this year in all II,
essential proposals. The knowledge OF thi
| decision. to which the whoie cabinet 10 com
| mitted. is one of the reasons weighing with
Mr.. Chamberlain in keeping out of any con
| test for the leadership.
Mr.. Goschen has now next to no fol
lowing in the house. The younger III ember.
of the Conservative party, who might rail-,
TO Mr.. Chamberlain, have no a admiration fol
Mr.. Goschen, whose limitations as poll
ucian have long been known. When tn,
change occurs Sir Michael Hicks Beach vii
obtain the leadership with almost tn,
unanimous assent of the Unionist party.
The sta tenent made in the House OF Com
mons yesterday by the parliamentary sec
retary to the foreign office, to the csssec
that the Turkish government had agreed t.
Immediately apply the measures which tn
powers demanded. for the purpose of re
storing tranquility in the Island Of Crete
is not accepted inside or outside Of Par
lament as in anywise assuring settle
rnent Of the troubles between the Turks ant
Christians there.
DIPLOMACY is FUTILE: