The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-07-26
THE TORY BLUNDERS.
Balfour Has Led His Big Ma
jority Like a Novice.
SALISBURY AT FAULT. roo.
Chamberlain the Best Debater In the
Houss-sir william Vernon Har-
courts skIllfulness.

figure when he IL scrauelinz OUT Of a
qGagmlre. Nr. Basso1r has got out o. the
siousa IN which ne ana his party had
been founder1ng IN THAR ni-adyised az
tempt 70 enact q revolutionary education
bill. and he has smiled with chiid-like
innocence and made light Of his uaisai-
venture. bu. it has not been a graceful
exit Bsundersng leadership cannot be con-
fonsd by aniabillty and candor. He has
led the honse Ike a novice. when the cour-
age. Judgment and oonciiiasory temper
OF an experienced parliamentary hand
were indispensable. The abandonment OF
the education bill Is confession OF fail
IRE OF tactics and generalshir. and 10
leader OF the commons can make such a
failure without compromising his rep1.a-
ton The ministry were responsible for
the measure. but Mr.. Balfour Is naturally
held accountable for the miSmanagement
Of the business OF the session. which has
forced the government 10 withdraw the
Dill after carrying the second reading by
an immense majority. His prestige has
beer irreparabiy damaged by the pro-
ceedings OF the last fortnight. and the
effect cannot be cornteraetsd by any dis
play OF cynical indifference on his part
70 public opinion The Chronicle is per-
haps wantonly cruel, bat at least IL is
entirely reasonable when Il suggests that
the sooner Mr. BaIfoGr adorns the upper
house. where the majority Is not $50. but
90. the better - viii be for tha electoral
prospects Of Conservatism
1t Is probable that the nephew In this
instance has been sacrificed 70 the uncle
The prime minister has taken a deeper
interest In the education bin than any 9TH
er member OF his cabinet has done. He IS
the highest churchman In the government
Of the day. and has been more seriously
i'm ~sra xzH ha 81 IL. rsx~
the necessity OF redeeming the obIIg atoms
Of the ministry and the party respecting
the voluntary schools. He has been the
ally Of the Anslics: s.Snocs A.A rs
ss7saa EzrnoiIc prelates. He had insisted
upon making the education bill the prin-
cipal measure OF the session. The cabinet
was divided upon the question six months
ego. and IL was only after sharp contro-
veYsy and arduous effort that a compro-
mise was effected.
Sir John Gorst. instead OF presenting a
simple measure designed 10 extend finan-
cial aid 10 the voluntary UNCONVENTIONAL
schools. brought in compromise scheme
for reyoiutionizlng the educational sys-
tenn. His idea seemed 70 be 20 disarm a
powerless minority by anticipating their
objections ana meeting them on their own
ground by subjecting ali the schools in
England and Wales TO local control He
@~e4r~NVS " NosAc2ANk Aflc cAcNL 0x SA-1
a measure upon an unmanageabie ma
jority. The result was disastrous. When
the bill had passed the second reading
and reached the committee stage il was
loaded down with hundreds OF amendments
and run aground. Its passage was i'm
practicable without a prolonged autumn
session. from which ministers naturally
recoiled. with apprehension and alarm.
Every one except Lord Salisbury per-
AEls - -
In order to satisfy him a futile compro-
mise was proposed. by which the bin
would be discussed for a fortnight and
then deferred until January in adjourned
session. Al the end OF another week, when
the faiility OF TINS policy was disclosed,
the measure was withdrawn altogether.
Lord Salisbury at Fault.
Lord Salisbury was primarily at fault
IN allowing his religious sympathies 10
infiue ace his judgment as a practical poll
itician. but Mr.. Balfour suffers vicarioasIy.
He II Is who Is charged with incorape-
,enee In leading the house. when, in real
fiy. IL Is the prime minister who has In
sisted upon liquldating political indebted
hess TO the patrons Of the voluntary
schools. and has been unwilling TO be
convinced that the Jnionist majority were
Indifferent to the policy Of revising the
education act OF 1870 for the sake OF
easing the financial burdens Of churchnen.
Roman Catholics and Wesleyans Mr.
Balfour loses prestige as leader and
gains an unenviable reputation for in
eptitude. when he is simply loyal TO the
prime minister. who happens TO be his
uncle and his patron in politics. lie is ac-
cused OF leading the Unionists into a
ditch, when he has only been holding on
with unaffected devotion and simplicity
TO the skirts OF his powerful relatives
coat. Under eompalsion he has turned
about and scuttled away in full retreat
under opposition fire. and he has made tn.
most plausible defense which he could
present. namely. that the Liberals we're
unScTupulous and had paralyZed the fane-
lions OF the commons and completely
blocked legislation.
That DOES not deceive anybody The
UnionistS. with the Irish party voting with
them. could have passed the measure ~
they had been united IN favor OF Il. The
Unionisis were divided respecting this
bin. May Of them condemned II as A
concession 10 'P1seyIsm and Rouaanisn":
others dsSliked II as a radical measure OF
decentralization which would unsettle
the whole system Of education. The gov
ernment was house divided against T.
self. The opposition did not compel Il 20
abandon the measure. The rntorfstS de-
feated themselves. but they have held Mr.
Raifour responsible They charge him with
ahssntine himself from debates and with
being out OF touch with his followers and
Gnconcilsstory In dealing with the oppo-
Siiioa- They describe him az n bad tao
ttcian. who lacks skin in mastering the
details Of a complex measure and infex-
ihie courage IN forcing an insignificant
minority 20 Yield 20 The decisions OF an
overwhelming majority.
The general results OF this collapse OF
legislation may readily be forecast The
government viii endeavor 10 save as mas,
as possible from the wreckage OF the
session Closure viii b. applied more rig
orous;y and as many small measures rsss-
"a az possible. with the Irish land BIN
subject 20 8 compromise with the natioa
a1iSts- Parliament viii rise in Auxssxt. ana
next years session viii open early In Ian
e8ry with more carefully selected
budget Of proposals than was announced
IN he last Queen's speech Moreover. The
procedure Of the commons vii Re amend
FL. That Il the unfailtnS resource Of a
government which IS confronted WITH a
Fe.ora ~ annne3 promises. The onua,-
slt!0n Invariably s. held accountable for
every legislative block The power Of tha
t'nfou.St government remains rnhrokAs,
u Is ouly The influence % the leader -
tae commons Which Is permanently i'm
paired.
SIR William HarCoart's Work.
Nsarwhte. SIR william Harcogsrt -
-sives fsll cresst on al SIDES Cor having
0aite1 and harass@1 tAe government. ara
Ter having led TIRE exposition with hrfs@
fancy. ract ans success. Es3s speeches On
ne e1asatica htl IN committee have been
most ssroit ard sawacioas. and his con-
duct "a con 7~elllng the withdrawal . The
r1sasITe after dtciailng fror sheer love
- nischieS compromise. has been
worthy % the highest co-nsn3atfon from
= tactical poiut % view. Mr. Balfesr aas
been 10 us;ca Cor THIS Cd parliamentary