The sun., 1896-07-05
BALFOUR LOSING GROUND.
HE rs EXPECTED TO RESIGN AND
90 TO THE UPPER HOUSE.
The Tories Are os,t,nE Very Reste..

The Tories Are Getting Very Restless
Under Hts Leadership Sir Michael
Hieks.Besch 1s Likely 10 Succeed Him
Chnnberiain Not Anxious for the Place.
LONDON. July 4.-The discomfort in tho Gov
ernment ranks with Mr.. Balfours leadership
has grown apaoe since the abandonment Of the
Education bill. His management Of the debate
on the next great Ministerial measure, the Land
Rating bill, displayed so little tact and 80 little
desire to be tactful as to 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 resiRning and going to the Upper
House. He IS wearied, his intimates aver, of
the worries of Ministerial life, and tells them
that he is "sick Of the whole thing" and would
give up office II the Conservative party could
fnd another leader who would keep the Union
| lists together.
\ Mr.. Balfour seems to be of the opinion that
Mr.. Chamberlain's leadership is impossible or
that It could only happen at the risk Of break
ing up the party. Tho Unionis:s are not 30 alb
eolutely dependent on Mr.. Balfour's continu-
ance in place for their safety. In the lobby and
club discussion of the situation there 10 less
anxiety expressed about the choice OF his euc-
cessor than about his finally consenting to CO.
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
Criticism have Gm s into Snnders Blur the
Speaker and his own colleagues have been
obliged to correct. Outside a very limited circle
| Of personal associates. his pretensions to
superior political insight are laughed at, much
| rs his hook on tho Foundations OF Belief" was
| pronounced by competent thinkers, Herbert
| Spencer among others. to be the crude prodnc-
| so much OF himself that he told the house re-
| Gently that he "never read the papers" and took
his own way independent of public opinion as
Obtained through the press: His party do not
appreciate this lofty level Of Impractical eeva-
tion.
In seeking To replace him three names arc
under consideration-Mr. Chamberlain, MIR.
| Goschen. and Sir Michael Hicks Beach. Mr.
| Chamberlain, who knows the situation thor
| oughly. appears to recognize that Tory opposi-
| ton against him would be too strong. and there
| is high official authority for saving that he
would accept the lead OF Sir. Michael Hicks
| Beach for a time. Mr.. Chamberlain has been
opposed to the Cattle Diseases bill a cool and
| Indifferent supporter OF the Land Rating bill,
| and would have the next Education bill shaped
anew IL It were presented next session under his
| leadership OF tho House.
| Now both the Conservative and Liberal pa
| pers announce the Education bill for 1897
| as certain tn be brand new measure. II can
| be predicted on reliable information that the
bill OF next year is to be the bill Of this year in
all its essential proposals. The knowledge ot
| committed. is one OF the reasons weighing with
Mr.. Chamberlain in keeping out OF any contest
| for the lead ership.
Mr.. Goschen has now next to no following in
| servative party who might rally to Mr.
Chamberlain have no admiration for MIR.
| Goschen. whose limitations as a politician have
| long been known. When the change occurs,
| ship with almost tho unanimous assent OF the
| Unionist party.