New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-11-29

thusiasm OF q multitude brmmng over WIN
loyalty to their leader and intoxicated with sue
cess in recent bye elections. The party press 10
startled by this menace OF war upon the Couh''
| Council. and clearly forecasts popular uPr's
ing in London against the Moderates next
March when the trlennal municipal elec''oN'
will occur. The Government Is warned against
tamperinG prematurely with the present sSS'ei"
Of London government. and advised to devote
tic enereies to moro pressing questions during
the approaching session. The Opposition press
on the other hand. welcomes Lord SALISBURY
challenge. for the undoing Of the County Counch
as an irdiscretion which may convert '''
metropolis into Liberal stronghold
LONG STEP BACKWARD.
Tho proorassIvcs have done some foolish
things especially in efforts more nice thah "'se'
to supervise the ADJUSTMENTS of the town. 'u'
whatever NAV be said OF their lack or discretion
in takin, IN ylrous disturbing questions VI
minor importance. they have had definite pol
icv and have aimed AT introducing In LONDON
,puniciual polIcIes which ir successful opera
tion in other English cities The LiDefai "oH-
eminent a few years ago co operated ihteH'be"'-
" with them ly appointing royai coi'i'''s''''''
which produced n comprehensive ana statesman
like plan for the unihcat!on Oh l-"hdoh anu '''
distribution OF local powers. ms Ptoe'"'
has not been carried on. because the TWO par "''
have been evenly divided In the Couhe" s'h'e
the last election and because the Moher"'es'
under the leadership Of Lord Onsiow, nave oo-
s,ruc,ed all measures for controlling the water
s,,rnly purchasing tramways and other large
rol,clce To sneer AT the members OF the Coun-
ell as peddlng vestrymen putting on farha-
mentary airs and finding congeniai employment
as spies and usybOdies in concert halIs ~ easy
and amusing bu; not convincing. the Lohoph
County Council. although hampered by 'haoe-
quate legislation and half-paralyzed during re-
cen, wears by political deadlock. has done a
great work 1t has shown remarkable energy
and constructive power whe"ever the iros'es
sivcs have had working majority.
To DEPRIVE London Of this system OF central
lzed government viii be a long step backward.
II Will involve the indefinite prolongation OF
vested monopolies. corporation privilege NestIy
rule and mcdiaayal mummery. II VIII be con
f.sslon that the unlncatlon OF the disjectcd prov
inces Of the metropoIi. IL impractcnhle; that
those large and progressive policies which hav"
made local government IA Glasgow. Birmingham
and other English cities the marvel Of the world
cannot l., undertaken here and that Bundle Is
the highest type OF municipal stat"sman'hip IN
the capitol = tn. British Empire. II VIII u"
retrogrAde Teactionsry policy. inspired 10y c"Ih-
sells II desp .r ana by selfish land-owning dread
Of a radical revision Of the present aysiem u
taxation. which IL ncycombed with inequali-
ties and Injustice. 1t VIII be- heartily supported
bv the city guilds the water and gas corpora
lions the tramwAy companies. the salponkeep-
crs the music hall owners. the privileged classes
OF land owners and the building and paving
contractors who have been deprived OF re-
munerarve Jobs by the Council. That IL dan
getous following for d great party TO have be-
hind u
The trend Of all these Tnionst policies IL rn-
mis- .akable The tendencies Of educational agi-
tation workmen's compensation for accidents
at the expense Of employers. Irish local govern
rncnt reform, and decentralization in London
MAJ not be- revolutionary. but they are certainly
unsettlinG ana disturbing Unionist rule. has
not been a vale Of rest after the storm and
stress Of Liberal agitation Ministers. after con-
denning the Liberals enemies OF existing In
stItutions and disturbers OF the peace. have
opened a Pandora's box OF their own. 1t is the
irony Of politics. yet logical enough. A great
party was restored to power with a cOloress.
negative programme committing 1t to hardly
ANYTHING except infcxible hostility 10 a separate
legislature In Dublin but II could not stand still:
II had to move forward or backward. The pres
ence I'm the Cabinet Of Mr.. Chamberlain. with
his irrcpressible energy. was pledge that there
could not be anything like stagnation under
guard against reaction. l. y. +.