New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-03-15

abroad OF the policy OF the parcelling out Of the
capital OF empire into districts dstrustful o.
unity and strength and deploring as worse
affection than Megalomania the poets craven
fear Of being great" II was q speech illunlinat-
ed by flashes OF humor. but was pre-eElinent Tor
dignity OF diction. cumulative force OF reasoning
and persuasive power. Followed as Ii was by a
sweeping Progressive victory. 1t was the strong
est possible argument for the return OF Lore
Rosebsry TO public life and the responsibilities
OF POLITICAL leadership
II cannot be doubted that the result OF the
London election IL the most serious reverse
which the Unionists have suffered since the de-
feat OF Gladstonian Home Rule. The Progress
sves carried the first and seco01 tri-nnial elec-
tons, and were tied with the Moccrates IN the
third struggle. Consequently. this is not the
first success which they have scored In LONDON
County. Indeed they have lad larger MAORI
ties than the they now have. But never be-
fore has there been q systematic attempt on the
part OF the Conservatives TO carry the munich
pal election party lines and II has been re-
scented by the people Of .he metropolis as Tam
many device Minister'S having announced their
London disintegration bill. have been tramping
from district to district and appealing 10 pait!
men 10 support ii. not as Moderates. pu. as Soh
servativcs and Liberal UnioDsts. MI Chamber-
lain has advocated a straight party hght' ana
the Duke of Devonshire has commented on the
fact that 81 per cent of the representation o.
London in Parliament was Tory ana only w per
cent of II Moderate in the County Council. Lord
Onslow from the India office. has sought 10 con-
vert the Moderate party irto the unionlst part!
and 10 enlist the support or all the UhlolllsI
n embers of Parliament from London The can
vass has been conducted on the Moderate SIDE,
with the sanction and cooperation OF Ministers
as Cnionst campaign: and the cliZ ms OF Lon
don. arronted by this unwarrantoble attempt
N aroU ivlne al
have virtually voted against the Government
The result Of the election is nothing less than
a G 1vernment defeat. 800
There be doubt. moreover, tnat PUBIC
opinion In the provincial centres has been re.
PEELED by an irrational attempt on the part or
Ministers TO raisa iseue between SOCIALISM
and ant!-Social!srn in municipal government
The London County Coui ell has been guilty or
s1me vagaries and indiscretons but IT'S general
lines of policy have merely followed those OF me
general system Of manipulation in operation
in other English cities. The ownership OF water
gas electric light and tramways. the equalha-
ton of rates direct employment or iarci tne
betterment principle, the Iehousing or inc labor-
ing classes in municipal tenements ana the
taxation Of grounl-rents are policies enforced
or favored by the governing classes OF nearly all
the great municipalities of Great Britain MIN
listers have not improved their position either in
or out OF London by raising senseess hue ana
cry against these policies as Socialstic Lore
ROsobery has gone TO the root OF the matter IN
his declaration that municipal reformers VINO
advocate these measures anticipate Socialism by
dealing with the soil which may create IL, ana
that they are rendering an inestimahle service
10 the country. Minister'S have vainly sought TO
discredt one OF the chief glories of English rnu-
nicipal government and to impair one OF the
strongest safeguards against Socialism.
Finally il Is clear that the Cnionsts IN their
disunionist campaign have raised an issue be-
tween the classes and the masses and have
alienated popular sympathy. All :he selfish
forces OF vested rights landholding privilege
and gigantic monopolieS were arrayed on their
side and employed their resources in influencing
voters. Water companies. tramway and other
corporations have issued appeals to their share
holders TO support the Moderate candidates
Every ground landlord has been worker
that side and how vast is the interest involved
IS implied by a statement made before the ST.
Pancras Nestry 20 the effect that this class OF
untaXed and privileged owners in London de-
rives SSO0O0OOO a year from land values which
are increasing al the annual rate Of over $1,000.
600 All these monopoes and privileged classes
have known that their Interests would be pro-
noted by a triumph OF the Moderates. which
would be followed by the partition OF London
into many municipalities and the indefinite post
ponement Of the uniacation OF the metropolis
as an organic whole Ministers have not been
on the side Of the masses but Of the classes
They have share in what is justly regarded
as a popular triumph. The people Of London
have vetoed in advance their Dsunionist Vestry
GlOrifCa ton bill. I n F