The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-08-29
PARnr1MENr nv 1apa.
Where the British Government Finds Itself
mt tho CInae-NInnanrea Rrnnnht In.

NANNA NhS Y NHDNFNAANNNNAN NAu ANnNAA
Mt the Close-MeRsures Brought In.
LONDON. Aug. 13.-on the evidence Of the
English themselves. few Parliamentary SEES
sions have been so perslstently dull az the one
that has lust closed. No new regulations have
been made and hardly any Of the old ones adj
vanced. Mr.. Chamberlain has perhaps i'm
proved his position. but rather by contrast
with the backslidings Of lord Salisbury than
by any achievements OF his own. With the ex-
ception OF the Irish Local Government bill.
which did not greatly interest tho public.
no measure OF frst-rate Importance has
been brought forward. The livcliest debates
on matters Of home policy took place at the
very end Of the session. when the Benefces bill
for doing>away with some Of tho Rrosser abuses
OF patronage and siren Rthening the hands Of
the Bishops was introduced. Sir William Har-
court contrived, during the discussion. to raise
the old mo Popery" cry and pose as tho cham
pion 9t the Established Church; but England
especially IN his ecclesinstical transports, and
beyond irritating tho Nationnlists his Mort was
Two moro useful measures can he pnt down
70 the credit 81 the Government. h eCrimlnal
Gases bill allows prisoners to give evidence in
the English penal system. Tine wisdom OF the
c%inatlon Il much more doubtful, and It's intro
duction the last experiment one would expect
legislation that the minority will have to RELY
IN the long run. The Local Government bill
gives to the Irish people the fullest control over
their domestic affairs. Henceforth there will
be the Same local autonomy in Ireland as In
England or Scotland, and tenants and laborers
County Councils as. landlords and large rate
payers. The. experiment Ia large and interest
ing and, while 1t cannot take the place of home
made since the completion Of the union.
In their foreign policy Lord Salisbury and
his colleagues have met with the severest crit
icism. From the dispute with France in West
Africa they emerged with some credit. and
the war with Spain, was approved OF all but
unanimously. But these successes have been
altogether, outweighed by the shiftless policy
OF the Ministry IN, China. which has. greatly ex-
asperated EnRlishmen, and lost the Govern
ment several seats, at bye-electtons. The, Chi
nese crisis is not by any means at an end yet,
and there Is still time for England to make up
her mind what she means to do. Before Parlia-
ment meets again siX months from now. the
country expects LORD Salisbury to have f0rmu.
and weakness which have cost England 80
dearly In prestige and commercial importance.
In spite OF its management OF foreign affairs.
the Government can still command an i'm
a. when it took office three years ago. Part Of
Its strength is due to the weakness Of the oppo-
sitton. The Irish Nationalists are still hope
lessly divided among themselves. and show no
sign Of reunion. The Liberals are in an almost
equally pltiable plight. with no policy. on which
they can all agree and nc. leader who is capable
OF holding the mutinous factions in line. More
over, signs have been plentiful during the past
session that the alliance between the Liberals
and the Nationalists is weakening to the point
ment falls before its statutory term runs out IL
will have only itself to blame.