The times., 1899-12-30
SATURDAY. DECEMBER 80. 1899.
Political Possibilities in England.

Political Possibilities in England.
As the time for the meeting Of Parlia-
ment approaches. the British public is in
dulging in predictions as TO what may hap
pen during the sittinEs. and some OF them
are not favorable TO a continuation Of the
present Government in power. unless the
tide Of war should change before the mid
die Of February. Too much confidence
should not be placed in the views Of those
who are looking for an early ministerial
revolution. Il is true that Lord Sails
bury's health is precarious. and that he is
hearly heart -broRen over the death Of his
wife But it is also known that Queen
Victoria is anxious that he should stick
10 his post unit! the present grave crisis
is past and it is probable that her desire
IS shared by a majority OF thinking people
in the United Kingdom. The Premier's
splendid ability in conducting diplomatic
business. and the evident success he has
achieved in securing in advance the
friendly neutrality OF Europe. pending the
war in South Africa. raise him above the
criticism which is being showered upon
some Of his colleagues. and make even
political enemies eager TO have him at the
helm Of state for a while longer at least.
Whatever opinion may exist that the life
Of the present ministry VIII be in danger
al The hands Of Parliament. is based on
the belief that The war and finance minis
ters win be hercely assaied as soon as the
opposition can get al them. No doubt
there is some ground for the expectation.
d. an
Is curaged at The Grass ineficiency dis
played 10y Lord Lansdogne in failing 10
place ,he British army I'm condition for
war. or. il he could not do that. on accoaut
q the niggardly policy Of the Chancellor
o. the Ezchequer. in omitJiBg 10 take the
country into his confidence and resiening.
It IS next &c certain that q rigid accounting
win be e1aeted. soon or late for the blum
ders OF The past five years. but we cannot
be SO sure that the reckoning VIII not con
template individuals rather than the Gov
eminent or the party II represents
The British nation has something like
memory, and the present IS an unlikely
time Tor it 20 forget that the Liberals. who
perhaps would like 10 ride into power On
the inc0npetency Of the Horse Guards, he
general stan. and the intelligence depart
menl are al bottom responsible for the
whole current difficulty. with its sad tale
OF blood. tears, and sunken treasure. II
other words, il the Gladstone government
Of 1881 had not made a paretic peace with
the Beers when Sir Evelyn Wood had them
at advantage and could have exacted MS
own terms. the Outlander grievances could
not have existed. the Jameson raid would
not have occurred, and the Trausvaal would
never have been in a position 70 hurl de-
Gance at the Empire and slaughter its
troops. And this memory brings up an
other one as dark Il was Gladstone and
his Liberal ministry who left Gordon to his
wretched fate ~ kbartum, when ordinary
vigilance and energy could and would have
saved him IN one way or another the Lib
eraI party Is not the one 10 which the nor
NAL BEiton pins his faith In days Of
danger and disaster We have 10 doubt
that the political successors Of the Grand
Old Man and bluHderer would carry on the
var TO the bitter end. The Duke Of Devon
shire. Lord Rosebery, Nr. Asquitb and
men OF that kind are quite as patriotic as
any of their opponents But Jheir party
has been discredited in The eyes of the
public by the course OF Gladstone when 1t
was in plenary power, and for that reason
any prospect Of swapping horses while
crossing a stream" does not now appear
very probable. Naturally. il series Of
British reverses should happen between
now and the meeting Of Parliament the
conditions might be materially changed
The best government the world ever saw
could hardly survive such fresh shock as
that