The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-04-29
Charge Him with Continuing the Life
of Parliament Merely to Fur
Their His Party's Cause.
LIBERALS BADLY DIVIDED
AND IN NO CONDITION TO MAKE A
FIGHT ON THE HUsTINGs.
Croker's View of American Politics.
Extracts from the
of Flies Diary.

LONDON, April 2s.-Though the event of
the week i'm England has been the resump-
ton of Parliament, it scarcely ~justifies even
passing Lethargy has marked,
and probably will continue to mark. the
debates. Dissolution is I'm the air, but all
the members of the House of now
seem to realize that their happy release
from Westminster depends entirely upon
the progress of the war in South Africa,
although, as announced weeks ago in these
dispatches. until Lord Roberts brings the
campaign to n climax the government Will
continue to kill time. adopting a noncom-
initial attitude toward any home measures
that might entail serious controversy, and
carefully holding back any announcement
OIL a permanent policy in regard to South
Africa until the issue of arms simpliies the
m~ultitudinous problems involved. The Lib
eral papers inveigh against this endeavor to
secure peace for the present and announce
the policy afterward, maintaining that a
frank acknowledgment of the governments
intentions toward the South African repub-
lies would greatly hasten peace. However,
the Liberals are far too hopelessiy divided
on the war question to have any chance OF
forcing Lord Sa,isbury's nand in this re-
spect. Thus, this unimportant session is
likely to drone itself into forgetfulness
amid Liberal clamor that the government
is making death-bed repentance on several
internal issues, and that when Lord Rob-
erts breaks the backbone of the Boer re-
sistance, the Premier will spring a pro-
gramme and go before the country.
x x
Judging from Lord Spencer's speech this
week herculean efforts are being made by
the old-time Liberal leaders to reconstruct
the party. Lord Spencer blessed every Lib
eral section, but, in the same breath, de-
clared himself for Lord Rosebery. That is
the rock on which the Liberals split. The
attitude of the former Premier will proba-
bly, have more effect on the next election
than any other circumstances except the
outcome of the war. Strenuous efforts are
making to bring Lord Rosebery into active
politics again and within the fold of recog-
nized party lines. But, so far, they nave
met with no success, as he cannot be per-
suaded TO put internal politics above con-
siderations affecting the empire. While at
one time with the majority of the Liberal
leaders on local issues, he is bitterly at
variance on imperial questions, with a
large body of the party. especially the
more radical section AS Lord Rosebery
numbers among his followers Lord Spencer,
Sir Henry Fowler, Mr.. H. H. Asquith and
many other leaders, il can only be surmised
that the Conservatives will put on cleo
ton until a moment most opportune for
themselves, and then, faced by the dis
Indignation OF the opposition, sweep the
country even more completely than at the
last election.
The past week has witnessed a feeble
attempt to celebrate st. Georges day with
the outward signs that marked ST. Pat
rick's anniversary. One result was that
roses slightly increased in price (most of
them came from France), and there was a
sprinkling of fiags. But, on the whole, the
efforts to celebrate the English patron
saint day were by no means successful.
Except by handling the gold coinage, of
the realm, few people here have any knowl-
edge of st. George, and in the popular
mind he retains only uninteresting asso-
Citations in which he is connected with the
mere conquest over the dragon portrayed
on the sovereigns, which fails to awaken
enthusiasm in stolid England.
"Mr. Richard Croker will remain in Eng
land till after Derby day, and neither po-
litical rumors nor personal paragraphs will
alter his determination to enjoy the En-
glish spring racing season So far as the
Democratic national situation is concerned
1t may be taken for certain that there has
not yet occurred anything to change Mr..
Croker's views OF the situation since he
left New York. He is not talking for news
papers or reading newspapers much. But
IL the time comes when he cares to talk
what he will have to say will bear the
stamp of authenticity and suffer no chance
of misinterpretation. He is in good health
and good spirits. and worries about moth
ing The foregoing statement, made by a
personal friend of Mr.. Croker, may be
taken as an authentic urinary of his
present attitude toward political affairs.
Further extracts from the Duchess of
Flies diary throw interesting light on
royal personalities. The Queens entry
reads: God has been so good to me and
has given me so much to make me happy
during my life that now. in my old age. 1
want to confess that / have not any dis
likes"
The Prince Of Wales wrote: 81 am hap
piest when | have no public engagements
to fulfill: when / can smoke a really good
cigar and read Unjust / confess IT. a good
novel on the quiet: when / can, like plain
Mr.. Jones, go to a race meeting without
its being chronicled in the papers the next
day that the Prince of Wales has taken to
gambling very seriously, and yet lost more
money than he can afford to pay; when L
shake hands and talk to Sir Edward Clarke
without it being rumored that the Prince
of Wales is violently opposed to the pres
ent war; when l can spend a quiet evening
at home with the princess and our family.
L am ~unhappiest when 1 have a raging
toothache and have to attend some social
function. where i must smile as pleasantly
as though L never had a pain in my life"
The Duchess of York adds to the collec-
ton a most womanly confession. Il dis
like" she writes, every woman who
mine. like every one who loves the
Queen"