The sun., 1900-05-28
THE WEEK IN ENGLAND
Lord Rosebery Wins a Victory at the
ByelectiOns.
HOPES ST0LEADTHEL LIBERALS
Parliament May he Dissolved soon
If Wnr News Continues Good-out-
look For the Derby-Other
News of Interest.

London, May 27.-'rhe events of the
last few days have brought the internal
politics Of Great Britain once more to the
fore. This is especially traceable to the
byelections which took place last week
in the Isle of Wight division of Hamp-
shire and in South Manchester at which
fhc Conservatives so enormously increas-
cd their maiorties. The latter election is
described by Mr.. Joseph Chamberlain,
the secretary of state for the colonies, in
congratulatory telegram to the Hon
William Peel, the successful candidate
as being "a splendid victory for the impc-
rial fOrccs.''
1t is learned that il was an imperial
victory in more senses than one. for the
defeated Liberal candidate was opposed
not only by the Unionist machinery, but
by the strenuous efforts of that section
of his own party which is led by Lord
Rosehery and known as Tho Lihrral I'm
pernlists. In fact, Lord Roschery and
those who pin their political faith to the
cX-premier regarded Manchester as the
crucial point of their struggle to turn the
party to their own way Of thinking The
Liberal candidate had pronounced anti
war views, ana had he been successful it
would have sounded the dcathkne of
Lord Isoscbeiy's chances Of ever again
leading the party and might have forced
him either to permanently retire or form
separate organization. AS matters
turned out, there is no necessity of
adopting either of these courses. Lord
Rospbery's followers are privately juhi-
latng over the InioniSts' sweeping vic
tory, to which they contributed by send
ing to Manchester confidential envoys.
Only Hope For Liberals.
1t is now believed the bulk of the Lib
erals must see in Liberal Imperialism the
only plank whereby they can hope to re-
turn to power. The vast majority of
Englishmen, regardless of party, are evi-
IDENTIFY strongly in favor of the war. This
sentiment, Lord Roscbcry believes, can
be manipulated so as to give the Liberals
a fighting chance at the next election.
Whether Sir Henry Campbell Banner
man, Mr.. John Morley and other anti
war Liberals fulfill Lord Rosebcry's ex
pectations by coming to the same deci-
sion remains to be seen. But whatever
they do South Manchester and the Isle OF
Wight have greatly strengthened the
hands of Lord Rosebery's followers and
have made the Liberal leaders return to
active political life an almost certainty.
There is no truth in the reports that
Lord Rosebery will form coalition with
Mr.. Joseph Chamberlain. He is the last
anan in the world with whom he would
wish to be politically associated. What
Lord Rosehcry has had in mind during
the last few months has been an active
campaign against the government for its
dilat0riness in waging war and sweep
ing agitation for common sense reform of
fhe army. This. combined with eXpnn
sion of the empire and the social and eco
al 10Th
EliShcd the party, would. he believes.
give him a fair chance of leading the now
,disntcgrated and discrcditcd party in vie
tory.
While the byclcctions have oated the
RnSCbcrYitcs and depressed the 50 called
Little Englandrrs.' they haze also caus
ed the Conservatives to speculate upon
the dcsirahiity of an early dissolution.
III spite oi previous rumors to the con
truiy, il has been tacitly understood
among the cabinet ministers that the gen
eral election must await the practical end
of the war if not the paciticaton of the
"Transyaal. Now however, they find
they are able to get such large majorities
from the constituencies that it has be-
come a serious question if it would not
he bcttcr to make hay while the sun
shines. So strong is this feeling that,
granting Lord Roberts makes fair prog
ress within the next month, it is quite
likely that n dissolution will occur at the
expiration of that period. though nothing
definite has yet been agreed upon
Outlook For the Derby.
Seldom has Derby week opened with so
much uncertainty regarding the race,
which. il is now admitted, is unusually
open. The Prince of Wales Diamond
Jubilee remains the favorte, but only by
a narrow margin. Forfarshre, Cheyen-
ing and Disguise III have plenty of back
ers Mr.. James X. Keene's horse, Dis
guise III. will be ridden by Tod Sloane.
The only other American jockey taking
part in the race is l.. Reiff. who rides
Bona Rosa. There will be about II
starters. Lord William Beresford is re-
ceiving much sympathy on the probable
inability of Democrat to run owing to the
horses bad form. Last year Democrat
heat Diamond Jubilee on every occasion
that they met. The present favorte's
drawback consists in his temper, by
which Cheyening got within q neck Of
him in the race for the Newmarket
stakes Forfarshirc, having beaten Dem
ocrat once in 1899, has many friends. If
Diamond Jubilee wins, the Prince Of
Wales will break the records of royalty
George ~ while Prince of Wales won
the Derby once, while his brother the
Duke of York, twice owned the success
full horse. None of the horses competing
is regarded as up to the general Derby
standard, but everything points to Il
close race and brilliant attendance.
Crazy Over Bnden-PoweH.
The Aiafcking rejoicingS have caused
the weekly papers to print articles on the
increase OF hysterical outbursts in Eng
land, and they ask the question if the
race is really losing its characteristics.
A curious feature of the demonstra-
tions was the enormous number of but
tons bearing Baden-Powell and Roberts
photographs. The public here has taken
aIp the button fad with an energy equal
to anything in its history in America.
The bulk of these buttons was imported
from America, the shrewd manufacturers
having secured photographs of British
officers likely to become popular. A ma
iority of the thousands of union jacks so