New-York tribune., 1900-10-11
LATEST LONDON COMMENT
LIBERAL GAINS-LoRD SALISBURY AS
SAILED-AN AMBITIOUS EDITOR.
Copyright: 1900: BY The Nevv-yor4z Tribune.l
TBY CABLE TO THE TRIBUNE.I

[BY TRIBUNE.I
London. Oct IL. a. m-The Liberals won
two seats from the Unionists yesterday, and the
latter can now only point to net gain of one
Sir Henry Campbell -Bannerman. the Liberal
leader was reelected for Stirling. but his ma
jorty shows a decrease of nearly 30 per cent.
George Whitley, who seeded from the Union
lists in 1883, returned a Radical for
OF the Yorkshire divisions. Sir F. Reed who
Cardiff for the Liberals, is a sound Imperialist.
The Unionists have now elected 356 members
and the Opposition 205 members of Parliament.
There were Opposition gains in the earlier
election returns within twenty-four hours, and
the politicians of the National Liberal Club
expressed a hope in the evening that the
Government majority would be kept be
low the figures at the close of Parlia-
ment The most noteworthy result was the
defeat of Mr.. Plunkett in Dublin County. South.
This caused by division Of the Conserva-
tive vote between candidates by which Mr.. Red
monds man was put at the top of the poll in
district where the Unionists have triumphed in
the last two elections The old Tories of Ire
land who have objected to Mr.. Balfour's policy
of smothering the island with kindness have
succeeded in casting two-ffths of the Unionist
vote against a supporter Of the Government,
the only one yet defeated. The result proves
that the strength Of the irreconcilable Tories is
greater than the politicians had supposed.
An Independent Nationalist has beaten a
regular Nationalist in Kings County. but this is
an incident which does not effect Mr.. Redmond's
supremacy. He has maintained a benevolent
neutrality in contests between the o'Brien and
Healy factions and can depend upon the united
vote Of the Nationalist contingent
While Midlothian remained loyal to Mr.. Glad
stones memory, and the Leigh District Of Ian
cashire has allowed Mr.. Scott. Editor of 1.-THE
Manchester Guardian" and a most consistent
opponent of Mr. Chamberlain, to return to Par
lament, Mr.. Souttar. Of the most pro-
nounced pro-Boer Liberals. has been defeated
in Dumfriesshire. There have been Liberal gains
in Barnstaple, Wisbech and Lancaster. Mr..
Courtney's former majority in Cornwall is nearly
trebled by his Unionist successor This is sig
/ nihcant proof of the real feeling of the country
respecting the opponents of imperial policies.
A report that Lord Cromer has been
n1oned to England is probably well founded He
has been spoken Of in usually well Informed
| quarters as the new member of the Cabinet,
! and certainly his inclusion would greatly
strengthen the Government There are more un-
likely things than that he should be appointed
| TO succeed Lord Lansdowne, at the War Office
The opinion is gaining ground that Parlia-
rnent viii not assemble for effective work before
the end Of January This interval viii allow
Lord Salisbury leisure for recasting the Cabinet
and deciding various questions relating to South
Africa.
Complaints are already made by the Unionist
| press that the Government is not exerting ade-
quate influence IN China. These are premature,
! FOR Lord Salisbury has not yet allowed the
/ public to know what he is doing in China. The
London diplomatists assert that, while he has
remained in the background. he has not been
! hut hos 10 unit cd
| ton by the Powers, through hints and sugges-
! tons to the Ambassadors here. He may not
! have formulated a plan Of action or counter
| proposals. but he has displayed great tact in
dealing with Germany, France and Russia, and
has minimized foreign opposition to British in
terests. There is little satisfaction in press at
tacks upon Lord Salisbury, for he does not pay
attention to them, but bides his time and knows
| that the country trusts him. For this reason
Mr. Harmsworth, who has made several raids
upon the Cabinet and War Office during the
! last twelve months is attacking Mr.. Cham
berlain as a statesman more sensitive to criticism
Of the party press. This newspaper owner, who
! not many years ago was drawing salary Of f5
| a week from Sir George Newnes, is now
millionaire with ambition for directing i'm
perial policies and upsetting Cabinets, and Incl
dentally increasing the circulation of The Daily
! Mail" There is now proof that the recent
rumors respecting his negotiations for the pur-
! chase Of 1.-The Times were well founded, but it
/ is an easy inference, from various futile on
slaughts Of '"The Daily Mali upon the Govern
mant, that he would like to have a gun of longer
range
Sir Thomas Lipton's challenge for the Amer
! ica's Cup was mailed to the New-York Yacht
! Club by the steamer GerInanic, and will prob
! ably be received this morning. Sir Thomas is
] GeTe Lge 81 gv,to,
ests to interfere with the ambition Of his life.
The London police authorities smile incredu-
/ lousy when the work of the American detectives
on the trail Of Brescrs alleged confederates here
is mentioned They are not in the habit of TAX
ing reporters into their confidence, and do not
| conceal their opinion that the American de-
tectives are talking freely for sensational prints
for the sake of magnifying the Importance of
their work and making a cheap reputation in
their own country. L n. F.