The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-09-27
AAVE NO CHANCE 70 LOSE
BRITISH PARLIAMENTARY ELEC-
TT0N IS NOW CONSIDERED A
CONSERVATIVE CERTAINTY
CLAIM BASED ON BoER WAR
While the Liberals Appeal to the
Voters ON the UnfuIfiI1ed Home
Reform Pledges Of the
Tories.
Correspondent

Correspondence of the Associated Press
LONDON, Sept. 19.-Once more Eng
land is in the midst of political CAM
paign. AT present the campaign promises
to be the least interesting of ALL Mr.
Herbert Gladstone, the chief Liberal
whip, considers it is impossible for his
party to win over the 100 seats necessary
for a victory. There Is practically no
sporting fever in the contest, it is a
certainty for the Conservative party. To
the pubi:c's recognition of this fact is
due the apathy with which the announce
ment of dissolution was received, though
the announcement came more suddenly
and left shorter time for preparation
than ever before. Yet, while the cam
patgn is robbed of its chief interest by
reason of its foregone conclusion, the
issues and personalities prominently
brought forward are as complete and en-
crossing as ever drew Hodge" to the
POLLS. The issues may be described as an
appeal to the country by the Conserva-
tives for support of their policy in South
Africa. while the Liberals base their
claims for votes upon the failure of Lord
Salisbury's government to fulfill the
many pledges of home legislation made
during the last election. There are, of
course, countless undercurrents and num-
berless side issues, but the main planks
may fairly be said to consist as above
ON THE AFRICAN WAR.
The Conservative attitude is well ex-
planned by a letter which appears today
from Mr.. Joseph Chamberlain, in which
the colonial secretary says: 1.-The prin-
cipal issues in the present campaign, are,
in my opinion, the nature of the war in
South Africa and the manner of settle
nent which Is to insure against a re-
currence of the danger to our possessions
In South Africa and the prestige of the
empire, which we have lately had to en-
counter. At such time the country
should have the support and APPROVAL of
every patriotic Liberal, who places paIri-
otism above political interest,"
The Conservatives are urging national
issues in the shape of imperialism before
the country, while on the other side they
are urging local. tissues On the Conserva-
tive side the main issue is approval of
the military operations In South Africa
The Liberal determination TO make home
issues the basis of campaign cry, is
due to the necessity of finding a. common
ground of agreement. Beneath the placid
surface there RACES fierce discord regard
ing tie war in South Africa, it's neces-
sity and conduct. The contest includes
such men as ord Rosebery, Mr.. Henry
Labouchere, Sir Edward Grey, Capt.
Lamberton and numerous other opposite
poles. These elements could by no pos
sible means, however great the necessity,
present united front and sink In home
issues for the benefit Of public consump-
ton their heated differences of opinion
upon what is undoubtedly the question
of the hour, !. g. matters of the empire.
CLAIM UNFAIRNESS.
One point, however, the Liberals are
genuinely united in urging upon the
voters and that is the injustice of all APP
peal to the country at this particular time
on the ground that million or more
people entitled to vote in every respect
save one, will be disenfranchised because
the new register will not come into effect
until shortly after the election. In Scot
land, the new register comes into force as
early as Nov %. All Liberals declare
that Lord Salisbury's- action in going to
the country on an old and practical Oh
solete register is not only against all pre-
cedent, but Is unconstitutional. The Con-
servat ives retort by saying that Lord
Salisbury can scarcely be accused of try
ing to get unfair advantage, as, had he
waited until the new register came into
force, he would have the undoubted hene-
fit of a large body of reservists, yeomanry
and volunteers, now in South Africa, to
saw nothing of the likelihood that owing
to the popularity of the war among the
younger sort the new registry would only
have helped to swell the Conservative
majority.