New-York tribune., 1900-09-18
DISSOLUTION IN GREAT BRITAIN.

The forecast made by our London correspond
ent in his special cable dispatch in yesterdays
Tribune is this morning exactly verified. Queen
Victoria has signed a proclamation dissolving
the fourteenth Parliament of her reign q week
from to-day and summoning its successor to
meet on November l. BY this act the United
Kingdom is instantly plunged into the very
heart of a general campaign. for the first nOmi-
nations will be made on September 20 and the
poIlings will begin on October /. There being
no set date for elections in Great Britain,
there is here the party in power is often able
10 select the date which it deems most favorable
to its own success. We may assume that Lord
Salisbury and his colleagues have done so in
the present case, though they are scarcely open
to the charge of having tried to take their
opponents by surprise, for it has been perfectly
evident to all that dissolution would occur Just
as soon as Lord Roberts got the South African
situation sufficiently in hand to give the Gov
ernment the prestige of accomplished victory.
The complete breakdown of the Boer military
forces, the fight of Mr.. Kriiger from the coun-
try, the remuneration Of the South African Re
public as the "Vaal River Colony" and The
practical acquiescence of the Dutch party at
the Cape in the new order Of affairs have given
the signal, known and read of Radicals as we'll
as Of Conservatives And so the fourteenth
Parliament of the Victorian reign comes to an
end after life of five years, one month and
thirteen days, the average duration Of its pred
ecessors having been less than four and half
years.
The elections will be held under the old
registry, as explained by our correspondent.
This, it is generally assumed will be to the
disadvantage of the Liberals, or Radicals. whose
lodger vote would probably be increased under
the new registry which was made last month.
1t seems altogether likely, however, that the
Conservatives will win and that they would win
even If the new registry could be used. These
last five years have been marked in the OppOsi-
ton ranks with grave losses and progressive
dsintegra ton No new Gladstone has arisen TO
marshal dissenting hosts with the music of his
voice and to win the favor Of the nation with
the wisdom of his judgment and the elevation
of his character Lord Rosebery is half a free
lance and is handicapped by being a Peer in a
campaign against the Peerage. Sir William
Harcourt is outside the Organization" and Is
past the age of aggressive leadership. Mr.. Nor
ley is too academic. Sir Henry Campbell Ban
herman is lacking in authority. Mr. Labouchere
is taken seriously by nobody, unless as a mis-
chief maker. Truly that is a sad contrast to the
leadership which once comprised in one splendid
cluster the names Of Gladstone. Bright Argyll,
Harrington, Forster, Trevelyan, Granville,
Derby, Harcourt, Rosebery and others Of com
parable rank. Meanwhile, the Conservative
party has suffered few losses and has gained
much in the development Of new men of real
attainments and of high promise Nor has
there been perceptible any popular drift toward
a change Of Parliamentary and Ministerial poll
tics. The Government has made few blunders
and has done much good work. 1t has carried
its South African policy through with all but
universally commended success And it is at
the present moment involved not by its own
seeking, in one Of the most serious problems
Of the century in foreign affairs to wit in
China. The British may not understand what
Lord Saiisbury's policy in China is But It is
questionable whether at such a juncture they
will care 10 "swop horses" especially when the
change would give them a steed Of decidedly
uncertain action in foreign affairs
The general expectation of Conservative sue
cess u.s. then, so strong that interest centres not
so much on the result of the polling as upon
the Cabinet reorganization which is likely to
follow It, There seems 10 be a general agree
ment that Lord Salisbury will seek to retire
altogether from public life, and that he will no
restrained from so doing only by the clearly
expressed personal desire of the Oueen. In
that case it is not improbable that he will con-
tent himself with the single office of Prime Min
lister and will relinquish the Foreign portfolio
to another hand. Whose hand that will he is
perhaps the most interesting question in British
poltcs to-day. There is no lack Of ability
among Lord Salisbury's colleagues, but fitness
Tor the Foreign Office Is something more than
a matter or mere executive ability. Diplomatic
distinction is not, however lacking in n service
numbering such names as those of Lord Croner
ana Lord Pauncefote, and the solution of the