The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1900-09-20
uNIoNIsrs WILL WIN.
English Liberal Leaders Conoede the
Defeat OF Their Party,

NEW YORK, Sept. lS--A dispatch tc
the Tribune from London says;
Lord Salisbury has passed a busy day
IN London, holding his usual weekly re-
ceation and seeing six or eight ambas-
ssadors, His health has improved dur
ing his holiday in the Vosges and he
has the manner OF a statesman who
considers himself equal to any political
exigency and to all anxieties OF state,
The Marquis OF Lansdowne is almost
the only colleague who has been closet
ed with him during the last twenty
four hours, but the war Office is the
point at which the press Of cabinet re-
construction is naturally open.
Sir William Rond, the chief govern
ment whip, has kept large force OF
clerks busy since the announcement of
the dissolution OF parliament was oiii-
cially confirmed, but that is not proof
that he was taken by surprise or that
the tInlonist canvass was in an ad-
vanced state OF preparation.
Herbert Gladstone has been In Leeds
where he had an appointment to ad-
dress his own political supporters. and
the Liberal headquarters have been de-
serted.
The Liberals have not been making
a noisy canvass but conducting what Is
designated In America as stin hunt.
They dc not expect to carry the elee-
tion and. indeed. would be embarrassed
II the unexpected should happen and
they should find themselves In the ma
iority and then be unable to form
HOMOGENEOUS ministry. Their leading
men frankly concede Unionist victory
ana assert that Mr.. Chamberlain must
have the responsibility OF settling the
war.
What they do expect is that by
careful and iudicious course OF candl-
dates and by avoidance OF wasteful
contests they may be able TO reduce the
unionist majority to fifty or seventy.
Every appeal 10 the electorate is
fraught with SURPRISES. and the Liber-
ais may do better than their most
hopeful politicians imagine. Without
doubt II Is true that the last parliament
was more strongly Unionlst than the
country and that at least thirty seats
Liberal were captured acci-
These seats. under normal
would be regained by the |
Liberals this year. but as many more
are imperiled because their radical !
holders were out Of touch with British |
policy when the soldiers Of the queen"
we're lighting in South Africa Political 1
experts for this reason are disposed to
believe that Liberal gains will be bal
anced by losses. and that the new par
lament will be as strongly UniOnlst
Is the old parliament.
While the China question does not en-
er into the political canvass and in
Iced is temporarily laid on the shelf
lntil Count Won Waldersee can arrive
It Pekin from HongKong to take COM
nand Of the International forces and
ave the dignity OF the German en-
lire. South Africa has again become
he centre Of public interest.
General French has been converted
nto an electionaering agent whose cap
ures Of engines and military stores
re invested with political significance
nd whose arrival at Koomatipoort Is
ooked for about the date Of the final
for parliament. Special ,
dispatches describing the demoraliza-
ion Of the Boer forces and forecasting ,
general surrender Of the burghers ,
till in arms are we'll timed for election ,
purposes, and the rumor has been re- ,
lived that Lord Roberts will resign the
ommand and leave General Butler in
barge Of the army Of occupation about ,
he time the first contests are held in
,ngland and Scotland. Lord Roberts
:. however, a good soldier ana a poor Z
olitician.
The war is coming to an end but is not :
ct finished. as the siege Of a British
arrison for weeks on the Western q
ransvaal sufficiently indicates, and r
is Judgment would be Indispensable
! the final stages. when police work I
substituted for military campaigning /,
nd the defeated and desperate burgh- :
RS need 70 be alternately coaxed and I
ullled into laying down their arms 4
nd abandoning a hopeless conflict.