New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-06-10
A KHAKI CAMP AIGN.
MOVEMENT FOR BRINGING ON THE GEN
ERAL ELECTIONS IN JULY OR OCTO-
BER-LORD SALISBURY AND
CABINET REORGANI-
ZATION.



ZATION.
London. May 80.
The closing days before the Whitsuntide holi-
days have witnessed a remarkable revival Of
political activity With Lord Roberts at johann
nesburg and Pretoria within striking distance Of
a British army, the end Of the is fairly
within sight: and the question OF the hour at
Westminster and in every political club Is:
What use will the Unionsts make Of military
Victories" The smoking room of the best club
in the world" is filled afternoon and evening
with members Of Parliament who eager TO
learn the date for the general elections, whether
IN July or in October; and the Conservative
clubs are crowded at midnight with loungers
who exchange political tips and gossip cheer
fully about a khaki appeal 10 the country. Poll
tics have been stagnant a mill pond since the
elections in 1895. when the Unionists returned
10 power with overwhelming majority. Sud
denly the quiet waters have been set whirling
and there is irresistible onrush toward a
general election.
UniOnists who advocate immediate appeal
70 the country cite Lord Beaconsfelds expert
ence warning When he and Lord Sails
bury returned in triumph from the Congress Of
Berlin there was a chorus of popular aCcIanna-
ton and Peace with Honor" seemed magical
password and charm for the electorate. Lord
Beaconsfeld, if he had followed his own instinct
would have dissolved Parliament at once and.
as the old Tories have always believed. would
have carried the country with him. He hest
tated. allowed himself he dissuaded and de-
ferred the general elections: and in the course
Of two years the Afghan war came on. The South
African complications arose. and MI Gladstone
was enabled TO rally the Liberal forces in his
Midlothian campaign. When the general cleo
tons were ordered the Congress OF Berlin in
which Lord Beaconsfeld had played
spicuous part in thwarting Russian ambition
had passed out Of the public mind Advantage
had not been taken Of the most favorable mo-
rnent FOR consulting the general electorate and
the prestige OF the Prime Minister and the MIN
fstry had steadily declined. Lord Beaconsfeld
waited too long and was finally overwhelmed
with defeat
AN ELECTION IN JULY WANTED.
The Unionists are now clamoring for a khaki
election They began by talking about an ap-
peal the country in October; but since the
by-eIections In the Isle Of Wight and in South
Manchester, they have favored the winding up
of the business Of the session soon after the
Whitsuntide holidays and an immediate disso-
luton of Parliament, with the general elections
In July. The fall Of Pretoria, which now seems
imminent, will impart impulse to this
movement for appeal to the country when it
is pusating with patriotism and its Imagination
Is lighted up with the glories Of the new i'm
perialism. The annexation of the Orange Free
State has been proclaimed. and unless all signs
fail it VIII be speedily followed by a similar
nouncenent in the TransvaaI. There will be
peace with two new colonies and the question OF
race ascendancy in South Africa will be settled
Unionists who recall Lord Beaconsheld's error
OF judgment after the Congress Of Berlin
eager for appeal TO the country in the hour
of triumph when khaki is the only color in
sight. They assert that II is Of the crown
ing opportunities OF politics. The country is
exultant over the victories of the British arms
and has not begun 10 pay the costs OF the war
in income taxation It can be confidently ex-
pected 10 vote for Lord Roberts and Mr. Atkins
While the entry Of Lord Roberts into Pretoria
will offer an unrivaled opportunity for securing
q fresh lease Of political power. there OBJ
1ections TO a khaki campaign in July, and these
are expressed in conversation and in print with
true British conservatism. sober minded a
ton It urged. dislikes theatrical politics and
claptrap devices A cautious writer In The
Times" asserts that the Ministerial demand for
a new electoral mandate VIII come with greater
force after provisional government has been
set up in the TransvaaI and the terms Of settle
rnent have been definitely formulated; and in
regard 10 the question Of popularity, II is urged
that even IL the present enthusiasm cools down
somewhat Il viii be heated up again when the
troops return IN October. Mr.. Gladstone
once described by Lord Randolph Churchill
an odd in hurry" and the gibe has not
been forgotten Stad, old fashioned Tories are
expecting Lord Salisbury hold back the Hot
SPURS in his party and to avoid any unseemly
haste in bringing the general elections They
are confident that he will resist the temptations
OF political melodrama and not appeal TO ths
country until Il is in position to pass judgment
not only upon the conduct Of the British soldier
in a long and trying campaign. but also upon
the conditions Of the general settlement by
which the welfare OF South Africa is to be
cured.
THE LIBERALS DEMORALTZED.
One point which is made by political tacticans
on the UniOnist side is that the Liberal Opposi
tion is almost demoralized General Bothas
commanders in the Transvaal and that It is in
condition to resist the sudden onset of tie
triumphant and well organized Ministerialfsts.
This is probably true; but a sudden manoeuvre.
Ike an appeal 10 the country in July may
20 rally the Liberals and the Unionsts in this
way may overreach themselves. Already there
ere rumors of arrangement by which, in an
emergency, Lord Rosebery may be recalled TO
the Liberal leadership TO conduct the Opposition
campaign InperialiSt lines. Liberal reunion
may be brought about under the stress of a
khaki campaign, in which the Opposition can
not face the electorate the enemies Of the
victorious soldiers. whereas Liberal disunIOn