Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1900-01-11
CONSERVATIVES CRITICISED.

The Pept-up Dissatisfaction With the
British Governments Lack of Energy
IN wagins War Is No Longer Concesteo.
London, Eng, Jan. IL. The plight
of British arms in South Africa Isl
oyershadowed for the present by the
storm which is bursting over the head
OF the home government. The Man
chester speeches of Mr.. Balfour, the
government leader in the House of Com
mons, have loosed such torrent of
criticism from the press and individu-
ais of his own party that, were ParlIa-
ment to reasonable today, it ia doubt
full IL the Conservatives would retain
power, in spite Of their tremendous ma
iority of the past session. The pent-up
dissatisfaction with the governments
longer concealed. When such ardent
Conservative papers as the Times and
Globe come out boldly with reproof,
there is no knowing where the situa-
tion will end. The provincial press
has already taken up the cry. For the
moment, Mr.. Balfoui is the scapegoat,
but there is a rod in pickle for the
Marquis Of Lansdewne, while Lord
Salisbury and other cabinet ministers
will not escape, unless wonderful
change comes over the war 81 ,iatiun.
A representative of The Associated
Press learns that the Conservative lead
ers privately admit the gravity of their
position, but fail to see what can be
done. In the meanwhile, they hope
that successes in the field will abate
the popular clamor. Some Of the Con-
sentative papers go so far as to regret
the extreme age of the cabinet ministers
and refer to the cabinet as body OF
patiiarchs. Under these circumstances,
it is doubtful whether events transpir-
ing before the .reassembling of Parlia-
ment will be powerful enough to re-
store confidence in the government and
maintain its majority, III H
There is the important alternative
that Lord Lansdowne or Lord Wolseley
may be sacrificed. A representative of
The Associated Press heard that Lord
Wolseley not only disapDroyed of Lord
Roberts appointment to the command
of the British troops in South Africa,
but allowed his disapproval to DO
generally known. 1t is fact that Lord
Wolseley knew nothing of the govern
ment's intentions in this respect until
he saw the published announcement of
the appointment, Whatever ensues,
the immediate future will doubtless
see attacks on the government such as
Lord Salisbury has not had to with
stand during all the course Of his
political career. I
The borrowing powers conferred on
the government at the last session Of
Parliament are almost exhausted. About
seven and half out of the eight
millions Of Treasury bills authorized
have already been issued. The largo
revenues coming in will, however,
probably furnish ample funds until
Par Lament meets. 6
There was singular dearth OF news
this morning from all parts Of the
theatre of war. Gen. French supple
mented his advioes yesterday by report
ing that Capt. Richards and four troop
ers of the Life Guards are missing,
showing that his accommodating party
met with opposition.
Gen. Gatacre dispatched a tiong
force January sth, to reconnoitru Storm
berg, which the Beers were reported
to have evacuated. The British found
the burghers strongly entrenched, and
returned to Sterkstroom.
The Sailors and Firemens Union of
Glasgow is trying to block the sailing
of the transport City of Rome by de-
manding an increase OF wages.