New-York tribune., 1903-06-10
Especial TO The New-york Tribune BY French cable)
Ic.,r,--art-t 1ans- Eaz The --th.,ne Associatiorl

Especial TO The New-York Tribune BY French Cable)
Copyright 1908. By The Tribune Associati0n1
London. June "a crowded Parliament.
breathless with excitement was kept in a high
state OF good hunor to-day by the tarcical ele-
rnents in the situation. The Liberal Opposition
vas solidly arrayed in support Of the free trade
budget Of the government, which had raised the
protectionist issue as an election cry at the next
general election Behind the Liberals were the
former Home Rule allies. John Redmond and the
Nationalists. fantastically ieagued together, not
in 2 union OF hearts but in a union Of pockets TO
protect a government which had carried the
Irish Land bill TO second reading. The Union
ist party, with its overwhelming majority. was
rent asunder by factions and feuds, and was
kept from defeating itself only by coalition
with the opposite benches and by q ruling OF the
Speaker which virtually gagged everybody. and
prevented Sir Michael Hicks-Beach and other
vrangiers from saying what the whole House.
excepr the trimming Prime Minister. wanted TO
hear.
The gag was worn so loosely that winged
words few out here and there with Eomeric
passion and caused an uproar among the fac
tions Notwithstanding the Speakers warning
that everybody must stick TO the Budget MI
Chaplin varied a denunciation Of the Prime Min
ister and the Chancellor Of the ExcheQuer with
z laudation Of Mr.. Chamberlain Sir Michael
f4icks-Beach and Mr. Ritchie in their turn
poached on the Colonial Secretary's preserves
and condemned his policies. which one con-
sidered would do more to disunite than to unite
the empire and which the other denounced as
detrimental 10 the mother country and the col
onies.
A COMIC TRAGEDY
The absurdities Of the situation. in which the
Opposition benches were stronghold of defence
70 z deraoralized government. and the Min
.sterialists were conducting q noisy sham fight
against their own leaders, impaired TO an
extraordinary session the aspects Of GlIbertian
orers. Yet there was a tragic element. The
smiling Prime Minister, who assumed a Jocuiar
sir. was discredited by lack of strength and re-
preached and ridiculed by some Of the stanchest
OF his own supporters: and Mr. Chamberlain
vho returned few months ago from South
Africa like q victorious proconsul, was tann'eo
with being a renegade free trader ana oe-
st-oyer Of the Unionist party
The debate was opened by Mr.. Gladstone's old
tine antagonist, Henry Chaplin. in susty
speech full Of Indignation over the vaclllalon OF
the government in taking off the bread tax aI1er
years Of trial and OF fervid admiration Of Mr.
Chamberlain. His protest against repeal was
finally rejected, because the abandonment OF
useful source of revenue was the alternative for
destructive proposals which would break up the
Tnionist party
Sir Michael Hicks-B Beach spoke quietly and
with obvious self-restraint, but his sarcasI1ls
leveled against both Mr.. Balfour and Mr.. Cham
berlain were bitter.
THE REVOLT OF Mr. RITcHIE-
NJ Ritchie was determined not TO be mis-
understood, for he read his speech from manu-
script. and his meaning was unmistakaDle. he
avowed himself convinced free trader. ana oe-
clsred with vehement emphasis that he would
not be q party to Mr.. Chamberlain's policy
This was the sequel TO struggle within the
Cabinet over the reduction of the war taxes on
the working class. when eleven members were
reported 70 have voted for the repeal Of the
bread tx and the men under Mr.. Chamberlain's 8
leadership to have preferred the lowering Of the
cUry on lea MI Ritchie had shown himself as
determined an opponent of Mr.. Chamberlain as
Sir Michael T5ieks-Beach had been before him.
and the continuance Of the two men IN the same
@ sbinet after 2 fresh rupture would hardly be
credible
When the House thinned out for the dinner
hour there was q general impression that while
the government was not IN immediate danger OF
defeat its authority was fatally impaired ana
thai the general elections could not be deferred
many weeks Sir Henry Campbell -BannernaI ;
strategy in allowing the Unionists TO break UP
among themselves WAS also coulplirnentea-
The evenings debate was desuitory in char
acter neither Mr Chamberlain nor Nj baliour
taking part in il, and SI John Gorst and james
Bryce being the most important speakers. II
y,ss a continuous holiday for the Liberals. VINO
laughed and jeered as the hopeless divisions Ia
Every one loves pleasure. If you are looking for
IL try the Hudson River Day l-aile--<aN'''