The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-03-22
CHAMBERLAIN NEXT PREMIER.
BryOLT AGAINST THE BALFOUR
CABINET POINTS THAT WAY.
Present Government OF Middle" Rapidly
LOSING Ground-New IAcensing Act
and the Education Bill Potent Factors
I'm the Situation-AnotheP Defeat.
.Sp,e,oi Cable Despateh 10 TIE Sun.

in the situation-Another Defeat.
special Cable Despatch 10 TIE Sun.
LONDON, March H. Not since Mr.. Glad
stones retirement has the English political
situation presented 30 many points OF in
terest to outside observers. The popular
revolt against the Balfour Ministry has
become so overwhelming that the members
Of the Cabinet themselves do not pretend
any longer to ignore it, The public oon-
formation is directed chiefly against Lord
Lansdowne, the Foreign Secretary, Mr..
Brodrick, the War Minister. and Premier
Balfour, the latter as the responsible head
OF Government OF muddle.
Tho elimination In the disastrous de-
feat Of the Government In the bye-election
a, Rye set the whole country speculating
ON the probable outcome. The wilfully
blind Unionists pretend to account Tor II
A. the inevitable swing Of the pendulum.
The truth is. 1t Is due. as most Impartial
neople agree, in about equal proportions
10 the revolt Of the liquor interests against
the new licensing act, Non-Conformist
opposition to the Education bill, general
disnlst with the Venezuelan muddle, dis
,n,st Of Mr.. Brodriok's new army scheme
and opposition to extravaganza and war
causes would be enough to make any Gov
eminent uncomfortable. but together they
constitute a popular arraignnent against
which no Government in this country could
possibly stand.
The united opposition OF the liquor trade,
which has always been affiliated with the
conservative party, alone would be SUI
fclent to turn the Unionists out OF ONCE
a, any general election. yet the new lcens-
ing act has arrayed them to man against
the Government Mr.. Balfour. Fecogniz-
inn this fatal political mistake, made. In
answer TO their protests, trucking speech.
which certainly puts him in humiliating
postjon. He said in effect that the Govern
ment never contemplated what had been
done under the act and condemned the
Magistrates for reducing the number OF
licenses. which. he agreed. was tantamount
TO confiscation. 1t remains to " seen
wbetber the Government will be able to
nut sufficient pressure on the Magistrates
10 induce them to change their policy In
order to save the political fortunes OF Mr.
Balfour.
The liquor trade is assuming the entire
credit for the Government defeat at Rye,
hut this In not justified. The friends OF
- in manv wavs. especially in the
-, ,on,hs Tha ukevarmnees in
,ha uonaa ~ Commons itself has. reached
a.,raa ~ distinctive discipline. Three
80 III. veek the House was counted
nn,~o thin. unprecedented In the present
.dr,;n;stration
'. n,o',,d h., tho oreatest mistake. how
.,,ar 20 assume that because the country
~, ~. nr.s.n, Government less Il loves
80 ;,s,aIs ,,,oro Notbing would more
' r,,,,iio onnion than the creation of
o" InN.Iei W;n;s,rv Nth sncb an inept fat
'..;,.aS ;nd;y,d,ai as Sir Henry Campbell.
n.Se.-nan st its head His reioicines
Dnnr ,ha rsosnt Government discomfitures
49, hsen particularly calling to those
10 .dministered the rebukes at Wool
-;ch and Rive,
n is onlv those who are still blinded by
p.rt;ssn.bip that fail to realize that the
whole POLITICAL situation in England has
r.acbed the staee of REORGANIZATION where
n.rtv lines are about to be redrawn and