The Saint Paul globe., 1904-01-31
BREAKERS AHEAD
FOR Mr.. BALFOUR
Session of Parliament viii Be
Chinese Puzzle and Irish
Will Have Most Power.

LONDON, Jan. 3O.-King Edward
will open in full state on Feb. z what
promises to be one of the most inter-
esting and important sessions In the
history Of the British parliament Ev-
cry nation in the world is materlaily
concerned in the divisions that Will
shortly occur in the house OF commons
and upon their result the future policy
of the British empire must largely de-
pend. No government of recent times
has ever refaced the legislature under
such altered conditions. Since parma
ment adjourned in June last not only
has the cabinet been entirely recon
structed, but the party lines have been
completely broken.
Seven distinct factions will take the
seats in the house of commons Tues-
day, namely:
The followers of Premier Balfour,
who favor a policy Of tariff retaliation,
but who object to protection; the
Chamberlain party, which insists that
protection is necessary to the unity OF
the empire; the free traders, who are
opposed to any tinkering with the f1scaI
system. The foregoing were all for
merly known as Unionists.
The Liberals, though they were al
most to a man free traders, are split
up into two definite factions, one fol-
lowing Sir Henry Campbell Banner
man and insisting upon home rule, and
the other regarding Lord Rosebery as
their logical leader and refusing to
make home rule plank Of their plat
form.
The Labor party completes the triple
division of the Liberal free trade ranks.
John Redmond and the Irish party
make the seventh faction.
Very Naturally at Sea.
In view of this complex state of af-
fairs, largely due to events since par
lament last met, the most astute pol
iticians frankly confess themselves to
be at sea. So many cabinet ministers,
including Joseph Chamberlain, Charles
It. Ritchie and Lord George Hamilton,
will be absent from their accustomed
places on the front bench Tuesday
that the oldest parliamentary hands
will scarcely be able to distinguish be-
tween the supporters and the op-
onents. of the government on the fiscal
question.
The Duke of Devonshire, Lord Ave-
bury, Mr.. Goschen, Sir John Gorst, Lord
George Hamilton, Lord Hugh Cecil,
Winston Spencer Churchill and many
others identified with the present party
in power will be Mr.. Balfour's most
bitter opponents the moment the fiscal
question Is raised. That will come
quickly, for John Morley intends in
PRODUCING an amendment to the kings
speech on this point. 1t is possible,
though hardly probable, that Mr.. Nor
ley may turn out the government. The
debate is likely to take up several
days Strenuous efforts are now max
ing to get free trade Unionist members
not only to abstain from voting, but
to openly join the Liberal forces in the
opposition lobby.
WouIn't Bridge the chasm,
However, even If this is accomplish
ed and the Duke of Devonshire's fol-
lowers make common cause with the
Liberals under Lord Rosebery, it would
not constitute a solution of the differ
ences of opinion which exist between
Sir Henry Campbell Bannerman and
the Liberal eX-premier.
The best informed persons say that,
even in the event of temporary CO.
alition of all the free trade forces, the
Irish party has the deciding vote, and
all indications point to John Redmond
keeping Mr.. Balfour in power. But, as
Mr.. Redmond does not make definite
pledges, the Irish party throughout the
session is likely to be an uncertain
factor. That will heighten the interest
any any day may make 1t possible for
Mr.. Balfour to be deposed.
The Irish party's tentative support
of the government is understood to be
due to the assurances of George Wynd-
ham, the chief secretary for Ireland,
that he will establish a Catholic uni
versity at Dublin and will amend the
British land-purchase act. In spite Of
this, however, Mr.. Redmond intends at
tacking the kings speech with home
rule amendment. 1t is not likely to be
attended by serious results, but the
schisms of the English parties, swept
by a storm of conflicting fiscal con-
victions, are generally admitted to con-
stitute Ireland's opportunity, and Mr.
Redmond is now the only leader in the
house who can rely upon the consistent,
solid support on all occasions of his
followers.
Kings Probable Speech.
The kings speech is likely to first
deal with British neutrality in the far
Eastern crisis. 1t will undoubtedly
outline the proposed domestic legisla-
ton, the chief item of which will be
the prohibition of the immigration of
destitute aliens, on the lines now in
force in the United States. Immi-
grants who are permitted to land will
be subjected to a system of registra-
tion and will be compelled to report
themselves to the register of births and
deaths of the district in which they re-
side. Any district becoming congested
can be prohibited to aliens.
Besides the amendments by Messrs.
Morley and Redmond, the government
will be attacked on the report of the
war committee. This will be taken up
by William S. Robson, Liberal. An
other amendment will be moved by
David Lloyd George, Liberal, denounc-
Ing the governments recent education
act, while the employment of Chinese
labor in the Transvaal is likely to come
in for severe criticism.
A few months ago these topics would
have attracted intense interest and
might have driven the government
into a corner. Now they are almost
forgotten in the question of the hour
free trade versus Professionalism
has put British politics at SKIES and