New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-03-16

The defeat Of the British government yester-
6av. on 4 "snap" division shrewdly sprung upon
the House ar an unexpected moment by the Irish
leaders was not fatal IT was ominous, and It
was significant at once Of the Generalization of
the government party and Of the weakness and
lack Of organization OF the Opposition. Il IS
entirely probable that an efficient Opposition
would speedily turn ont the present government,
or would have done SO long ago. II IS possible
that the Opposition as now constituted VIII
presently. indeed, at any moment succeed "a
doing So but really We cannot, even after yes
terday's incident see any convincing Fremont
ton OF it. Tor something more than fifty
politicians frosty work" is involved in a dis
solution and an appeal 10 the country, and
still more in a change OF majority. The Brit
Ssh electorate does not wish 10 take a leap
IN the dark or 10 sign n blank check and In
trust the filling in OF il TO any political leader.
In case OF q dissolution. the people would first
Of all want to know what alternative the Oppo-
sition proposed as a national policy; and that
desire would not be ensy one for the Oppo-
sition leaders 10 crafty.
For the fact is that while the Opposition
contains many estimable men. st has no one
commanding leader and while some OF its men,
bers have put forth some admirable sugges-
lions az policy, there is no such thing as a
cOhercn. party programme. Being in opposl-
ton often, perhaps generally. serves 10 har-
monte and consolidate party. In this case
IL has certainly not done so, not even in the
presence Of the opportunity presented by gov
ernmental dissensions. Indeed. il has always
been a matter OF some difficulty for Liberal
leaders TO agree upon n policy. Away back in
Lord AIeIbourne's day the forerunners Of Lib
eralism were painfully discordant. When at
last the great figure OF Gladstone came over
from the ranks OF the "stern. unbendinC
Tories" 10 lead the Liberals toward Radicalism,
the party bowed perforce before its master.
Liberals and Radicals OF all varying opinions
could stand under the same umbrella as Lord
Rosebery said while Gladstone held the
handle. But when the grip of that odd Parlia-
nentary hand" was finally ioosened. Lord
Rosebery himself was the first 70 learn the
difficulty, If not the impossibility. of keeping
them together with any lesser leadership. Even
while Gladstone WINS in command. his lieuten-
ants nntagonized one another in secret. At the
moment OF bis abdication they began to do so
openly.
For years Lore RosebeTy has been "ploughIng
his lonely furrow," entirely removed from the
mass OF the party which he once led Mr.
Morley has emerged from The Octagon still
less in touch with practical politics and with
sun less authority OF leadership than when he
entered t. Sir Henry Campbell Bannerman has
improved his opportunities as titular leader Of
the Opposition only 70 demonstrate his inability
20 exercise actual leadership over the various
factions. Mr.. Asquith. one OF the ablest special
pleaders IN the kingdom, has been regarded as
potential leader. and has his brilliant col
league, Sir Edward Grey. But while Mr.. As
quith scorns and SCOTS at the "old blunderbuss
OF retaliation Sir Edward declares IL easily
supposable that a country might treat Great
/ Britain 80 unfairly that retaliation would be
Inevitable How could those two walk under
4 the same umbrella. even with Lord Spencer at
the handler AS for the commanding figure OF
Sir William Harcourt il now disappears from
the scene, for he has definitely announced that