Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-05-23
The British Ministry.

Yesterdays uproar in the British house Of
commons is chiefly notable for the demon
stration it afforded that this body is fol-
lowing the custom of the times and falling
into the habit of indulging in parliamentary
disorder. In the past there have been
numerous exhibitions of Ill temper in COM
mons, and members have been frequently
elected on account of their disorderly be-
havior. But in alr:Ost every instance the
disturbing cause has been the perennial
Irish question, and the record of elected
members is confined almost exclusively to
that small but compact and enterprising
body of legislators who have been the thorn
in the side of the British ministers for
many administrations.
This affair. however, was apart from the
Irish question. 1t related to the issue upon
which the observing world has for many
months expected the Balfour ministry to
fall-the finances of the empire and the
tariff policy. The longevity of the govern
ment has been a marvel to many disinter
ested spectators. 1t has been explained
chiefly on the score of the greater weakness
of the opposition the lack of single strong
leader on the liberal side and the general
vagueness of the fiscal proposals. Now.
however. the opposition seemed to have
chance to drive the ministry into a corner.
The premier had, in speech at Edinburgh.
declared that the government would not
submit a fiscal reform project until the
country had approved 1t at general cleo
ton. Since then he has stated that the
question of colonial preferences might be
submitted to the projected colonial confer
ence to be held next year. Sir Henry
Campbell Bannerman. the liberal leader,
moved an adjournment in order to charge
the premier with breach Of faith.
Mr.. Balfour's defense appears to have
been that there was no intention to sub
NIT the matter to the colonial conference
in order that 1t might be formally included
in the governments program, but that 1t
might be accidentally considered. But
interest in his reply to the accusation of
bad faith waned before the demonstration
of an ugly feeling and the display of open
personal hostility and discourtesy toward
the prime minister in the commons. How
far yesterdays outbreak of bad feeling
may react in favor Of Balfour, or how
much effect the charge of bad faith may
have upon his following, already weak in
the fiscal faith, cannot be foreseen. APP
parently the London comments on the
matter follow the already established lines
OF pOllcy.
That the government exists largely by
sufferance is the understanding of many
Englshmen. The country apparently wish
no radical changes at this delicate juno
ture in the field of world politics There
is important work for England to do in the
far east when peace adjustments occur.
The recent establishment of amicabe rela-
lions with France injects a new element
into the case. And one OF the chief fac
tors of the ministrys strength appears to
be It's very weakness the new idea
which it has preached, the establishment
of a protective tariff. If it were aggres-
sively bent upon presenting the case will
ing to risk all in an appeal to the country
its tenure would be far less certain. But
it is very evidently seeking chiefly the
postponement of the day of reckoning as
this maneuver in the commons. in avoid
ance of the direct issue of submission of
the fiscal question to the electors, seems
clearly to Indicate