The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-12-18
POLITICAL SITUATION IN
 GREAT BRITAIN REVIEWED
BY Fl. MONKS.

N EFoRE dealing with the present N1I political situation in England s few words of explanation are necessary to make the subject intelligible to such as are not conversant with Brit ish politics and political parties.
 The British Parliament consists of the House of Lords and the House of Con- mons. The House of Lords is composed of the whole peerage of the United Kingdom, two archbshops and twenty-four bishops of the Episcopal chureh-in all 590 mem bers. The House of Commons is composed of elected representatives from England. Ireland, Scotland and Wales; the total number of representa- being 670 Of this number England returns 465 mem bers. Ireland 1o3. Scotland S2 and Wales 3O. Formerly there were but two polt- teal parties in the House of Commons, the liberals and the conservatives, but within the last thirty years other parties have formed, and as the Irish nationalist party the labor party, the liberal unionist party, and the now defunct fourth" party, of which Lord Ranolph Churchill was the leader. The last general election was held in October, 190O and resulted in the re- turn of 3S4 conservatives 6S liberal union ists, 1S6 liberals and S2 Irish nationalists
 The conservatives and liberal unionsts, being practically the same, joined and formed a government with a majority of 134 over the liberals and nationalists. This great majority was obtained on account of the appeal made to the country by the conservatives, to support their South Af- rican policy and the Boer war; and the great triumph at the polls seemed to assure the conservatives a full term of office which is seven years.
 Although the natonalists sat with the not at all owing to any alliance between them, but because it is the fixed policy of the Irish nationalists to be always in opposition to the government which re- fuses to grant Ireland home rule, and con- sequently they endeavor to put them out of office, and failing to do that, they contented themselves by making perpet- ual attacks upon the government, which, as Milton says. if it did not result in victory, was yet revenge.
 About three years ago. Joseph Cham berlain, the leader of the liberal unionists. started a movement in favor of modified form of protection, by which he proposed to impose an import duty on all foreign produce and manufactures, but to admit of free trade between England and her foreign possessions. He illustrated his idea upon the subject by pointing to the Uni ted States. There" said he, i've find forty-five nations-the Americans call them states, but they are nations-having free exchange of produce and manufacture amongst each other, but with an almost insuperable tariff barrier against the rest of the world. Under this system of free and mutual trade and exchange between themselves, and the protective tariff by which the foreigner is almost totally ex- cluded, the United States has grown great and rich and England has become a mere dumping ground for the excess produc- tion."
 speech to the workingmen of the great in- dustrial centers in England, and told them that their markets at home and abroad were being glutted with American produce and manufactures, but that his plans, if put Into effect, would restore to the coun- try the prosperity which 1t was fast los- ing This crusade of Chamberain's caused a split between himself and Balfour, the premier and leader of the conservative government and was the first rift within