The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-01-18

ment at the earliest practicable moment
seems TO be the pressure to which a
Premier Is always subjected by those
followers who fear that the next appeal TO
the electors will cost them their seats or
deplete their bank accounts. and who
consequently wish 10 put OF the evil day
Their interested protests often receive
support from colleagues Of sanguine
temperament, who prophesy that some
thing will turn up to swerve the tide OF
public opinion in their favor. 1t is prob
able enough that the us inertI9 that usu-
ally characterizes huge majority would
have kept the present House Of Commons
in existence for some eighteen months
longer had not Mr.. CHAMBERLAIN re-
Gently been warned that he, young as he
looks, is mortal and that the night
cometh wherein no statesman can work.
He now knows that since, as he admits,
transient interlude of Liberal ascendency
must precede the triumph OF his fair
trade and preferential tariff policy,
the sooner such an interlude shall have
come and gone the better for his prospect
of witnessing the fruition Of his hopes.
Assuming that Mr.. CHAMBERLAIN de-
sires an early dissolution Of Parliament,
we must recognize that such an event Is
inevitable. 1t is probable that mere
suggestion on his part would be needed
by the Premier, for nobody knows better
than Mr.. BALFoUB that Mr. CHAMBER
LArN's followers would only need to
refrain from voting on a division to
compass the defeat OF the Government at
the hands Of the Opposition. In that case
the Premier would be compelled either TO
resign or to dissolve, and it is obviously
for his interest that the dissolution should
be voluntary. He could thus go before
the electors with at least remnant Of
prestige.
While. as we have said, almost every
body takes for granted that the Balfo ur
Government would be beaten this year
at the ballot box, there Is a wide differ
ence Of opinion as TO the dimensions Of
the victory conceded for the Opposition.
We need not point out that the Opposi-
ton is composed Of three elements: the
Irish Nationalists, the price of whose
cooperation is Home Rule; the Unionist
Free Fooders, who will not sanction
Home Rule at any price, and the British
Liberals, who themselves are split be-
tween the adherents of Sir H. CAMPBELL
BANNERMAN and the partisens OF Lord
RosEBERY and Mr.. ASQUITH. A coali-
ton for any but destructive purposes
Of factors so irreconcilable as the Irish
Nationalists and the Unionist Free Food
ers is inconceivable; while, on the other
hand, no student of the existing situation
believes it to be possible for the Liberals
to secure a working majority in the next
House OF Commons over the Unionists,
assisted by the two clements just named
The signs are that coalition would have
to be renewed between the Liberals and
the Irish Nationalists; but in that event
what could be done with Lord RosEBERY,
Mr.. AsoUITH and their friends, who are
opposed to the concession OF Home Rule
to Ireland? Then, again, II the cold
shoulder should be turned by the Lib
erals to the Unionist Free Fooders, who
will have helped to gain the victory AT
the polls. Liberal Government would
find itself in a hopeless minority so far as
the House OF Lords is concerned.
The more closely, indeed, one scans
the probable composition OF the next
House of Commons the more ground one
perceives for Mr.. CHAMBERLAIN pre-
diction that the expected Liberal success
in the coming general election will be
hollow and brief one.