The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-02-05

however, in the three cases: MIR. DIS
RAELI in 1874 was certain of obtaining
the support Of the House of Lords, where
rs Mr. GLADSTONE in 1902 could rely on
the cooperation of only n very small
number Of peers Should the Liberals
return to power this year or next, the
leader of their party, even If II we're
Lofd ROSEBERY, who ia now indisposed
If the assistance of the Duke of DEVON
SHIRE were assured. could scarcely hope
for stable majority in the House of
Lords and the Liberals might find them
selves us weak "a ever in that chamber
if they should accede TO the wishes of
the Irish Nationalists for legislative
independence II il nevertheless true
that If the leader Of the Liberals should
be Lord SPENCER or Sir HENRY CAMP
BELl-BANNERMAN the initial Liberal
majority OF about 40, swollen by the 50
Nationalist members who would count
double on division, would become 200,
and would exercise a moral ascendency
that the upper house might be reluctant
to withstand Mr.. JOSEPH CHAMBER
LAIN, on his part, assumes that the Lords
would withstand It, and that conse-
quently Il second general election would
have 10 take place az soon "a a Liberal
Government should try to pass any i'm
portant measure except an approprla-
ton bill That is the contingency on
which Mr.. CHAMBERLAIN is counting
when he tells his followers that. while
they must expect temporary reverse.
their triumph cannot be long delayed.
If short lived Liberal victory at the
next appeal to the electors is accounted
certain. why should not the MINISTERIAL
ists wish To see il come az quickly as
possible, to get the worst over and so
hasten the time when they themselves
can return to power? SO far as large
proportion of Mr.. BALPoURs followers
are concerned, they naturally want 10
defer the cost and risk OF new general
election. especially as they feel by no
means confident OF retaining their seats
Mr. BALFouR. also. must recognize what
is clear enough TO onlookers that this
ia probably the last time that he will
figure "a Prime Minister The great
majority Of his ostensible supporters
now regard the member from West
Birmingham As their real leader, and,
when they come back to Office after two
general elections they will insist on the
formation of "a Chamberlain Cabinet
NTH some six months ago, however Mr..
CHAAiBEELAIN seemed reluctant 10 pluck
the peur before it should be- fully ripe
He assumed that time was on the side
of his preferential tariff policy. that the
gale OF popular opinion was veerng IN
ms favor, and that il would be eXpedlent
To wait until the yeering had become
pronounced But recently he has been
admonlshed in an unequivocal way that
no man of threesc0re years and ten can
count upon very long lease Of health
and strength and that if his heart be
set upon task he had better discharge
ii while il is vet day for the night cometh
wherein no man can work. II reversion
, to a protective tariff is 10 be brought
about in England during the present
generation. it will be accomplished under
Mr. CHAMBERLAIN leadership. and not
under that of ukewarm, wavering.
! facing both-ways commander
When, therefore, Mr. BALFoUR an
nounced publicly. as he did last week
thar he had no intention Of dlssolving
Parliament before 1903 he may have
overlooked the fact that the authority
10 decide the question is only nominally
lodged in his hands If during the APP
preaching session Mr.. CHAMBERLAIN
should make up his mind that in view of
all the circumstances, intending con-
spicuously, the state of his own health,
il might be well TO accelerate the march
OF events, Mr.. BALFoUR would be de-
serted by two-thirds of his followers on
some critical division, and he would be
forced either TO resign or TO dissolve.