New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-01-27
THE BRITISH ELECTORAL RESULT


The parliamentary elections in the United
Kingdom have now proceeded so far that the
final result can he forecast with substantial
cUraCy The salient feature Of that result is
already absolutely assured, namely. that the
Liberals will have a substantial working major
ity over all other parties united. Such a ma
jority they have already secured by virtue Of the
pOllings Of Thursday last The House contains
go members. and 336 are a bare majority. In
Guiding Thursdays elections, the Liberals had,
down TO yesterday morning. secured 351 seats,
or sixteen more than half of the whole House.
Should every subsequent election 60 against
them. therefore they would still he sure of
working majority Of thirty two But of course
the remaining constituencies will considerably
swell that majority-as indeed yesterdays vOt-
ing did-so that ar the end # will. as We sug-
gested some time ago probably approximate in
numbers to that which the Conservatives had in
the late House at the time Of their retirement
from Office.
This feature Of the result will be regarded
with satisfaction, doubtless, by the great ma
jority of the British nation. Since the Liberals
are to bear the responsibility Of government il
is only Just that they should have power 10 con
duct the government with q free hand, indie
pendent Of all coalitions or alliances. It is by
no means clear that had they failed to secure a
majority over all. any alliance would have been
possible which would have been stable and
trustworthy or which would not have res rained
modified or distorted in some way the legitimate
policy Of the Liberal party. There are two
minor parties, with one or both of which such
a combination in such circumstances would have
had 10 he made One is the Nationalist which
remains at its old strength Of about eghty-two
members II is unequivocally and ineXorahy
committed TO the demand for Home Rule But
several Of the most important members of the
Liberal government are as completely com
mitted against that demand Wherefore any
satisfactory combination Of Liberals and Ma
tionalsts would seem to be out Of the question
The other party. which bears the i'll devised
name of Laborite. has developed unexpected
strength and will command about fifty votes.
But its resolute demand for annulment OF the
Tan Vale decision and for other radical and
class legislation would seem to make its coali-
lion with the Liberals impracticable
We shall see in the new House, then. rea-
sonably homogeneous and coherent Ministerial
party Of Liberals nearly as large as the Con
servative majority was in 1900 and an Opposi-
ton not quite 50 large was the liberal minor
ity in 1900 and between them the resoute aud
fixed Nationalist coning gent and the Labor party
exulting in unexpectedly great gains The prob
able course If the Nationalist is well known.
! and that of the Labor party is not difficult to
/ conjecture. Neither will give much aid or com
/ fort 70 either Government or Opposition But
| then neither nor both together will be able ma
terially 10 embarTass or 10 affect in anv wav the
! course of legislation unless some Liberal lead.
/ or -hn- f. prudent 20 di-count the future nv
making terms with The Labor parry in view % its
| possible further growth. The prospects are that
| such Will not be the case but that the United