The Irish standard., 1906-02-03

SlIOy1AS Tie SdluOllC CnurCn. He was
dealt with promptly and severely BY
that organization when his true char
acter was revealed. There is some
danger, however, that he Will do con-
siderable damage to those who allow
themselves and their churches to be
drawn into his disreputable schemes.
ENGLAND'S POLITICAL CHANGE.
The Parliamentary elections in Eng.
land are practically over with the re-
suit that the Liberals have a clear ma
jority over all other parties combined.
This is remarkable change from the
last election which took place in Sep
TENDER and October, 1900. At that time
there were elected 4O2 Unionists, 1876
Liberals and 50 Irish Nationalist. The
election just held shows the following
result, subject to some slight correc>
tons: Liberals 376, Unionists 100.
Irish Nationalist "a, Laborites so. As
compared with the former election the
Unionists have dropped from 4O2 to
100; a loss of 240. The Liberals havs
increased their strength from 1856 to
376; a gain of 100. The Irish National
lists have apparently gained two seats
while the Laborites appear as a new
party with between forty-f1ve and fifty
1ronc nc 1,@% TIT
Unlonists and the Laborites are at
the present time considered as support
ers of the Liberal ministry the total
ministerial strength is five hundred ten
against one hundred sixty Unionists,
a majority of three hundred fifty. This
Is the largest majority given to any
English party since that given in 1882
to Lord Grey in the Reform Act cam
paign. 1t shows complete reversal
OF public opinion in Great Britain. The
Parliament elected in 1900 was elected
during the progress Of the Boer war.
The issues involved in that campaign
were those involving that disastrous
war. The opponents of the Unionists
were called Little Englanders" be-
cause they opposed the gobbling up of
the two South African Republics. This
year the same charge was hurled at
the Liberals not because Of the Boer
Wal, but because the Liberals favored
Home Rule for Ireland. The Tories
evidently hoped that a cry which had
such remarkable effect in 1900 would
be sufficient to save them this year no
matter what people thought about the
tariff. Five years is long time, how
ever, even in the history of country.
The voters of England have had time
to find out what the Boer War cost in
life and treasure. The campaign in
England in 1900 recalls in a way the
in this country in 1900. The
Republicans called those opposed to
the Philippines Little Amer
icans." They referred to the anti-Im-
perialists as either unpatriotic or I'M
able to foresee the great destiny of tho
Omitted States as world power. We
suspect that there is even in this coun-
Try marked change of opinion in ref
erence to the Philippine question. Not
so great as the change in England be-
cause the evils of our Philippine policy
have not yet been brought home to us
with the same strength that the folly
of the Boer War has been visited upon
England.
The Unionist papers no longer speak
of the new ministry as one which will
last but few months or year. They
now admit that the Liberals are likely
to hold power during the whole life Of
the new Parliament. The lease of pow
er which Sir Henry Campbell Banner
man and his ministers have just been
entrusted with depends largely upon
the success with which they will deal
WITH two questions; the first is the
ever present Irish question; the second
is the educational question. II thev
fail to deal fairly with Ireland it is
probable that the Irish Nationalist
will be able to materially shorten the
life of the new government If they
fai! to repeal the educational act passed
by the last government which is so OBJ
noXious to the non-Conformists of
England and Scotland they will most
certainly lose the support of that large.
body of voters. If they do repeal it
they will run contrary to the wishes OF
those Liberals who are members OF
the Church Of England. Both the Irish
question and the educational question
have dangers for the Liberal ministry.
Time alone will tell whether there is
Craftsmanship enough IN the Liberal
Party to meet the obstacles.
Archbishop Ireland will deliver lee
ture in Convention hall, Kansas City,
Mo-, on Washington's birthday, Febru-
ary %. The subject of his lecture will
be The Republic of Washington"