New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-01-15
THE LIBERAL VICTORY.
UPHEAVAL PREDICTED.
EOen Unionist Papers See Signs
of Pr0tection'S Defeat.

London. Jan 15.-'We have killed protection
This is the beginning of such political up
heava1 as has not been seen in England since the
days Of the great Reform bill. Manchester haa
saved herself by her exertions; she will save
England by her example"
Thus spoke Winston Churchill on Saturday
night, and his opinion that free trade has gained
a victory is the opinion Of the more responsible
Of the Unionist newspapers though many Of
them attempt to explain the result Of the cleo
tions of Saturday as due more to questions like
Chinese labor in South Africa, war taxation, etc.
Nowhere, however, is there any hint at mini
MIXING the hurricane that has overtaken the
Unionst party, or a suggestion of doing any
thing except to beat orderly retreat and save
what is possible from the rout.
The question now uppermost in all minds is
what fate will befaIl Joseph Chamberlain at
Birmingham.
THE Morning Post" editorially points out that
the temporary prosperity of the cotton industry
may have made Manchester slow TO accept even
the Balfour measure Of tariff reform. 1t says
that should Birmingham follow the example of
Manchester the meaning of the countrys voice
would no longer be a matter for the slightest
doubt
The Graphic" Unionist) in a temperate
tfcle says:
It cannot be doubted that the country was not
prepared for such revolution in its fiscal pol
icy. and declined TO grasp the subtle distinc-
ton between free trade and protection as Illus
trated by Mr. Balfours halfway house.
1.-THE Standard" IN an editorial. thinks that
the fear of American reprieals on Its staple in
dustry in case of the adoption of fiscal reform
largely Influenced the action of the Manchester
voters.
"The Daily Telegraph" says:
The combined forces of radicalisrn, sep
aratism. socialism and secularisn wrought
black day for the Unionists.
The paper admits that the main cause is that
the country viii not sanction any modification
Of the free trade system"
The Liberal organs naturally are jubilant
The Daily Chronicle says:
It is a result without parallel in the history Of
English electioneering and will fill every free
trader with deep thankfulness
''The Daily News" heraIds Winston Churchill
as ''the rising hope Of the Liberal party, g. man
whose career has now become one of the most
interesting In the empire.
Mr.. Balfour though deeply disappointed at
the loss Of his seat in Manchester. displayed
great calmness of deneanor on Saturday night
when he delivered admirably dispassionate
and impressive speech. Already the former
Premier has had several safe seats offered him,
but yet he has reached no decision.
Joseph chamberlain has thus far declined to
comment on the result of Saturdays pollings.
Pollings are fixed for to-day in twenty-one
London districts and forty-seven provincial bor-
oughs The London districts were previously
represented by seventeen Unionists and four
Liberals To-day's results, therefore, VIII afford
a good test Of whether London is to follow the
lead Of Manchester. The most interesting con-
test will be at Greenwich where there will be a
three-cornered struggle owing TO the fact that
MI. Chamberlain insisted on putting up a can
ddate against Lord Hugh Cecil the leader Of
the Conservative Free Traders Two avowed
Chamberainites are also contesting the Hoxtoa
and Haggerston divisions Of Shoreditch. Among
the provincial contests to-day will be that at
Leeds, where Gerald Balfour, former president
of the Board of Trade. seems almost certain 10
be defeated. He has been badly hectored in the
course of the campaign.
Another former Cabinet Officer, Walter Hume
Long who was president of the Local Govern
ment Board ana later Chief Secretary for Ire
land in the Balfour Cabinet, will run the CANT
let to-day in the effort retain his seat for Bris-
toll Among to-days candidates also will be
four members of the present Cabinet-Augustine
Birren president Of the Board Of Education;
Herbert John Gladstone. Secretary for Home
Affairs; Sir Henry Hartley Fowler. Chancellor
Of the Duchy of Lancaster. and James Bryce
Chief Secretary for ireland.
The great success which the Labor party is
experiencing is likely to have a marked influence
on the future relations OF the Liberal and Irish
parties. The present prospect is that Sir Henry
Campbell -Bannerman may obtain a majority
large enough to make him Independent Of the
NationaIists In that case. should there be a
large Labor party in the new Parliament, the
possibility of an alliance between the National |
lists and the Laborttes would become an inter- |
esting problem James Keir Hardie, one of the |
most prominent of the Labor leaders. has al |
ready made overtures for such alliance, while ,
it is known that John Burns, president of the
Local Government Board is a strong advocate ,
Of home rule for ireland.