The San Francisco call., 1910-11-20
BRITISH TORIES
CRY "INIQUITY, .
FACING DEFEAT
Premier's Courage and Consist
ency Produce Abiect Terror
in House of Lords
Liberal Victory at Coming EIec-
ton Likely TO Hasten Irish
Home Rule
BY T. P. o'coNNoR
[SpecsaI Gable to The CALI

lSpectdi Gable to he Call
Copyright 1910, by the Tribune Company
Chicago
LONDON. Nov. 19.-Never did troops
so into a fight in such an abject blue
funk as the tories into the coming
election. They all scream against the
election as an Infamous iniquity and
some even confess that the election
must end in tory disaster.
Even more amusing and disgusting
is the attitude of the house of lords
The peers who last year reused every
lover Of freedom to rage by their inso-
lent defiance of the popular viii now
crawl in abject terror They are pa
theticslly demanding on opportunity to
sacrifice themselves. They will aban-
con not merely the hereditary principle,
but even offer the sacrifice of half the
entire number Of the house of lords.
AS one of their own friends said,
Never since the historic night of the
French revolution did the aristocEacy
offer to make so many sacrifices.'
AsQUITH SHOWS COURAGE
It is all hypocritical and all too late.
The sacrifice of half the present num-
her would mean that the tory majority
in the house of lords would still be
safe and secure, and the old difficulty
would remain, that while liberal meas
ures would be certain Of defeat by the
stereOtyped tory majority, the tery
measures would be equally sure of full
acceptance.
ASquith's ministry is acting with
great courage and consistency in fac
ing these tactics of delay and make
believe. Asquith declined to listen to
appeals of delay or promises of death
bed repentance by the house of lords
and doggedly stuck TO the determina-
tion to make an immediate appeal TO
the constituencies and unless some un-
foreseen incident intervenes we shall
start a general election next Monday
week.
NOBODY DOUBTS RESULT
Nobody has much doubt of the re-
suit The liberals at the worst will
return about the same strength-at the
best may add 20 or 30 seats Some am
biguity is seen by extreme liberals in
the statements of Asquith with regard
to the demand for guarantees from the
king. but close study of his words
and especially his promise TO stand by
his famous pledge OF last April, just
before Edwards death, TO demand the
euara nIeeS and create new peers, If
necessary. proves that Asquith goes
into the fight with power to cause the
verdict of the nation, If favorable, to
be followed BY the destruction OF the
veto with or without the assent of the
house Of lords.
Bankrupt of any good cry the tories,
who last week in their chief organs
1re,e discussing home rule as rational
proposal and a political possibility,
have turned an awkward somersault.
Redmond was described as quite sweet
Iv rcasonsbl two weeks ago. He again
las become a villain of tory melodrama
and American dollars. and has become
thc chief object of tory vituperation.
AMERICAN PAPERS SEARCHED
one tory orator declared that ireland
was TO be sold for 100000 American
dollars. Others shout foreign dicta-
tiou.' Correspondents of English jour
uaIs search American papers to find
articles TO DANA ge the Irish party and
evcn my description in the Tribune
OF the great scene in the recent Buff
falo convention. when s150.o00 was
pledged. is today reproduced in the
Dsily Mail
This attempt to reSurrect the ancient
Irish bogey. however. has not produced
any effect up to the present and the
liberals say that 1t viii not work this
time but that all this outburst of abuse
Of Redmond and the Americans who
have subscribed TO Irish funds will
force hme rule again TO the foremost
line Of battle and make il easier for
the liberals TO carry home rule if their
constituencies once more give them a
majority.
LIBERALS QUOTE CANADIANS
Liberal papers make free use Of the
support given home rule by eminent
Canadians during my recent trip and
ask if Sir Wilfred Laurier. Sir Thomas
Sha ughnessy. Walter Scott, premier of
Saskatchewan; Mcbride, premier of
British Columbia, and Gouin, premier
Of Quebec. are 20 be counted among
the American traitors who wish to
destroy the British empire.
The truth is that the Irish orange
tail once more has got control of the
tory party and has borne down Bal
four and all the rational men of the
party, and once again Ireland is made
the gage OF battle.
The breakdown of the conference IN
doubtedly delays the settlement of
home rule for some time, but a good
liberal victory at the coming election
viii shorten that interval perceptibly
and viii make home rule certain.
1t is significant that the tories al
ready suggest a second conference. Re
pentance and terror follow the de-
asuch over the budget last year. and
over the rupture of the conference this
year with extraordinary rapidity.
Never have political drunkards had so
bad a morning after" head.
ENGLISHWOMEN OBJECT