The San Francisco call., 1910-12-18
Gvll War and Reckless FiIibus-
tering Predicted by OppO-
nents of Government
Liberal Ministers Commit Them.
selves Definitely to Home
Rule for Ireland
By T. P. O'cONNoR
[speeicl CeBls 10 The Cali

Lon DON, Dec. 1.-THE tories are
taking their tremendous beating in the
elections badly. They make three Inn
possible claims: First. that the election
was unnecessary; secondly. that II was
futile. and third. that q majority OF
more than 100 must not be counted a
majority AT all
On top Of this they resort TO all
kinds Of impotent audaeious threats
They threaten a civil war in ireland
and reckless hlibustering in parlia-
lnent
An even more eloquent sign OF the
tories rout is the growth in the vehe-
1nence Of the mutual recriminations in
the campaign
SORENESS OVER DEFEAT
The Morning Post. in behalf of the
genuine protectionists as against A J.
Balfour's surrender by pledging a ref
erendum before tariff reform carries
has captured the tory parry. Balfour
keeps repeating his pledge, but Austen
Chamberlain repudiates II and declares
y Is binding for this election only.
MS reduces the pledge to a disrep-
Etable electioneering trick
FRED z. Smith, the most brilliant of
the younger generation of tories, re-
peats Chamberlain's reputation.
All this means a soreness over the
defeat. but also a more bitter and more
CONCERTED movement against Balfours
leadership than at any moment since
Joe Chamberlain first forced protection
as the policy of the tory party.
Undoubtedly If Chamberlain were in
good health he would be lifted to Bal
four's place Immediately. but the most
OF the outsiders persist in thinking
that unless his health and disgust at
the divisions and intrigues behind him /
induce Bslfour to resign voluntarily |
he will bring the rebels to heel again |
LIBERAL LEADERS BOLDER
In the meantime the speeches of the
liberal leaders have become bolder and
more outspoken every day. With the
increase IN their ma jority and with the
assurance OF victory they now, without
mentioning the kings name plainly
proclaim that they had their guaran-
tees before entering the fight and that
II the house Of lords throws out the
veto bill new peers will be created by
the king.
Fred Smith has declared that he
would force the ministers to that ex-
treme step, but the general opinion is
that the house Of lords win be alright
ed and will at the last moment yield
and accept the veto bill
Nothing can exceed the dehniteness
and the optimism Of the ministerial
pronouncements LLOYD George de-
ciares the veto bin viii be passed with
out another election; Churchill says
that IL will pass before the coronation
Ia June, and Herbert Samuel says it
VIII win in six months.
HOME RULE ADVANCED
At the same time there is an advance
in defniteness in the announcements
on home rule Mentioned but little in
rule has advanced TO the front every
hour afterward until now every min
lister has definitely committed himself
20 the pledge that home rule will be
among the first measures Of the min
istry and will be passed without an
other election.
Balfour's attempt to embroil the
liberals and Irish by demanding a
pledge that home rule should be post
poned till after q referendum is re-
jected by Asquith Lloyd George
Churchill and every other minister who
spoke.
Tt is difeult. then. to foresee any
obstacle which can prevent home rule
from being carried within the next
three years.
Never did Irishmen work so hard and
50 unitedly as in the present election,
especially in Great Britain. where their
enthusiasm and unity in the work
liberals.
FACTIONIsM DEFEATED
Another outstanding feature or the
election is the utter breakdown of fac
tionisn in Ireland.
O'Brien and Healy announced that
they would win 20 or . seats. They
did their best by sending candidates
all over the country but the candidates
in every instance outside Cork county
hot ~ = he v,d11 - x.-gs i,
- ridiculous minority.
The evaporation OF the rest of Ire
and against this outrageous treason at
last has found expression so violently
that in some Of the constituencies
o'Brien's candidates were in danger of
their lives and required police protec-
ton TO escape from the constituency.
O'Brien now ceases to be a fac tor,
owing to the present political condi-
tfons in England and Ireland. The
feroe campaign over the house Of lords.
the energetic action by the liberals and
r9rospect OF home rule through the de-
struction OF the lords, submerge all
the minor issues. O'Brien is confronted
nv the hopeless alternative of oppos-
ing the liberals and trying vainly to
save the lords or joining the other
T-ishr,en in Redmonds policy of fight
5na With the liberals and reaching home
ruIe through the destruction OF the
lords.
FORECAST WAS CORRECT
The election has followed my fore
cast that the ministerial forces and the
tories would return in pretty much the
same shape and that Redmond would
add q few more to his party and enor-
r,ou-lv increase it's power and prestige
-~bss election has been called by va
Nions names. The favorite name with
Ne liberal is the 'whitefag election,
- conseouerAe of the various surren-
5ers NJ the tories Of principles and
privileges TO which they held tena-