The Irish standard., 1912-09-21
GLADSTONE'S SEAT
Midlothian Lost to Liberals in a Bve.
Election.

In his special cable to the Chicago
| Tribune of last Sunday. in reference
! to the loss of Gladstone's old seat in
Scotland, Mr.. T. P. O'Connor says:
The loss by the Liberals of Glad
stones seat in Midlothian at first
! seemed to be the greatest blow the
Liberals have received during the
last two years and dismay and rage
at first was universal, but a couple
of days reflection restored their
equanimity and now it looks as If the
political situation remained precisely
where it was before.
The chief reason for this restora-
ton Of equanimity and courage is The
examination of the figures. The Tory
represents the minority in the con-
stituency for the two progressive
candidates between them represent a
majority Of 2,40O on the entire poll.
Both of the progressive candidates,
though. fighting. for different parties.
professed exactly the same principles.
Both were favorable to Home Rule,
the Welsh church disestablishn,ent.
the reform of suffrage, free trade and
even the insurance act, and all of
these principles accordingly gained a
majority of o,4OO.
Fight on Insurance Bill.
Even the Tories have acknowledged
that the whole fight turned not on
Home Rule or tariff, as both of these
questions were kept deliberately In
the background, but on the insurance
act.
Finally the small Tory majority of
| thirty-two was obtained by ire.
mendous rally of outvoters who came
from all parts of the world to strike
q blow at the ministry.
1t Is unfortunate, of course. that
such defeat should come Just ut a
moment when the Orangemen were
rehearsing their theatrical demonstra-
ton in the north of Ireland. and of
course they proclaim the Tory victory
as pronouncement by Scotland
against Home Rule. but this Is a pal
pablo misleading of the plain facts.
The election deceives nobody, and
plainly the Liberals are not shaken
In their determination to proceed
steadily with their program. and es-
pecially with their determination to
insist on passing the Home Rule bill
through all its stages during the com.
ing autumn sittings.
Defiant Speech BY Churchill.
Winston Churchill pronounced on
the very eve of the Midlothian defeat
one of his most defiant speeches. and
this represents the prevalent mood in
the Liberal party.
chancellor Lloyd-George during .he
brief vacation spent many hours in
preparing his campaign on land re-
form. which he soon will proclaim.
and which probably will rush to he
front In few months time as the
most passionate and vital issue Lee
tween the two parties.
The Tories already show extreme
dread of this new attack on their
privileges. and it is believed the ul-
ster campaign will be hurried for
ward, lest their adroit and daring op-
ponent should so catch the ear of The
English public as to submerge their
provincial prejudice.
Single Tax Fear False.
An alarm which was created among
the moderate Liberals by the idea
that Lloyd-George would proclaim a
single tax gospel is disappearing, as
everybody now knows that Lloyd.
George has no intention of commits
ting the Liberal party to any such an
extreme and impracticable policy in
England.
1t is much more likely that the pro-
posals will deal with the scandals Of
the leasehold system In London and
&h> oth>~ 1e~~~ a.AA1-,~o .MA ~,leh 49,