Kentucky Irish American. (Louisville, Ky.) 1898-1968, 1912-09-21
Loss of GladstOn's Seat shows
Favor of People to
Policies.
WIZ Pass Through All Stages
During the Autumn
Sittings.
THE TORIES ARE NOW DIsMAYED

specials from London say that in
spite of confident Conservative pre-
dictions of an early appeal to the
Country. Prime Minister Asouith ia
believed by his supporters TO be
planning for a general election at the
END OF 1914. There have been reports
that the Irish were beginning TO fear
the Government would dish" them
Dy delaying the home rule bill. But
the latest news is that this ia untrue
tine Government being anxious TO
pass 1t speedily through the Com
mons. They feel sure the Lords will
] throw 1t out and by the end of two
years the Commons can pass It over
their heads. But II will not come
into operation in that event before
well on to 1915 and meanwhile the
election will have been fought. and
aided by the new franchise reforms
the Liberals hope to pull through
once more.
T. p. O'Connor takes a hopeful
view of the home rule situation. The
loss by the Liberals of Gladstone's
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 TO-.
this restoration of eduanimity and
courage is the examination of the
| figures. The Tory represents the
minority in the constituency, for the
two progressive candidates between
them represent a majority of 2,4OO
on the entire poll Both of the pro-
gressive candidates. though fighting
for different parties, professed ex-
acts-thE-,saHae pripciples. Both were
] taiorable to home rule, the Wefsf'-
Church dfsestablishmert, the reform
of suffrage. free trade and even the
insurance act, and all of these prin-
ciDles accordingly gained a majority
OF 2,400. Even the Tories have
acknowledged that the whole fight
turned not on home rule or tariff, aa
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 tremendous rally
OF outvoters who came from all parts
nf the world to strike blow at the
Ministry.
II is unfortunate of course that
such a defeat should come Just at a
moment when the Orangemen we're
rehearsing their theatrical demon
stration in the north of Ireland, and
OF course thev proclaim the Tory
victory as a announcement by Scot
land against home rule, but this is a
DalDable misreading Of the plain
facts. The election deceives nobody.
and plainly the Liberals are not
shaken in their determination TO pro-
ceed steadily with their programme,
and especially with their determine
tion to insist on passing the home
rule bill through all its stages during
the coming autumn sittings.
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 the brief vaca-
tion spent many hours in preparing
his campaign on land reform, whicn
he soon will proclaim, and which
probably will rush to the front in a
few months time as the most pas
sionate and vital issue between the
two parties. The Tories already
show extreme dread of this new at
tack ON their privileges, and It Is
believed the Ulster campaign Will be
hurried forward, lest their adroit
and daring opponent should so catch
the ear Of the English public as to
submerge their provincial prejudice.
An alarm which was created among
the moderate Liberals by the idea
that Lloyd-George would proclaim
single tax gospel is disappearing, as
everybody now knows that Lloyd
George has no intention OF commit
ting the Liberal party to any such
an extreme and impracticable pol'cy
in England.