Year: 1868

AA@A hut SEAC


It is a striking fact that both in England
and this country at the present time there is
conflict between the executive and the legs-
lative branches OF the government, the viii
OF the people expressed through the one be-
ing thwarted by the conservatism Of the
other


In England the conflict did not arise till
Thursday of last week when, after a spirited
debate, the Tory ministry was defeated BY %
majority in the House of Commons, Mr..
Gladstone's resolutions in favor Of depriving
the Irish church of its endowments having
passed in spite OF the vigorous opposition of
Disraeli. After the vote was taken the prem
ier asked aud obtained an adjournment until
Monday in order that he might consult the
Queen. 1t appears that he offered his resig-
nation, but that her majesty refused to ac-
rept it. The cable telegram announcing the
cetirement of the Tories and the summons
to Dir. Gladstone to form a new cabinet
proves to have been without foundation.
Disraeli, Notwithstanding the resignation of
Stanley, Hardy and Malmsbury, has, with the
assent OF the Queen, determined to retain his
position until at the new election this fall
the people shall either repudiate or endorse
him.


man of more self-respect and more prin-
ciple than the Jewish adventurer whom fate
has made the chief executive of Great Brit
ain, would not venture TO take this course.
Before the Tory cabinet of Earl Derby came
into power last year, Il ministry when de-
leated has always resigned or dissolved Par
lament But that cabinet, In which Dis
raeli as Chancellor of the Exchequer was the
leading spirit, though defeated on the reform
bill as first presented, had the effrontery to
retain their positions. At that time the
act was less odious because Disraeli took
the unprecedented course of adopting the
principles of the Liberal majority and pre-
sentlnS more sweeping measure of reform
than even Bright and Mill had dreamed of.
But the boldness of Disraeli is not at this
time relieved by any concessions of this kind
The attitude Of President johnson in the
United States seems to have given the cue to
all the executives in the world, Disraeli
among the rest. He does not yield anything
OF promise anything to the enemies of the
Irish church. Departing from his usual
crooked and Machiavelian course he boldly
denounces the schemes of the Liberals as in
effect confscation and robbery. He declares
IN the bitterest language tina. the established
church of England is equally with that of
ireland doomed to overthrow by this crusade
of the Liberals.


There are several reasons that lead Dis
raeli to assume this unwonted attitude. 1t is
impossible for him TO carry his Tory col
leagues with him into concessions on this
question similar to those of 1866 on the
franchise. More potent than all is the will of
the Queen, who will not accept his resigna-
tion and declares that she will resign rather
than approve bill that deprives any branch
of the church Of its revenues. On the great
questions of public policy that have previ-
ously lead to divisions in the House of Com
mons the Queen seems to have had no opin-
ions whatever. Not so with this of the
Irish church. Eugene is not more jealous
deVotee to Catholicism than Victoria to its
English substitute. This active partizanship
OF the Queen, supplementing the boldness
and cunning of Disraeli, is sufficient to pre-
vent the execution of the peoples will The
Liberals in vain declare that Disraelrs course
is unconstitutional; that functionary grimly
threatens to dissolve the Commons if the
Gladstone resolutions are pressed This is
something new in England and may lead,
before the summer is over, to complications
even more serious than those from which the
American people are now suffering. The
progress of reform has hitherto been peace
tul, but the English people, in cases Of we'll
defined opposition to their will on the part OF
their rulers are far less patient than their
American cousins.