OUR LONDON LETTER.

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume XIV, Issue 1840, 19 May 1885, Page 2

OUR LONDON LETTER.

London, March 7, 1885. SIR STAFFOK3J JTOJIIIICOTE is reported to contemplate resigning j his post as leader of the Opposition. It is generally felt that he made A very feeble attack on the Government at the recent debate and failed in bringing out the splendidly strong indictment he might have produced. Sir Stafford is an honorable straight forward man and a splended type of an English country gentleman, but is too conscientious, to sensitive of those noble feelings that mark the contrast j between the gentleman and the sehem- j ing politician, in fact to compare chalk to cheese he resembles too much the parson that represented Dunedin in the last Parliament, I forget his name, but he was the man who always prided himself on his conscience, though probably Sir Stafford possesses more feelings of this kind in his little finger than our ]STew Zealand friend did in his whole body. It is also whispered that Mr Gladstone intends to resign so soon as the session is over (which will be a short one) and the Afghan question is settled, in fact after the debate on the Vote of Censure a Cabinet Council was held and Mr Gladstone at once tendered his resignation which, however, was strongly opposed by the other Ministers as Mr Gladstone's resignation would remove the last prop of a tottering party, a re-con-struction of the Ministry was urged by some and it is stated that the members of the Government who were in favour of resigning were Sir "William Harcourt, Earl Spencer, the Earl of Derby, and Mr Chamberlain. It is said, however, that the views, at least, of two of the Ministers were based on circumstances unconnected with the Vote of Censure, and that in the case of an other Minister his opinion rested on the ground that the immediate retirement of the Government would improve the position of the Liberal party. Afer a delibera« tion of four hours, they decided to stick to the sweets of office and for many reasons it is questionable if it ■would be the interest of the Conservative party to take office at the present juncture. March 13. As the mail per " Kaikoura " closes this afternoon, from Plymouth, I must close this letter but will write by the ordinary Frisco mail. There has within the last few days been quite a panic on the Stock Exchange and sensational announcements have appeared in the evening papers, such as " Advance of the Russians," " War with Russia Imminent " &c, &c. I do Hot think we shall have war, at all events not . at the present. Itussia has no money. Her forces at present on the Afghan Frontier are but small, they are at a great distance from the base of supplies ; whereas, thanks to the foresight of the late Lord Beaconsfield, our railways have been pushed up towards the disputed frontier. Our Indian population is loyal and contented, and in addition to the regular Anglo-Indian troops the "Feudatory Chiefs have sent in offers of men that will bring up our force to 200,000. In addition to these facts, Russia is surrounded on all sides by half conquered savage tribes, who would at the instigation of the English agents and supported by British money, seriously hamper the Russians in 'their rear and flank. Russia is no doubt playing the game of " bounce." Through the blundering of the Gladstone Government, Russia was under the impression that we were completely isolated from the friendship of Europe. France was hostile coquetting with Germany against us, and Germany means Austria. The good Emperor 'William 111. holds in his hands the question of peace or war. He has put down his foot resolutely, and declared that there shall be no war. He sent over Prince Bismarck's Bon to London, all the little differences with England were smoothed over, mutual explanations

were mailed and ooir£M Bismarck returned to Berlin after established the "entente cordiafe'* a/nd as* usual after reconciliations fttrffoeew individuals, so is it with regard to* States our relations have been rncwe* cordial and genuine than at any tinier since the advent to power of the Gladstone ministry. A war on the Afghan frontier could not stop there, the entire Eastern question would be re-opened and a general conflagration would be the result. At the same time the peace of the world is not at present in a &tfisfactory state. "We have the French 1 fighting in Tonquin with. 50,000 men 1 , and as I predicted some months ago, though so far victorious, yet their victories are dearly purchased and further re-inforcementa have been asked for.' The Chinese* I show no signs as yet of coming to terms, but quite the reverse, they/ floated a war loan of £500,000 im i London last week which was a great? i financial success, while [France must,, lif 'she is to continue the fight, issue a, further loan with her budget showing; a large. deficit, and complaints are rife: ! throughout the entire country about the starving population and the depression in trade. Further the French operations in Madagascar fox the past two years, nearly, with no other result than the serious injury to> British trade and commerce with that kingdom. Then we have onr Egyptian troubles and the Soudan war and as many men engaged there as we had in the Crimean war, with this provoking result that Lard "Wolseley must now content himself with a time of ''masterly inactivity" till the autumn months allow him to resume operations. In South Africa we hare. Sir Charles Warren and a large forcerestoring order with the prospect of having to fight the Boers. In Asia the Afghan effibroglio is before us, with a [Russian force threatening the confines of our Indian Empire. In Central America active warfare is proceeding at Nicaragua, in fatft all over the globe we hear of "wars and rumours of wars."

POLITICAL FORECASTS.

It is the general opinion that the present Parliament will have but a short session, that no bills of a debatable nature will be introduced, and that we shall have a general election before the end of the year. The ballot-box will then reveal the feelings of the nation. The Conservatives are eager for the fray, and if we may accept West Gloucestershire elections as a test of national opinion, the result will place political parties in different positions in the next Parliament. Last week Mr St. John Acker* the Conservative candidate polled over 400 votes of a majority above those given for his Liberal opponent Sir William Marling Barfc., while at , the last general election in 1880 the Liberals secured a majority of over 500. My own impression is that we shall have a reconstruction of parties, and that Liberals and sensible men like Mr Foster and Mr Goaehen, representing capital and the wealth of the country will be compelled to take their stand against the tide of democracy and socialism, as exemplified in the case of such ministers as Mr Chamberlain &c. For my own part I should be very glad to see such men as Foster and Goshen at the head of affairs, if only regarding the matter from a Colonial point of view, though they still profess themselves to be ardent Liberals.