EDITORIALS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 772, 17 December 1886, Page 22

EDITORIALS.

Important results may be looked for as the outcome of the great conference held in London on Tuesday'last by the Liberal-Unionist party. The fact that 1500 prominent members and supporters of the party were present, and that the utmost unanimity apparently prevailed, affords a conclusive proof that the efforts recently made by the Gladstonian party to sow dissension among the Unionists, and to tempt secession from their ranks, have proved utterly abortive —-nay, have even tended to consolidate them still more firmly. When, therefore, we find this large and influential section of what was once the Liberal party openly declaring their approval of the policy of the Salisbury Government, and their determination to support that Administration, there seems every reason to hope that the present Ministry may have a lengthened term of office, long enough at any rate to effect the reforms so urgently needed alike in regard to Irish affairs, to foreign politics, and to naval and military matters. The very outspoken declarations of such men as Lord Hartington, Lord Selborne, Mr John Bright, Mr Goschen, Mr Chamberlain, and Sir George Trevelyan in favour of the Ministerial policy, and against both Mr Gladstone’s policy and his present attitude, are pregnant with deep meaning, and will greatly strengthen the hands of the Government in their struggle with lawlessness and disloyalty. Lord Hartington appears to have delivered a very weighty and well-timed speeeh on the situation, and nothing could be plainer than his announcement that the Liberal-Unionist party would continue to support the Conservative Ministry. On the other hand we have the equally explicit intimation by Lord Salisbury and Lord Randolph Churchill that it is the paramount object of the Conservative party to work in harmony with the Liberal-Unionist allies, and that they entertain no doubt of this proving readily practicable. So long as this auspicious alliance between the Conservatives and the very cream of the Liberal Party can be maintained, the position of the Salisbury Ministry will be exceedingly strong, and this is all the more fortunate, because there never was a period when England more pressingly required a strong, capable, and resolute Government at the helm. Not only are her foreign relations of a very critical character, but so are also her domestic affaire. What with the insidious machinations of Russia in the Balkan peninsula and in Asia, the undisguised antagonism of France in Egypt, and the formidable symptoms of ’ trouble from the Socialist and Fenian agitations, a very firm and able hand indeed is required. There is no doubt that the chances of war are materially diminished by the fact that a strong and popular Conservative Administration is now in charge of the country’s interests.