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South Canterbury Times, Issue 3303, 2 November 1883, Page 2

The Conservatives are in high feather at Home. They are working might and main to bring about, and they really believe they will bring about, the downfall of Mr Gladstone’s Government. Into the merits of that partywarfare, it is not for us to enter—we may confine ourselves to asking whom the Conservatives have in view for the Premiership when Mr Gladstone is turned out—for the nation will be rather fastidious after losing a man of his calibre. His successor will need to be very superior to anybody who has yet come forward on the Conservative side. We understand that Mr Redmond, as a member of the House of Commons, regards Lord Randolph Churchill as the “ coming man.” All we have heard of his lordship has led us to conclude that he is very decidedly cracked, and that is the opinion which more than one journal in England has formed of him. However, between genius and madness, there is only a fine dividing line—and it may be genius and not lunacy that distinguishes Lord Randolph, Mans verrons.

In connection with the coming struggle, however, it is very amusing to observe the tone adopted hy the Opposition. They lament that England has lost her prestige, that among the nations of Europe she, formerly respected, is now despised, that she has sunk to the level of a third-rate power; and they declare that once they have control of her destinies, her flag shall again be honoured and her name respected. We commend to these boastful Jingoes—the Eastern affairs with which England has to do T'ds one set of affairs will afford them field for the ex"rctse of their best talent. If they imagine that the sword is going to cut all the meshes of this network, they greatly err. The wise and cautious and humane policy which the present Administration has steadily pursued towards the Orientals, has done more to disarm opposition, to conciliate, to convince and to make friends, than all the Jingoism in the world. It is not uncommon to ridicule moral suasion, but we venture to say that England never before held sue i sway over the various races of the world as she now does—and that position has been attained by peaceful efforts and not by war. There was very little glory, in a military sense, in the Egyptian campaign ; but it was a masterly one and was conducted with such moderation, and on such strictly defensive principles, while its object was so thoroughly good and conmcndable that it left behind it, not a train of blood and misery, but an improve l stale of affairs altogether. We only hope that, when the Conservatives get hold of the reins of government, they will get the State coach along as well as Mr Gladstone does.