The Temuka Leader TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 1886. ENGLISH POLITICS.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1471, 23 February 1886, Page 2

The Temuka Leader TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 1886. ENGLISH POLITICS.

The position of political parties in the House of Commons at present is extremely critical. Never, perhaps, in the history of England did a British Ministry face a House so disorganised and unmanageable as that which the Grand Old Man has now undertaken to lead. The Conservatives are certainly very powerful and very united, but they are not strong enough to rule without the assistance of Mr Parnell, and his support is purchasable only by a price which they do not feel disposed to give. Every man has his price, and so has Mr Parnell, but his price is Horae Rule, and that the Conservatives will not give. They, therefore, most take a back seat, for without the assistance of Mr Parnell they can do nothing. Mr Parnell placed them in power recently ; at the late elections he threw in his influence with them, and undoubtedly rendered them extraordinary assistance. They recog nised the services he had rendered them when Parliament met by announcing that a fresh Coercion Act would be introduced lo suppress boycotting in Ireland, thinking, no doubt, that they would secure the support of the majority of Liberals on account of this, but they found out their mistake. Mr Parnell turned them out of office with as little, compunction as he put them in, and he would do the same thing again if it suited him. It is impossible therefore, that the Conservatives can com" into power again. Turning now to the Liberals, we find in their ranks a leaven of old Whigs, who are in every respect Conservative except in name. These are just as much opposed to reform as the Conservatives, but will not desert their party as long as they can help it, because there are always a good many pickings attacked to it, and these they would lose if they were to go over to the opposition camp. It will therefore be necessary to exercise much caution in managing them, because the very moment any Radical measure is introduced they will desert. Next come the Radicals the Chamberlains, the Lsboucberes, the Morleys, the Storeys, the Collingss, the Cowans, and so on—men who are determined upon effecting great reforms and will brook of no delay* Hoff can they and the old Whigs ,

1m got to cojili’scc ? Aim i s : , i> u tm | least, come the Parneiliies, aV'Widly j determined upon rendering government impossible unless their own claims are considered. With parties in null a disorganised stale as this ii is impossible for Mr G'adstone to entry any measures of reform. Neither the P»rneliites nor the Radicals will accept any half measures, and the Wings will not go “ the whole hog ” wi;l, them. I’be position is therefore critical, and in ail probability will lead to a dissolution before long. The Liberals are r-anon-sible for all this. Mr Purnell told them plainly that unless Homo Ru'e was granted to Ireland bis policy would be lo make government in Lngli nd impossible, and it they had taken the warning, and acted upon it, doubtless they would be in a position to cany any measure they desired now. It is evident Mr Gladstone is willing to concede some measure of Home Rule to Ireland now, and if he bad signified his intention of doing so before last election and gone to the country on that cry h- wou ! d not be in the mess he is in at present. Mr Parnell invited Mr Gladstone to stair definitely what be intended 10 do, and if be bad done so and declared in favor of Home Rule, Mr Parnell would have withdrawn from the Ons-Tvaiivas, ami the Liberal majority would have been much greater than it is at present. B\ refusing to take any cognisance of Mr Parnell, and by declining to signify lus intention with regard to the Irish question, Mr Gladstone has brought shout the present state of affaire, and without doubt ho will find it difficult now to guide the ship of state through the troubled waters on which he has launched her. Never were polities in such a chaotic state before. Hie Parnellites will not he satisfied if limy do not get Home Rule, the Whigs w.II noi vote for it, neither will they agree to many Radical reforms which the Radicals are impatient to pass, end consequently it is scarcely possible that the Government can carry on under existing circumstances. It appears lo us probable that there must therefore be another general election before long, but the question is, What good will it do? If Mr Gladstone still refimeg to declare in favor of Home Rule Mr Parnell will undoubtedly get all 11nIrish electors in Lng'ami to vole for Conservatives, and parties will come back in just about the same condition a& they are in at present. If, on the other hand, Mr Gladstone goes to the country on the Home Rule question, Mr Parnell will throw his lot in with him, and the Liberals will have sueh a sweeping majority as will render them irresistible. There must te one of two tilings done ; that is, Ireland must be completely disfranchised, or else Home Rule must he conceded to her ; and it is more likely that the latter course, will be adopted than the former. However, though the position of affaiis at present is very serious, there are some bright spois in it all. England is at peace with the whole world, the dawn of a day of more equal rights and widei liberties is breaking, and better times are sure to result from this confused slate of affairs.