THE Thames Advertiser. Favour to none; fear of none; justice to all. MONDAY, JULY 1, 1895.

Thames Advertiser, Volume XXVII, Issue 8163, 1 July 1895, Page 2

THE Thames Advertiser. Favour to none; fear of none; justice to all. MONDAY, JULY 1, 1895.

We pointed out some short time since that the Liberal Party was in a moribund condition. The recent events in the House of Commons have amply borne this out. The defeat sustained by the late Government was in no sense one which called for resignation if public opinion had in any way supported them. Lord Salisbury's last administration, to go no further, sustained a similar defeat, but did not resign, nor did their opponents expect tkem to do so. The cause of the Liberal downfall lies in their own inherent weakness. The party proper has fulfilled its mission. Of its small majority a large proportion are working for ends quite inconsistent with traditional Liberalism, while the Irish element, which is notoriously unreliable, forms another large section, and one which only supports the party so far as it can see its own purposes likely to be advanced thereby. Under these circumstances everyone who wishes for a stable Government will hail with satisfaction Lord Salisbury's advent to power. We do not think he has displayed any great tactical ability by accepting so readily the responsibility offered him. 'An appeal to the country made by Liberals wou'd have given the Conservative Party the easy task of merely destructive criticism. They will find it somewhat moro difficult to propose a satisfactory policy of their own, The incoming Government too must of necessity disappoint many Conservatives who might ordinarily have expected places, from the necessity of providing for the Unionist allies, and the gentlemen who are left out in the cold are likely to prove but lukewarm supporters. But after allowing for such drawbacks; there seems no good grounds for doubting that Lord Salisbury will be able to obtain a substantial majority, and to form a very strong and able Government,

It cannot be too strongly insisted on that politics for the next generation at least, must differ widely from anything we have known in thepast. The work achieved by the, Liberal Party during the last sixty years has been to place power unreservedly in tho hands of the people. This has been a great achievement, and in doiug this tho party has fulfilled its mission. Tho people aronowprepared to work for objects with v.hich tho Liberals are by no means, as a party, in sympathy, A more equal division of wealth is in short the object which tho masses propose to themsolves. It remains to be seen whether they will obtain more from tho Conservative Party than they havo boon ablo to do from tho Liberals.

Thoro is ono important matter in which fcho Conservative Party aro at a great advantage over thoir Liberal opponents. Thoy liavo at all times a great majority in tbo Houso of Lords. It is tbo custom to sneor at this body, but to do so shows anything but a just observation of the position. The Lords as a body are by no means unpopular in Gvoat Britain. Of late

years they have not found themselves in opposition to any great body of public opinion, while in normal times the ability of many- of its members, and tho high consideration attaching to wealth and birth, natiiraHy ensure

it respect. Legislation which the Liberals wish to pass Jth rough the Upper House* can only be carried by threats of rebellion, though wo frequently see very similar legislation accepted meekly when proposed by a Conservative Government.

The personal character and ability of many of the men whose names are cabled as members of the incoming administration, is of the very highest.

The only danger to be apprehended is not a- want of ability, but a want of unity. Men like Sir Henry James and Mr Chamberlain will find many points cropping up on which they are not much in sympathy with their Conservative colleagues The history of Cabinets in. the past shows us that unity of opinion is move conductive to success than personal ability on fcho pa'rt of the members. Patty Government, whatever may be urged against it, is so far the highest form of political success achieved by democracy, and in party government everything depends on the reliance whicb tho various members feel in each other. Conservatives and;JJnionists wcro at ono in opposing Home Eule, and in face of what they considered a great clanger were willing to sink minor differences;; but with the disappearance of that g'eat question, tho natural vont and bias of different minds will have their course, and we may see considerable troubles result-

ing therefrom. In tho domain of foreign politics most people will consider that we are likely to be fortunate in having a Conservative Government. Lord Salisbury has been identified with the Foreign Office for several years, and that of itself is a matter of import-

ance in this department where personal likes and dislikes count for so rnuchmorethaniriHomequestions.We confesstbatwe donotlike thatthePre-

mier and the Foreign Secretary should be one and the same man, It is putting too great a responsibility on one pair of shoulders, that the honour and interests of the country should be entrusted to one man who has among

his colleagues no one who is entitled to ask the details of any matter. During his last administration the Marquis caused a certain amount of uneasiness amongst even his own supporters by the secrecy with which all questions of foreign policy were shrouded; an uneasiness which occasionally found voice in the magazines. We hope therefore that an arrangement will be made by the union of the two positions is avoided. There are to all appearances perilous times before Europe and before England, and it is to be {hoped that there will exist no grounds to cause the country to show a divided front to any foes which may menace her.