TORY VIEWS.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XIX, Issue 21, 20 February 1891, Page 7

TORY VIEWS.

(Cable to the New York Herald.) London, December 27. — An important question is jost now secretly agitating Conservatives, Gladstonians and Paroellites. In the inne r circles of political life noth'ng compares with it in interest. It is this: Are the Government getting ready for a general election? Observant eyes detect many little signs that they are. There is great activity at the Treasury and a general shakiDg up of the local organisations. One of the chief Gladstonians admittei to me yesterday that his party are entirely at the mercy of the enemy just now. "We have no money," he said, "and very few friends. Home of our best supporters have intimated that they wash their hands finally of Home .Rule. Parnell and Company have completely knocked the bottom out of that. I don't see how Humpty-Dumpty is to be set on his legn again." " Then," I aiked, " why does not the Old Man say so at once ? " " How can he ? " replied his staunch supporter. " The McCarthy lot would come down upon us at once. They would say : — ' We hare given up Parnell and shattered our organisation for you, and now you basely desert us ' All Ireland would cry out against us. Something may occur to give us an opening out of the difficulty, but at present the Tones have got us in a crack." But what do tbe Tories say? I spoke to a very powerful member of the party to-day, and I know that his views are shared by more than one member of tbe Ministry. "We have got all the best of them, no doubt " said he, " but you must consider many things before plunging into a general election. How are we off for money ? " " Better off a good deal than the other side,"' I remarked. " Yes, that is quite true, but still we are not so well off as we ought to be. The Baring affair hit some of our people pretty hard. Tou have no idea what many of our most liberal eapporters have lost in the Argentines. Then Goschen has offended the big brewers and distillers, who have usually subscribed largely to a campaign fund. We should not get much out of them just now. " Pockets are buttoned up tight all round. Local organisations are poor, Recollect they have had to fight two contested elections within five years ; they don't want any more at present." " Still," I suggested, " you will scarcely find any oie who doubts that Lord Salisbury would get another seven years of power if he appealed to the country now ?" 41 1 agree with that view," replied my friend, " but we must consider what our people in the country wish. I tell you they do not want another election. Trade is not good generally, and they are in favour of letting this Parliament run on another year, or at least till next autumn. I rather think that is the view taken in the very high quarter, which has also to be consulted. "We need not be in a hurry, I think. The Glads'onians cannot get over tbe knock-down blow they have received. Where are they now? Associated with Patrick Ford, Michael Davitt, and all that crowd, The moment they go before the country they will be pulled to pieces. We can wait, and not much will be risked by delay. " If I were you I should tell your constituents to expect another chance of electing you some time next July or August. It is nil up with the Old Man, any way. There will be no more Irish alliance in our time, Parnell has smashed the machine. More po-ver to hu elbow." A Member of Parliament.