The Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. MONDAY, JANUARY 17, 1887. POLITICAL CRYSTALLISATION.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1458, 17 January 1887, Page 2

The Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. MONDAY, JANUARY 17, 1887. POLITICAL CRYSTALLISATION.

Everybody •> . who knows anything about goldmini'ng is aware that quartz is the matrix of gold, but by what precise method tbe precious metal is developed or why it should be found m such intimate association with so utterly dissimilar a substance we are not aware that scientists are able precisely to explain. And m matters political the equally curious phenomenon is observable that the most advanced Liberals and reformers are, to use an

Americanism, often " raised " m the

strongholds o^Conservatism, those who -tnrve- cradled m Toryism eventually turning out the authors of the most Radical reforms. A very interesting example of- this is, we think, likely to be furnished m the person of Lord R. Churchill, who, only a few weeks ago, as a Conservative Chancellor of the Exchequer, startled the world political

by the promulgation of a programme

ot the most ultra-Liberal character. Writing of this at the time, we indicated out; belief that this betokened that

a process of political crystallisation had

set m which was likely to develope some rather unexpected results. We wrote : — " The drift of events, indeed,

we think points to the Conservative camp being split up, just as the Liberal

: camp has been, and that m the end there will be a new political crystallisation, which will bring together Lord Randolph and Lord Hartington as the leaders of a great central party, as opposed to an ultra-Radical and an old-Conservative party. However, it is early yet to predict the course of events, though we think they are fast shaping themselves m the direction we have indicated." The csble news, which we publish to-day however, shows that we had diagnosed the position very correctly, and demonstrates that the progress made is even more rapid than we had anticipated. For when Lord Randolph Churchill, thiough the Press, publicly "insists on- the necessity for economy i.i the public service, and expresses his willingness lo cooperate with any patty m effecting this," and when, m response to this manifest overture, the foremost Liberal of the day writes " expressing his approval of the letter of Lord Randolph," there is surely evidence of a rapprochement which can but be the prelude to intimate alliance. It is now very plainly on the cards that Lords Churchill and Hartington will soon be found working on the same side and under the same banner, and the coalition which we indicated as probable becomes almost certain to eventuate m the near future. The process of political crystallisation is only proving a little more rapid than we thought.