The Temuka Leader THURSDAY, AUGUST 19, 1886. THE ENGLISH SITUATION.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1544, 19 August 1886, Page 2

The Temuka Leader THURSDAY, AUGUST 19, 1886. THE ENGLISH SITUATION.

The news from Home is of ■ conflicting nature.' One telegram tells us that the Marquis at Salisbury has made a speech, in the course of which he intimated that repressive measures would be adopted to put down crime in Ireland. This we are given to understand has been regarded as a declaration of war in Ireland. Next we are informed that the Unionists, under the leadership of the Marquis of Salisbury, have under* taken to pilot the Government through, but when they appear in Parliament they are represented as taking their seats on the Opposition benches, and exchanging civiiitiea in the most friendly manner with Mr Gladstone Again, a meeting of the Cabinet is held Sir Michael Hicks Beach, the Cbie Secretary for Ireland, gives a goo ! account of the peaceful condition t Ireland, and the Government resolv not to resort to coercion. Then a hit is given that the Government intend meet the wishes of Ireland in some way or other, and next the Parnellites declare they will never accept anything less than the proposals contained in Mr Gladstone’s Bill. Then we find (hat the Marquis of Hartington has been accepted as leader by Mr Chamberlain, and that the Unionists intend to foirn a separate organisation in the House, bat will on no account ally themselves with the Tories. They will use their best endeavors to keep on friendly term; with the Gladstonian*. All this cannot be true. It is evident that the wire puller at the other end has been manufacturing news to order, and that it is useless to rely on cablegrams forwarded ■by Reuter’s agency. Every bit of news forwarded by Renter’s agency favors the Conservatives, and according to him the Unionists are ready to support the Govarament, but the special cablegrams sent to the Age and the Press Associa tion represent matters in a different light. The Unionists will not become Tories ; they are still ready to take shelter under the Gladstonian umbrella, and there they will be found whenever the? are required. It is evident from this that the reign of the Tories will be a abort one. The Conservatives number 813, and the Gladstonian*, Unionists, and Parnellites combined number 357, thus being in a majority of 44. There is not the slightest doubt but that the Parnellites will follow Mr Gladstone unless the Conservatives purchase them by giving them Home Rule. Nothing else will entice them from the “ Grand Old Man.” The Unionists sit on Mr Gladstone’s side of the Home, and hesitate not to acknowledge their attachment to him still, and things look rather unfavorable for the Salisbury Ministry. We are informed, however, that the Times suggests reform in the Church and in the

land laws, and no doubt it has received i(8 inspiration through Ministerial channels, it is now more thaw probable this will be the card the Conservatives will play. They will endeavor to secure the co-operation of the Unionists by bringing forward measures dealing with the land question, and also perhaps meddle with the Church. This will be a most extraordinary course for a Conservative Ministry to pursue. The Conservatives have, of course, been looked upon as the bulwark of the Church and the champions of land monopoly, and if they are forced now to pull the pillars from under these institutions it must be admitted that it is a departure from their traditions. But there is no help for it, for they do something to secure the Unionists it is impossible for them to hold office. They have evidently no intention of giving Home Rule 10 Ireland, and nothing else will secure to them the vote of the Parnellites. They are, therefore, between two fires, and it is more probable that they will pander to the Unionists rather than to the Parnollites. The Times would not have suggested the reforms already referred to only that it has good ground! for doing so, but the question is whether after all they will be able U carry out their intentions. To interfere with either the Church or the land would doubtless turn many Conservatives against them, and these would fall *way just as the Unionists abandoned Mr Gladstone. At any rate, the position is very critical, and the probabilities are that we shall have another election in England before the end of the year. PROBABLE WAR. The latest accounts from Home state that a disagreement has arisen between England and Russia regarding the delimitation of the Afghan frontier. This is nothing more than was expected. It was frequently urged,at the time of the dispute on the same subject about 18 months sgo, that in agreeing to a boundary being fixed Russia was not in earnest in the matter, and that she only wanted time to get ready for battle. If the report is true, that the British Commissioner who was entrusted with settling the boundarv question is to be withdrawn, the probabilities are that the premonition above alluded to will come true, and that Russia will yet fight. If so a most tremendous war is at band. Russia has quietly been preparing herself for it; England has been engaged in domestic quarrels, and has neglected the necessary preparations. There is besides a mad Conservative Government in power, and if true to its traditions it will be only too happy to get up a fight so as to turn attention from domestic reforms. The situation is critical, but let us hope that matters will he settled amicably, for no greater calamity could befall us than that war should break out now.