The Temuka Leader THURSDAY, JANUARY 6, 1887. ENGLISH POLITICS.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1536, 6 January 1887, Page 2

The Temuka Leader THURSDAY, JANUARY 6, 1887. ENGLISH POLITICS.

Fhom the latest accounts to band we learn that Mr Gosflbtn has taken Lord Randolph Churchi'l's place in the Cabinet, and that Mr Chaimberlain /shows a disposition to take Bhelt«r undej? the GHadsfoniao umbrella once mere. Thus far things pre only making towards their own level. Mr Goschen was never much of a Liberal. His political biaa has always been Conservative, and in entering a Conservative Cabinet now he is only taking hiH proper position in politic?, He is regarded as a great authority ott finance, too, and as Chahcellor of the Exchequer ought to bi a success As Sot Mr Chstnib*'Wain, until his desertion of

Mr Gladstone on the Home Rule question he waß the most pronounced Radical in English politics. He no doubt now finds that when the Conservatism of the present Government is more than Lord Randolph Churchill oan stand he no longer could maintain his reputation in such company. ;So os to prsserve himself from political extinction, he now finds it neoessary to beat a hasty retreat, for if he continued to support a Ministry so Conservative as to be intolerable to one of the leading Conservative chiefs it is more than likely he would lone caste, and h« hencefoitb. by the Libeiak o ..-.uterest is, and has been, the ruling principle with "honest Joe Chaimberluin," and in seekiug reunion with Mr Gladstone now be is only ' obeying the iostioct of self-preservation, j But he has delayed handing in his nubmission to his chief too long. Hud heat the time of last election assisted Mr Gladstone instead of throwing in the weight of his influence with the Conservatives things would have been quite different, and' Mr Gladstone would undoubtedly have been in power now. Instead of that he helped to make a complete moss of English politic, ond now, when he aeeß his mistake, he shows signs of a desire to regain the position lie has lost to himself and to his party. The lait election resulted in the return of 316 Conservatives, 191 G-lndstonites, 78 Unionists, and 85 Parnellites. Sipce then Mr. Leffis, has been unseated for Derry,'and Mr Justin McCarthy returned in his stead. This would leave the Parnellites 86, and the Conservatives Sls. The Parnellites will stick through thick and thin to Mr Gladstone, and t her j fore Mr Gladstone's, party may be reckoned at 277,'0r 38 leas than the Conservatives. Now there are7B Unionists to be accounted for, and the question is, Gun Mr Chamberlain bring with him a sufficient number of theße to oust the Conservatives from office J We do not think he can, and consequently the coalition Ministry will stnnd even though Mr Chamberlain should desert it. He is too lute; he ruined L beralisrn'at the time of the elections, and very little can be done now until there is another general election. Liberalism was in a better position before the resignation of Lord Randolph Churchill than it is at' present, Th« Ministry was then dependent on the Unionists, but now, having taken the Unionists into the partnership, it appears tons more likely to succeed than before. Still it may be that the coalition Ministry will not agree. There will be a preponderance of Conservatism in the Cabinet, and Conservative ideas must predominate. It is not improbable that this may lead to irritation ,that will causa other ministers to resign just as Lord Randoph Churchill has doue. Another such split would result in a general election, and then Mr Gladstone would come back stronger thin ever. The country will not tolerate such ridiculousness as that which characterises the actions of the present Government in their attempts to retain power, and will restore to authority the party capable of governing. The helplessness of the present Government is dangerous to the integrity of the empire ; .they are dependent on the whims and fancies of a faction, and can do nothing without consulting the Unionists. It is dangorous to allow a miserably weak Government to bo in power, and ! it is to be hoped the people of England will see the mistake they made at the last election before long. .