We have no doubt that Lord Salisbury will follow the
pre- cedent of 1885 in meeting Parliament without resigning. The majority against him is made up of many dubious elements, and the Irish Nationalists are loud in declaring themselves not to be Gladatonians, but to be Irish Members only, who cannot take their policy from any English leader. The same may probably be said of the Labour Members ; and on the whole, it seems clear that the precedents of 1874 and 1880 do not apply to the present crisis. Probably Mr. Gladstone him- self would prefer to have the opportunity of gauging the character of his very miscellaneous majority by Parlia- mentary debate, before attempting to form his Government. But whether that be so or not, we feel little doubt that Lord Salisbury and Mr. Balfour will wait for a vote of want of confidence to be passed in the new House of Commons before resigning ; and that course, in our opinion, would be for the convenience of all the parties in the State.
