NEWS OF THE WEEK.
THE Gladstonians are scattered like dust before the wind. The late leader of the House of Commons, who was returned by Derby in 1892 at the head of the poll by 7,507 votes against 5,546, or by a majority of 1,961, was on Saturday rejected by 291 votes in favour of Mr. Drage, and stood no less than 1,122 votes below Mr. Bemrose, the highest Conservative. Three of his colleagues in the Cabinet have followed him, Mr. John Morley, at Newcastle-on-Tyne ; Mr. Shaw-Lefevre, in Central Bradford ; Mr. Arnold Morley, in East Nottingham. As we write (Friday noon), the Ministers have gained 65 seats against a Gladstonian gain of only 10, leaving a net gain to the Unionists of 55, counting 110 on a division. So far, the gain has been more marked in the counties than even in the boroughs. Not a single county has been wrested from the Unionists, while no less than seven have been wrested from the Gladatonians. If the same rule holds in the elections still remaining to be held, we shall expect a majority of 120 for the Unionists, and may assume that a plebiscite against Home-rule has been registered, which ought to settle the question for the present generation. Especially significant is the gain of three seats in Wales, the Carmarthen Boroughs, the Pembroke Boroughs, and lastly, Swansea, so long held by Mr. Dillwyn, and usually supposed to be one of the safest Radical seats in the Kingdom. Mr. John Morley's failure was partly due, perhaps, to his deser- tion by the Independent Labour party, though almost as many Conservatives are said to have voted for the Labour party as Gladetonians. Possibly, the Independent Labour party agreed more with him than they did with the Conservatives ; but it cannot be denied that they expressed, as clearly as they could express, their absolute indifference, if not hostility, to Irish Home-rule. Of all the late Ministers, Mr. Morley declared most emphatically for Irish Home-rule as an honourable pledge which the Govern- ment had given to Ireland, and could never ignore with- out disgrace. We are glad to know that Sir William Harcourt does not retire, but is to be elected for West Mon- mouthshire in place of Mr. Warmington, who retires in his favour. It is the safest of Gladstonian seats. Will he have the courage and the nerve to advise his party to allow this big stone of Irish Home-rule which hangs round their necks, and becomes more and more unendurable with every year, to be cut away P It would be a very wise concession to the destinies.
