Peruars the most important home topic of the week was the talk about a probable early dissolution of Parliament. There were continued signs that the government was wearing out its welcome; constant losses at bye-elections, set off since by the gain at Ayr, two defeats in the House, and the defections of individual members. These are indeed only straws and their Dlowing about may have no signification, may be due to chance eddies; on the other hand, they may shew certainly the direction of the wind. Lord Salisbury had to rate his followers roundly at the meeting at the Carlton for the indifference that had permitted the government to suffer two defeats; and Mir. W. 8, Came, a Unionist, of some intelligence though crochet, had male the following statement to a Central News representative "Tthink the probabilities of a dissolution of Parliament after Easter are very strong. Ministers are being forced into it by the i Bills, Look where'we ure. Parliament has ibility of making any progress with their sat five weeks. It has been five weeks of talk—not a measure of importance have we had discussed. The Gladstonians are bound to die fighting on the floor of the House. Obstruction is to be their game, to prevent Ministers from redeeming their February promises. This is their only salvation, from the Gladstonian point of view. It is not mine, but Ministers will have to face it. What will happen is this. Weshall have every step and stage of the Irish Bill and the Tithes Bill resisted. There will, also be a fight on the Budget. The Government will make restricted progress by means of the closure, which is a vicious form of progress. We shall have a fortnight's debating on the second reading of each measure, which will enable the dullest man in the house to master its details sufficient for defending them in the country. Havin closured the second reading, Ministers wil find a dead set made against them in Committee. That will be the moment for action, It will be much better to take up the challenge than if we petered" out the session. If I had my way I would use the Budget surplus in relieving popular burdens. We shall have more than three millions and a half to do it with. I would then go to the country on obstruction plus a rattling Liberal measure of Jocal self-government for Ireland. Mr. Goschen, now, favours an immediate dissolution, ich ought to be between the two summer harvests, the hay and the corn."
'The Economist, however, the most common-sense of London weeklies, has no belief in the imminence of a dissolution. '**When in doubt talk about a Dissolution,' seems to be," it says, ''a universal rule with the collectors of Lobby gossip." But the government has got on so well with the pacification of Ireland, that it would be madness to dissolve now, The embers of disaffection have been growing cold in Treland, and another two years of Mr. Balfour's rule will make it impossible for the Nationalist party to rekindle their former agitation. The Land legislation has been a splendid thing for the farmer, and he is disposed to hold on to what he has got rather than to follow the Parnellites into farther agitations The notion that the Government ever seriously contemplated such a step we believe to be nothing less than a libel upon their judgment. It requires but a minute's reflect tion to see that for them to adopt such a course would be little short of madness. The first thing that the country asks when it is appealed to is, What excuse had the Government for involving the constituencies in the turmoil and disturbance of a general election?" But under the present circumstances they would
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.