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NOTES FROM LONDON

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NOTES FROM LONDON The elections ;are now virtually concluded, and the spectacle presented by this country to the intelligent foreigner" is calculated to make the cynic smile and the Christian weep. A few weeks ago a Conservative Ministry went jubilantty to the country for a ratification of its confidence. The virtues of that ministry were extolled and em- blazoned, and no doubt was expressed that a duly grateful country would at once return it to power in increased strength. Members of the Cabinet, even with strange lOtstfulness after singing their own praises, pointed out the dejected rank of the Opposition, on whose faces, they said, defeat was already written. The result has been that whatever may be thought of the comparative size of Mr. Gladstone's majority, the Government has been handsomely beaten. There can be no mistake on that point. About the proportions of the Liberal majority, those who have nothing better to do may amuse themselves, but the complete defeat of the Govern- ment is not open to argument of any kind. Going to the country in a majority of 68, they returned from it in a minority of 42. And so. to the un- sophisticated minds of people who have not been corrupted by the peculiar morals and manners current in official political circles, nothing remains but for a Liberal Government to assume the reins of office, which the retiring Ministry of law and order" will quietly and promptly hand over in obedience to the answer returned by the country to the question they asked it. I Yes, they must be, indeed, very unsophisticated people who imagine that sort of thing, and their knowledge of the Conservative party must be re- markably limited. Instead of acting as English gentlemen, admitting defeat frankly, and patrioti- cally assisting to carry out the mandate of the country, they are exhausting every method which malice could suggest and unscrupulousness carry out, to embarrass Mr. Gladstone and nullify the national vote. But it is all useless. Mr. Gladstone is master of the situation in virtue of vox pojndi—and in exer- cising his power he will be simply executing the people's will—fulfilling the most elementary duties of a Constitutional Minister. To say that this election has been won by an ignorant electorate is merely vulgar tu, q iioqe--Eatans will style, in fact; for the electorate now is the same (more's the pity !) as that which sent the present Government into power. If it was right then, why not now ? Echo answers—Why ? But the humour of the situation lies in the fact that all the expected difficulties have no real exis- tence. Mr. Gladstone will bring the strong hand of his people-given authority into play, and sweep away these cobwebs of party spleen into their native obscurity. One of the most interesting features of the next real session will be Randolph Churchill's attitude. If he doesn't make things lively for the Conserva- tive leaders I am the worst prophet who ever put pen to paper. If I am not mistaken, for instance, he will soon be coquetting with the Irish members. Well, che, sara, sara. Deary me What a fuss they make about Lord Orkney marrying Connie Gilchrist And why shouldn't he ? Connie Gilchrist, they say, is an actress. Well, he is only a lord! Belle Bilton was an actress, too, but she was quite as good as Lord Clancarty. I hope Lord and Lady Orkney will be very happy. Sir Charles Dilke has been returned. It is sug- gested that he is an embarrasment to Mr. Gladstone. It is not so. Sir Charles Dilke will not be a mem- ber of Mr. Gladstone's Ministry. Sir Charles will never occupy any official post under the present political regime. Lord Salisbury's celebrated" black man," Mr. Naoroji, who got in for Central Finsbury, has received some most remarkable tokens of the satisfaction which his election has given his countrymen in India. The Maharajah of Hyderabad has forwarded the sum of ten thousand pounds to be used for'' some permanent memorial" of Mr. Naoroji's election. From other persons twenty thousand has been sent, so that at this moment Mr. Naoroji holds thirty thousand pounds -a sort of Indian thank-offering to the people of Central Finsbury for returning a member for India." The following story is going the rounds :—A lady working for Lord Curzon at the election said to a farm-labourer in her sweetest tone," You will vote for Lord Curzon, will you not ?" Quoth the rustic, "No marm. I wm¿'t. Folks tells me's got a bill in Parlymunt to make every man marry 'es wife's sister, and my wife's sister would make just the worse wife in the village." It is stated that on the imminent retirement of Lord Coleridge from the position of Lord Chief Justice, Sir Charles Russell will be his successor. Most of these appointments are probable in the new Ministry :—Prime Minister, Mr. Gladstone; Chancellor of Exchequer, Sir W. Harcourt Lord High Chancellor, Lord Herschell; Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Lord Aberdeen, with Mr. Morley as Chief Secretary Home Secretary, Mr. H. II. Fowler or Mr. Labouchere Foreign Secretary, Lord Rose- bery; Secretary for War, Mr. Campbell-Banner- man: Attorney-General, Sir Horace Davey; Solicitor- General, Mr. Asquith; President of Council, Lord Spencer; First Lord of the Ad- miralty, Sir George Trevelyan; Postmaster-General, Mr. Shaw-Lefevre. As a specimen of the speed with which the Daily Nines served its enthusiastic street patrons last week, it may be mentioned that the result of the Paisley election was on the illuminated canvass in Fleet-street four minutes after the time the poll was delared at Paisley itself. How frivolous it seems for some journalists to be prating about the probability of Lord Salisbury, owing to his defeat, accepting the strawberry leaves," and becoming a duke. The whole thing seems like some disordered vision, some foul vapour. One would think that the Prime Minister had something better to think of than personal vanity at such a supreme crisis. It is difficult to believe the Marquis has any part or lot in such paltry thoughts. Yet, to suit political exigencies, Mr. Gainsford Bruce is made a judge, and Sir Charles Hall is to take the Holborn seat. Justice must indeed be blind The iniquity of such an arrangement is too obvious to require discussing. And it is only a few days since, out of thirteen new magistrates for Southampton, twelve of them were Tories. I don't think Judge Jeffries would shake hands with our present Lord Chancellor, and I am quite sure that if Sir Charles Hall has any self-respect he will forfeit it by sneaking into Parliament that way. Let him accept his fate. It would be difficult to convey in words any idea of the bitter indignation felt by London working men respecting such conduct as Cunninghame Graham's. There never was an election in England into which these working men so threw their whole heart and sympathy. I speak of the better educated section-but without abating a jot of my advocacy for their less favoured and less educated brethren. They felt that the hour of their emancipation had come—emancipation from a vulgar patronage at election time, and the de- liberate cut and tyranny afterwards. Tired of being used by professional politicians as puppets with which to amuse a gullible public while they played their own game, these men made a noble stand against influences so mean and yet so power- ful as would have disgraced five hundred years ago. In the splendid battle which has been fought for London Home Rule two papers come right to the front-the Star and the Chronicle. Professor Stuart of the first-named paper, and Mr. Fletcher of the second have fought a gallant fight against seemingly overwhelm! g odds, but they have won. When London is as well governed, municipally, as such provincial town as Manchester. Birmingham, &c.. those who benefit by such good Government will owe a debt of gratitude so these gentlemen which they can never over value.

A SAD CASE AT CARDIFF.

ROUND THE TOWNS.

MEETING OF THE -II-) BARRY…

TIIE NEW MINIS FRY.

[No title]

SIR CHARLES DILKE ON PUBLIC…

CADOXTON CHURCH SCHOOL TREAT.--

BURNING FATALITY AT BARRY…

REV. HENRY BABB AT BRIDGEND.

FAILURE OF A BARRY TRADESMAN.

INSPECTION OF THE NEW ABERTHAW…

WHY IS'NT WALES TOBY ?