The Government majority, when the Parnellites vote against them, is
now reduced to 10; and, of course, there are any amount of rumours. It is said that the Local Veto Bill will be dropped, that the resolution against the House of Lords will be speedily proposed, and that there will then be a Dissolution. It is also said that the disputes in the Cabinet are bitter ; that Sir William Harcourt is fuming, and that the Ministry may on any given day advise a Dissolution, on the ground that this Parliament is impracticable. We believe none of these rumours. The majority, of course, is too small for safety, the Government existing, in fact, only on sufferance ; but we believe still that its present object is to keep Tories out, and that it will go on until it is beaten on a division. The Unionists are not in a hurry, for they want to see some Irish Land Bill passed, and the business of supply advanced at least a little. Any accident, however, may, in the present position of affairs, bring about a catastrophe ; and all Unionists in the country should be ready.
