It is curious to read the rather distracted reflections which
are sent to the Times on the Radical rout. Sir Henry Howorth on Thursday attributes a good deal of it to Mr. Gladstone's desertion of his party, and failure to put forth a great address to the electors entreating them to support the policy for which he can no longer himself plead in person. Bat has he deserted his party ? The general order he put forth distinctly exhorted them to support the House of Commons against the House of Lords, and to do justice to Ireland, and every one knew what he meant in both cases. We maintain that, though he issued no elaborate address, the triumph of Unionism has been obtained in the teeth of his entreaty for the support of Lord Rosebery's Government. Sir Henry Howorth seems also aghast at the magnitude of the victory. " To govern England with one party is a new and dangerous experiment. We want a strong and vigilant Opposition as well as a strong Government." Yes ; but we want still more a decisive plebiscite on this ten years' conflict, and we have at present no constitutional means of getting that without an overwhelming victory of this kind. Sir Henry Howorth need not fret himself. We hold very many of our seats by very small majorities, and we shall soon see the Opposition gaining strength, at least if they can find a leader as able as Sir William Harcourt, and a little more sagacious. Perhaps Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman might do after all. He is "pawky," though rather wanting in the power of impressing himself on the minds of men. Mr. Morley has force, but no breadth. Sir William Harcourt and Mr. Asquith are both profoundly deficient in political instinct, and the latter is not a little of a doctrinaire
