A new Parliamentary party has been born this week. It
calls itself the Radical Committee, has for recognised leader Mr. Labouchere, comprises from forty to fifty Radical Members, and will set itself specially to organise "set debates" upon votes in Supply, that is, as far as it can, to refuse supplies, the intention being to force an early dissolution. We have pointed out elsewhere reasons which may make the project fail, but almost all the discussion of the week has been intended to waste time, and on Tuesday this plan was openly admitted by Mr. Labouchere. He declared that votes of want of confidence were " mistakes in tactics ;" that the Opposition " meant to carry on a guerilla war ;" that " he would not give a single day to the Government, because never a day in their hands passed without their doing some sort of evil ;" that " he would not afford them an opportunity of getting one single sixpence." ." If the Chancellor of the Exchequer took up an attitude of -defiance and refused to consult the country, then the Opposition would throw every obstacle they could in the way of the-transaction of public business." That is clear speaking, and means that the people of the United Kingdom who elect the majority are to have no control of their own affairs unless Mr. Labouchere and his group please. If that policy is carried out, it will be necessary once more to revise the Standing Orders. or to adopt still more drastic alternatives. Meanwhile, let us hope that the electors will note that their will is defied, and that a minority of a minority openly claims a divine right to rule.
