The Standard of yesterday announces authoritatively that there is no
intention of dissolving this year,—nay, that the present Parliament "has another good year to run," and that "there is no reason why it should not be allowed to reach its full term." As the Standard also proves to its own complete satisfaction "that there is ample justification for a Dissolution," though no need for it, we conclude that it approves the delay in the interest of the Conservative party, and not in that of the Liberal party. And probably it is right. No doubt the Budget of next year will damage the Government even more than the Budget of this year. But then, what is the use of dissolving before that Budget is pre- sented, if the Conservatives are defeated, after all P A year of actual power is, we suppose, worth more than two years of possible power, especially if the possibility be not estimated very highly. The Standard professes to think that the strong presumption is that the country has full confid- ence in the Government. But it hardly shows much moral confidence in its own presumption, when it approves so heartily the delay of the final test.
