Show THE CENSURE During the last month England has been thoroughly aroused as to the danger which threatens her Indian empire by the advance of the Russians into Afghanistan and the affair at Pendjeh put the nation in a frenzy The preparations prepara-tions for war were as extensive as any England has made since the days when Napoleon dominated Europe and were carried on with an activity that surprised L everyone for it had been charged against the Gladstone Ministry that they were m thoroughly incompetent to comprehend L what preparations were necessary for war much less to conduct a foreign war of any magnitude But when all this was done grave doubts were expressed by the Tories 3 and those Whigs who are more Tory than anything else although they usually sit on the ministerial side of the House as I to whether Mr Gladstone had the courage to meet war square in the face if things came to the worst and when but last b week the announcement was made in the House that negotiations between StI Petersburg and London looked favorable for peace and various preparations for war were ordered to be discontinued the Tories cried aloud that England had been disgraced and that her prestige was gone It was thought a good time to go to the country and tell of the wrongs that had been done to England and of the ignominy ig-nominy that had been put upon her and the Times sought to head the movement against the Ministry At no time since the defeat of the Tories in 79 had so splendid an opportunity offered as the surrender to Russia last week The peace with the Boers was thought to be a fine chance as it was then claimed that Mr Gladstone had allowed England to befi Jmmiliated in South Africa by a mere handful of semi I barbarous Dutchmen but it did not succeed suc-ceed in winning the masses to the Tory standard Now the Afghan question was without doubt a grand opportunity and so the Tories sought to take advantage of it But they know not how to take the advantage of anything since the death of Beaconsfield and when Lord George Hamilton who is said to have more tact than anyone else in the opposition ranks made his motion of censure it was too late as the Government had promised to give to Parliament all official documents concerning the Afghan question and even the Times thinks that Lord Hamilton Hamil-ton should have withdrawn his motion until after the promised documents had been presented Lord George committed a grave mistake in presenting his motion when he was not cognizant of what the Government might have to offer in explanation ex-planation of its conduct in regard to the Afghan question as what the Govern mdnt has to offer may wholly answer the charge which is made For the leader a party in Parliament to commit an error in political strategy is as bad as for a general to make a false move in the presence of an active and vigilant enemy in either case confidence is lost in him who makes the mistake The Ministry may have blundered but the Opposition did not know how to take advantage of it and have plainly shown to the country that they are not competent to direct the affairs of the people It is this lack of confidence in the Tory party which has so well served the Liberals although the personal weight and influence of Mr Gladstone are some thing wonderful and they have helped to hold him in power as well as the blun ders of those opposed to him Had there been at the head of the Tory party as a leader so shrewd and astute a politician as Beaconsfield the incidents of the past month would possibly have taken the reins of g government ouVo the hands of Mr Gladstone and his party The Tories have no such man nor any one who can approach Mr Gladstone in power and ability much less any one who is so near the hearts of the coinhidri people as he The Liberals will not be driven from power by theiToriesso long as the Tories have such incompetent leaders as Lord Hamilton or impetuous ones as Lord Salisbury |