Show British Politics LofJXN September 12The Liberal jarty Jn England u much confused It ia still without any definite political programme and yet some of its principal princi-pal leaders have felt themselves compelled com-pelled tonake party utterances These havo sofar been extremely contradictory contradic-tory that one result is the parliamentary parliament-ary candidates arc making all sorts of pledges and the Liberal campaign just now looks very much like a goaa you pleaso race In Great Britain alone there ar more than 500 Liberal candidates candi-dates in the field They comprise Liberals Whigs Moderators and Radicals Radi-cals and men forming each class are gradually getting into record pledging themselves to all manner of political crudities unless the party as a whole bo boon placed under some intelligible programme and bound down to some se isible management it will be rent topiC to-piC es beyond the poasibility of reorganization reorga-nization The Gladstone members of the House of Commons whTo arecandi dutes for reelection are appealing to him to end the anarchy by formulating a policy which will freeze tho cranks out of the canvass and thus save the partys strength from being frittered way It has accordingly been decided to hold conference of recognized leaders lead-ers of all factions in the Liberal party I early in October for the purpose of ob1 I I taimng some general understanding I j I All efforts thus far made to induce r Gladstone to make a pronouncement j ntGl ileakeH ment have nef ile He RrU not even promise to address the coming conference He has it is true promised I to write a political address this fall to his Midlothian constituency but he has fixed the day for the issue of this letter so that it will be some time after the I October meeting In this letter the ex Premier will state and explain at length he platform of the principles he deems best for his party In the meantime I strong efforts are being made to bring I about a compromise between the hostile I views entertained by the followers of I Jr Joseph Chamberlain and those of he Marquis of Hnrtington The Russian government has decided t 0 transfer the administration of its Black Sea fleet Irora Nicolaieffto Sebas I opol harbor At the lutier place the harbor is being much enlarged and immense im-mense forts and other works of defense arc being constructed around its approaches ap-proaches The Czar is also organizing I 1 new fleet to be stationed at Satoum on the east coast of the Black Sea This little town is being I rapidly enlarged because of its strategi cal importance as a central point of RussIan defense of the cast coast of the Black Sea This action of the Czar in now restoring toSehastopol the milita rand r-and naval prestigfi which it possessed before the Crimean war Is regarded with misgivings via c rtam BritisaIn lian quarters Besides making the above military changes in tho Black Sea he Russian Government is erecting a arraoks for accommodation of 3000 troops at Rostoff on the River Don wentytwo miles above its outlet into he sea of Azov and on the line of railway rail-way from Moscow to the Caucasus These barracks and their accompanying defenses will connect the military works in the Caucasus with those in Central Russia The Crimea is also icing strengthened by the erection of a number of new modern batteries at Cciitch and Taganarg The latter place is situated opposite the mouth of he Don and on the north shore of the I sea of Azov and the former stands on he Strait of Zenikame whicn connects the Sea of AzoJ with the Black Sea ThE Russian naval commission will report upon the conditions of all the harbors along the Greek and Turkish coasts Manv stirring incidents attend the expulsion of Russian Poles from Prussia now being ruthlessly enforced en-forced under the orders of Prince Bismarck Bis-marck If the Radicals and Whigs can reach a common understanding for the campaign cam-paign Mr Gladstone U is presumed will formally endorse It ana add to it the necessary elements to attract the majorities of other factions and thus start his party with a united front in the coming contest It is even intimated that Mr Gladstone has his programme ready now that he is engaged en-gaged in Rthe task of training Mr Chamberlain and Lord Hartington up to it and that tho October conference will simply be a perfunctory affair for the purpose of allowing the hostile leaders an occasion to submit gracefully In France the electoral contest has become tame The ardor with which the campaign was opened has disappeared disap-peared The country is singularly quiet and the political committees are Inactive Inac-tive |