OCR Text |
Show THE UNIONISTS TRIUMPH. Tho returns from . tho British elections, elec-tions, while- incomplete, indicate bo3'ond much doubt the absDluto triumph of the Unionists over tho Conservatives. The issuo was not alone upon tho revenue bill as tho Lords pretended, but there were man3' sido currents that had lo bo takon into account in tho political sea. Among those, tariff reform (meaning (mean-ing in Great Britniu tho imposition of a tariff in placo of froo (rado), labor (ions, came in lo complicate tho situation. situa-tion. But tho Unionists seom to have mot all of thoso issues and emerged with a substantial majority in Parliament. It is claimed by tho Conservatives that tho Unionists will not havo an absolute ab-solute majorit3r over tho Conservatives and tho Irish Nationalists; but thero is no reason to expect opposition to the Unionist revenuo progTammo from the Irish Nationalists. The3' aro understood to bo practicall3 a unit, in favor of the revenuo bill, and so far ns tho news can bo sized up, their relations to the Unionist majoril3' will bo close and cordial. cor-dial. Counting on this, the Unionists havo obtained a signal triumph. Tho3-will Tho3-will according' re-enact tho revenud bill, and this timo the Lords will hard-13' hard-13' have tho temerity lo oppose it. True- onough, that opposition is possible; pos-sible; nnd true enough, it may take sov-cral sov-cral elections to finally decide this groat question, as is cabled. But in tho end, if tho Lords continue their opposition, op-position, tho probabilRy is that the Lords will bo doposcd as a co-ordinate branch of Parliament. At tho vcr3' least thoir power to intorforo in tho enactment enact-ment of revenue bills will bo complete-I3" complete-I3" and peremptorily taken awa3. Believing as wo do that the principles of tho revonuc bill were absolutely sound and that as oxpoundod b3' Mr. Llo3'd-Gcorgo Llo3'd-Gcorgo the lovics upon the immense- unearned un-earned incromont upon which tho Lords havo escaped taxation heretofore and desire lo escapo taxation hereafter, revenue, wo hope that tho Unionists will press their Mct0r3-, and obtain the succession of victories that ma3T be uocessary in order to establish this sound principlo of taxation as carriod in the suspended rovenuo bill. |