THE GENERAL ELECTION-RISE OF

THE FLOWING TIDE. The flowing tide has behaved disappoint ingly, unhandsomely. Ib has risen cer tainly, bub how ? According to prediction the tide should have'swelled tumultuously,' carrying tho Grand Old Man on tho creso of waves of popular enthusiasm into the safe haven of a large majority. Instead, it has wobbled in with a teasing delibsration. and promises to leave the veteran statesman on a pinnacle, possibly, bub a pinnacle com posod of such shifty materials that the" first sorious onslaught will not improbably com pletely wreck his prospect. In his last speech at Edinburgh Mr Gladstone ad mitted that he misliked the prospect. Furthermore, he let fall a significant ex pression which seems to imply thab he is doubtful whether wibh the majority ab his disposal hs can attempt tho adventure that has been so loudiy proclaimed as obli gatory and imperative. Tho duty of the loaders of tho Opposition, whon thoy came into power would bo, tho G.O.M. paid, '' to consider with care the entire situation " and afterwards apply themselves, not to tho presentation of a measure of Home Rule, but to the " great and diversified work " to which the Liberal Party is committed. This sentence oontrasta so surprisingly with tho spirit of all Mr Gladstone's recenb speeches that one eenrcety wonders ab the ••Times" and tho Paniellites pricking up thor ears. "Is ib possible," asks the former, ' that Mr Gladstone, having secured his majority, such as it is, can bo o.ontem pluting yob another chango of front on tho sharpest of sharp curves ?" Tho Par nolliteH are already crying " We told you co." "We heard nothing whilst Mr I'ar nell was alive," so writes the organ of their party, "of considering the entire situa tion," which wo tako to moan watching how the cat jumps, and we, at any rate, aro not to be trifled wifch. John Burns and his compact littlo labour party in the now Parliament have aho already resolved they will nob be trifled with. The Gladstonian programme must offer tbo labour loader* fair concessions, or before the cloeo of the debato on the Queen's speech 'twill be a case of—to quote Mis« Ellen Farren—" over goes the show." But what moro itnmo diately interests the Anglo-Colonial com munity juct now is tho personnel oi the in coming Government. 