The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1880-09-14 00:00:00

THE FIRST•FRUIFH OF THE NEW PARMA-

MENT.

The chose of • melon is not 'unlike the bretkincr-up
of school It lathe opportunity for ascertsinin .1 what
progress has been made, and for awarding merit or
censure. Nor is the task often performed without a
certain degree of disappointment. Some have seemed
to work hard, and have achieved little. Others have
been careless, and yet escaped failure. Unavoidable
circmintanose--illness, pressing engegements, and the
like—have interfered with plane laid down at the coin.
menosuient, and the master is fortunate if in " report-
ing " bonen use an improvement on the doings
of th. previous term. With what feelings ha, our
Head-master dismissed his scholars on the present
ocomioul Is Mx. Gladstone satisfied, or has he mis-
givings as to the progress and trectability of his pupils?
Hs mast be in some degree disappointed. His own
followers, and those who are committed to really
Liberal principles, have behaved well; but there are
some—lt may be said not a few—sho have shown
rather erratic Indications, and whose allegiance it has
not been altogether easy to maintain. All is fair in
love and war, otherwise there would be ample room
for complaint in the conduct of the Opposition. A
little exasperated by defeat, the Conservidives have
harassed ministers, and obstructed sometimes on very
frivolous grounds discourse of parliamentary business.
It has been found that a House Liberal beyond all
Cltie yet susceptible of checks and impediment.;
iaulargis majority even is unable to carry eve/.
thing before it. Great as the Premier's experience has
been, be had again to discover that unless measures
are framed with the ulterior view of modifying the
other House, they stand a great chance of being alto-
lawwrecked. He had, moreover, to be reminded
smooth as the water may be, and steadily as
the ship may sail, breezes may spring up in most
unarpected quarters and spoil • voyage, even when
land ha• been sighted. But, although a feeling of
vexation must have crept over Mr. GialLitone's mind
as be reviewed the work of the session, he has consider.
able resent for self-felicitation. Some of the stumbling.
blocks are got rid of. We shall hear no more of burial
hardships. Employers' liability is now defined by
Act of Parliament. The evil of the Game Laws is
sootthed,lfitbe not killed. A ghost is laid in the
shape of the abolition of the malt duty, and finance
has been put on • sounder and more popular footing.
It could warmly be expected that, in so short • period
as four months, men—eotne of them entirely new to
office—could make for themselves • name. Yet two
or throe have done s while the veterans have for the
most part sustained their reputation,. Mr. Fawcett
has achieved • succees at the Post-office; for he has
thrown enemy into • department much associated
with pigeon-holes and red tape, though it is more
capabb than any other of development. Lord Hart-
Ingtori in his own post, as well as in the temporary
one filled daring the Premier's illness. has more than
justified the favourab'e opinions formed of him. Sir
W. Harcourt has proved himself to I, as vigorous in
official work as in debate, and Sir Charles ililko has
shown that he undoubted qualifications for
high office, or should it be forgotten that Mr.
)(modelle, whose claim to office was by no means
undisputed, has dons extremely well in the depart-
ment of Education, or that Mr. Chamberlain has
gained the good opinion of the House and .4 the
country. It is • pleasure to record that the first efforts
of Mr. Gladstone's apprentices have been eminently
successful They form th, new blood, without which
nothing am attains to fall development or succors.