The Sun.
London, England, 1867-04-22 00:00:00

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LONDON, MONDAY, APRIL 22, 1867.

• -

From the beginning of the session Mr. GLAD-
STONE has manifested an extraordinary anxiety to
make himself prominent, and has succeeded to a
great extent in doing so, whether the object be a very
desirable one or not. Ilis la.it attempt, however,
surpasses all the others in boldness of design and in
manner of execution. It is said that'he is to retire
from the leadership of the Liberal party. It is true
that the matter is so vaguely put by himself in the
letter which furnishes the text of the assertion that
there is room to doubt, hope, or fear, as the case
may be. Still it cannot be denied that there has been
enough said and written by the right hon. gentleman
fully to justify one in forming the surmise, and to
speculate upon the reasons which may have induced
him to do so, and the consequences of such a step

being taken. In the first place, Mr. CRAWFORD
writes to Mr. GLADSTONE to inquire, on the part of
many members of the House who " supported him"
in the Friday of famous memory, which course he
proposes to take respecting the remaining
amendments which stand in his name. To
this a reply is returned from Hawarden,
which is about as ambiguous in its lan-
guage as the right honourable gentleman can
make it, which is saying a great deal we will admit.
From the tone of this epistle we should be perfectly
justified in assuming that he meant to quit his
post, but he does not actually say it in words. The
Observer of yesterday announced the "practical
withdrawal" of Mr. GLADSTONE from the leader-
ship of the Liberal party ; a statement which con-
firmed the rumours that had been circulated during
the previous week. At any rate, it is evident
that Mr. GLADSTONE has made a regular failure
of his work, and although many mistakes attended
his career as leader of the House they have been far
surpassed by the incidents which have distinguished
his career as leader of the Opposition. He has evi-
denced a disposition to be "tyrannical," and a better
word could not be found for describing his conduct
in his dealings with his party, and when this
demeanour was naturally resented he became per-
verse, and the consequences have been serious, if
indeed they should not eventually prove to be fatal,
to his power and influence.
The difficulties that at all times surround those
who attempt to deal with Reform were greatly en-
hanced on this recent occasion on account of the
jealousy entertained by Mr. GLADSTONE for any-
thing that was proposed by the Conserva-
tives. Therefore any effort that was made
to improve the Bill before the House was vir-
tually nullified ; and those followers of Mr.
GLADSTONE, who went on the general merits of
the thing apart from party prejudice, soon found
themselves in an awkward dilemma, for they were
going in a contrary direction to their leader. A
signal proof of the want of unanimity that existed
was given on the Monday when the Instruction was
withdrawn, and it was to revenge his wrongs or
to retrieve his position that Mr. GLADSTONE made
the attack on Friday, which resulted in such dire
defeat to himself and such great success to the
Government. At the same time there was no reason
why so decisive a step should be taken, and we feel
convinced that if Mr. GLADSTONE now withdraws
from the post he was so eager to assume that he will
inflict an injury on his reputation that it will be
long in recovering from, if indeed it ever does. He
will show that he gives way to temper, which is an
unpardonable thing in a leader to do. No one
should presume to direct others who cannot first
control himself, and it is no exaggeration to say that
talent and eloquence are minor considerations in
comparison with tact, discretion, and forbearance.

The most striking thing to notice in this letter of
Mr. GLADSTONE'S is the bitter spirit which actuates
it. According to his theory, independent opinions
should not be the system known among members
of a party. If this is the principle on which he has
acted it is not to be wondered at that he has got on
so badly, and given and taken so much offence.
Another extraordinary part of it is that he hints at
a " reversal, either formal or violent, of the vote
of Friday, the 12th," as the only effectual
mode of amending the measure of Reform
now before the House. This is very idle, be-
cause he must well know, in his own mind, that
such a thing as a " reversal" of the vote in question
is not only improbable, but almost impossible, be-
cause no haste induced it, and it was from no sud-
den indignation that so many members of the party
did not act with their chief. It was from the
settled convictions of their minds that they deter-
mined to save Reform, even if in the attempt they
had to mourn the loss of their party, and to brave

the displeasure of an infuriated and baffled leader.
After what took place on Monday there was no
cause for any one being astonished at the events of
Friday, and yet Mr. GL ADS rom professes surprise
and indignation for the course taken by these mem-
bers who decided the division. Ile sneers at the
bill itself from beginning to end in a very unbe-
coming manner, and when he announces his inten-
tion to assist all who are against any attempt to
" limit yet further the scanty modicum of enfran-
chisement proposed by the Government," he might
remember that it goes too far for him by a long way
in the matter of household suffrage.

Without any disrespect for Mr. GLADSTONE we
may be permitted to say that he is making himself
very ridiculous by all this confusion worse con-
founded, and that what he had to say on the sub-
ject had better have been stated in the House of
Commons, or else he had better have had recourse
to his old plan and summoned a meeting of his

followers. He could then have said, in plain words,
what he intended to do, and either make the best
of a bad thing og else have resigned with dignity.
As it is it is neither one thing nor the other ; and this
missive, which may read either as a resignation or
a threat, is quite out of character with the position
of one who occupies so important a post. What
might have been excused or passed over in one who
was inexperienced cannot be forgiven in the conduct
of a statesman of so much experience as the right
hon. gentleman. We believe that the prevailing
feeling in the minds of all who peruse this
letter will be that of disappointment. The public
takes a great interest in the careers of those who
distinguish themselves by particular talents, and
an interest that exists quite independent of party
or politics, and totally distinct from the glory that
attends success or the mortification attending defeat.
Besides this, the members of the party who fol-
lowed Mr. GLADSTONE deserve better treatment
than they have received at his hands ; and as for
those who departed from him they are not likely to
be won back by insults and reproach. If Mr.
GLADSTONE finds that he cannot keep calm
and collected in difficulties, and control his indigna-
tion, he had better resign at once, but let him say
SO in a straightforward manner ; but if he intends
to remain where he is, he must not express himself
in this absurd fashion ; and whichever be the deci-
sion he arrives at, we feel disappointed to witness
such petty jealousy and pique in one of such emi-
nent abilities and commanding position, and there
is no doubt that the feeling is shared by his friends
and opponents ; and, what is of still more conse-
quence, by the nation at large, which has a right to
demand something better from its leading states-
men.

Not very long ago the tea plantations of India
were among the most thriving and satisfactory of
its speculations. The cultivation is admirably
adapted to the climate of some parts of the country,
and the ever-increasing demand for the commodity
leaves no room to fear an overstocked market. Of
late, however, there has been a shadow on the
brightness of the prospect, and the tea planters of
Eastern Bengal find themselves in a painful and
depressing position. Very recently a large and
influential deputation waited upon the Governor-
General to represent their grievances, and its
members included the representatives of 80
firms, 13 companies, and 6 banks. These
gentlemen have some reason to complain
of the conduct of the authorities, since
most of their difficulties are owing to the lack of a
free and easy mode of communica ion between