New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1868-12-07
MR.. GLADSTONE'S CHAPTER OF AUTOBIOG-
RAPIIIp

We have received a copy of Mr.. Gladstones
Chapter of Autobiography and It Is In the form OF
pamphlet OF sixty three pages. The gist OF the argument
may be gathered from the following extracts Mr. Glad
stone prefaces the pamphlet with the following brief IN.
PRODUCTION:
is on her trial 1t unfair that her assaians should
placed upon their trial too most Of ALL IL they have
matter Of the indictment against them at rate their
defense should be kept apart as they arr
perplex the great issue II g IN tue shsrasr o, ths
o. 9ISs o these So 70 tSese Who nav
feel disposition tc examine eu They were writteh
the date attaches TO them but their publication mas
been delayed until after the stress of general election
The pamphlet begins win solne general remarks Oh
" shall not attempt 10 laugh on The question: or 10
alternate its Importance In theory ut least, and for
the consistency OF statesmen. Change OF opinion ia
those TO whose Judgment the public looks more or ess TO
assist its OwD Is evil TO the county, although amuch
smaller evil than their persistence In course Which they
know to be wrong II is not always 10 he blamed Buzz
II IL always TO be watched with vglancc always To bo
challenged aud put upon its ta Tire question is Of
so much interest that it may justify few rcmarks'
The writer then proceeds 10 point tho great In.
crease the present century has Seem In the the instances
OF what is called political neutrality-suspicious. OF
men who have been constrained TO abandon IN middle
and mature, or even in advanced life, convictions which
yicisstude aud argues that must De concluded that
tsSs3 men hare permanently changed sides
Desauns s % .Ss spSci E y ss ';
ton, great increase in the changes Of party,
opinion, among prominent men.
leap to the conclusion that public character. rule
has been either less upright less vigorous The
explanation is rather TO be found Ia this that the
ment OF tie public mind has been OF nature entirely
transcendng former experiences and that has Likewise
been more promptly and more effectively represented
than at any earlier period the acon OF the Government
and the legislature"
the wants and wishes Of the country being the Office OF
law and OF institutions, the nation IL passes from
that the changes in Its condition and views should be-
represented in the professions aud actions OF its leading
tfap they stir far to
Although it is their business TO take honor and duty
for hcr guides and not the mere dcand or purpose Of
the passing hour, the statesman must also take into
count the state Of facts In which bc is to work while
AROUND him. The gradual transfer Of poa power SsG 10
the general community and the constant seethng Of the
larger range of foresight on the part of the
the preservation of his consistency than was required in
Ny. Gladstone thus states the Orense Of which he is
"Ine ego q,a qaondam; I, the person who have now
accepted foremost share OF the responsibility Of en-
deavourng to put end to the existence Of the Irsh
all men IN Official perhaps In public Ife did until the
year lsa recommend, upon the highest and impep
Gus grounds its resolute maintenance"
He then gives an elaborate explanation OF tho circum
stances connected with the publication OF his emit
tied The state In Its Relations With the Church." which
was printed In 1888 Three editions OF IL published
without textual changes and In the year ls4i fourth
greatly enlarged though IN other respects little altered
issued from tho press. All interest In It had however
even at that time long gone by and lived for nearly
years ony In the vigorous and brilliant, though Tin MI
Gadstones opinion) entirely faithful picture drawn by
the accomplished hand Of Lord Macaulay. During tho
present year 1t has again been IN demand. and has
ceiyed the emphatic many OF whose approval
he was never mado aware during the earlier and less
noisy stages OF its existence.
The distinctive principle OF tho book (the pamphlet
contnues was supposed 10 be- that the State had con
science But the controversy really lies not In tae
istenee OF conscience In the state much as in the
tent or its range. Few would deny tho obligation OF
pie, proceeds upon It. The true Issue this: whether
the State, In its best condition. has such conscience as
particular whether the state OF the United Kingdom alta
period somewhat exceeding thirty ago. WAS or was
far In that condition 10 bc under an obligation
give an active and exclusive support 10 the esa
lislied religion of the country
1.-THE work attempted 10 survey the actual state of the
relations the State and the Church; 10 show
from history the ground which had been defined for
National Church at the determinations aud TO Inquire and
determine whether the existing OF things MAS worth
and defending against encroacLment from
whatever Quarter This question decided emphatiea
Faithful TO logic and theory" Mr. Glaastone,,
Sork da net shrink from applying them To tho case of
ne irish Churcl. The writer's doctrine that the
hurc as established by law. 10 he maintained
Is ruin that this the only principle on which 10
ouIu DO properly and permanently upheLi; that this
principle, II good IN England. good also for Ireland
Oul OF man and that 70 erroneously
hought we should remove, this priceless from
lie view aud the reach OF the irish people would be mean
10 purchase their nomeBary favor at the expense Of
heir permanent interests. and would DO o high onepso
galnst our own sacred obligations.
He then, az considerable length replies 70 the argu-
leDfs Whlch nave been from time To time advanced by
ho opponents OF the opinions enunciaed In that work
nd he challenges all his tn mpuRn him when no
nrms that III the propositions or his work he ad-
ts they aIcin conflict with assault upon the exist
nee of the Irish establishment, they at ms much
even more hostile 10 the grounds on which it is now
ttcmptcd 10 maintain it; and he says, further. =. =.
/" Az no time OF my life aid propOund the maxim sim,
ietr that We were 70 nlalntaln the Establishment
see t.hh F".c.