The national Republican., 1869-01-09
THE NEW ENGLISH CABINET.

The gentleinen who constitute the new Eng. |
lish Cabinet have recently made some dozen |
speeches, all told, foreshadowing and indieAr
Ing the policy which 10 to govern Mr.. Glad- |
stones administration.
There is one Observable fact, which IL may |
be well to notice In this connection, these sd;
dresses travel far outside the usual routine O.
English politics.
There IL an air OF progress about these
speeches which indicates that heneeforth re-
form and Improvement are to be the order OF
the day. The reform movement has borne the
Cabinet into power, and we are glad, there
fore, to see distinct and manifest recog milton
OF new departure for a higher and puror
condition in public affairs.
The two great men In this Cabinet are Mr.
Gladstone and Mr.. Bright, and 1t is to their
speeches that we must look to ascertain what
is to be the settled policy of the Queens Gov
ernment under this new condition of affairs.
Mr.. Gladstone's speech is remarkable one,
and the Premier was evidently In excellent
spirits when he made 1t, He heaps immense
ridicule upon the Disraoh ministry, and ac-
cuses II for fleeing from a Parliament which
II had invoked. We observe that Mr.. Glad.
stone takes ground against voting by ballot
We do not feel certain that Mr.. Gladstone 10
right In this, but he makes many promises
which In themselves considered, are valuable.
He promises a reduction Of the national ex
penditures, revision OF the bankrupt laws,
and gives assurance that more attention will
be given to general education. There are sew
ersl other important reforms which Mr.. Glad.
stone indicates which In themselves are very
desirable.
Upon the question Of the Irish Church dis
establishment, the distinguished Premier ut
ters no uncertain sound. He contends, in a
manful and above board way, that the time
has fully come for q decisive reform of the
Irish grievances, and denounees as folly the
notion that, by overthrowing this Church
establishment in Ireland, 1t will contribute to
Catholic Aseendaney. While the new Premier
does not commit himself to any distinct plan Of
dlseatAblishment, he nevertheless pro omises to
make this question aieading proposition in
the new Parliament.
The concluding portion of John BrightI
speech 10 manlyj 1t 10 excellent, and eminentl!
characteristics OF the man. Mr.. Bright says
Ihave accepted what know to be q positio
that 1 have been urged into II by circunr
the opinions expressed In various ways, OF
very large portion OF the Liberal party Wit
whom have been accustomed to act. Ithinl
therefore, that have the right to claim som,
ienient Judgment Of my friends. I have no
aspired at any time OF my life to the rank Of
priyy councillor nor to the dignity OF Ca
met once. should have preferred much !
have remained in the common rank OF simpl
citizenship, in which heretofore have live,
There is acharming story contained 10 singl
verse of the Old Testament, which has ofte
struck me as being one OF great beauty. Man
of you will recollect that the prophet, in Jou
neying to and fro, was very Hospitality ente
tained by what 10 termed In the Bible Shit
nammite woman. In return for her hospitality
he wished to make her some amends, and
called her to him and asked her what ther
was that he should do for her. Shall spea
for thee to the King" he said, TOR to the cal
tain OF the host I"
Now 1t has always appeared to me to be
great answer that the Shunammite woman 7,
turned. She replied, ~ dwell among min
own people, When the question was put I
which now fnd myself, the answer from m
heart WAS the sAme-I wish to dwell anon
mine own people. Happily, the time ma
have oome-l trust II has come-when In thl
of the Crown, and at the same time not feel !
in any degree necessary to dissociate himsel
from his own people. Some partial friends o
mine have said that have earned all this by
my long service In the popular cause. Thel
know not what they say. They would adj
labor to labor and would compensate life 0
service by double responsibility. am sensi
BILE of the duty which 10 imposed upon me as
Minister OF the Grown. II is my duty faith
fally to perform that which belongs 10 thA
positions but have not lehs faithfully to Ac
as becomes an honest representative Of tn
people. lmust now make the attempt, Their
are many who believe the attempt must fail
will hope that 1t will not fail. will do al
hnd that the two Offices of which am speAl
ing are Inconsistent and dlseordant, | hope
least shall be able to discover which Of the
It is light for me to surrender.