The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-02-11

liamentarv reform, or we're sent to prison for
presuming TO suggest that the taxes were
somewhat burdensome.
The most significant circumstances in con
neotion with this advance of opinion aud
principles is that radical measures are prof
fered not by the representative Of minority
in the nation, but by the most powerful
minister who has directed the affairs Of Eng
land since the days of Fit. We doubt
indeed, whether Pitt was ever actually so
strong as Mr.. Gladstone is at this moment.
Pitt played desperate game, and was always
liable to suffer the penalty of failure,
But MIR. Gladstone is asked to do nothing
more than carry out certain internal reforms
which he has eagerly advocated for years
past. When mans heart Is set upon
great work, and the power TO accomplish
that work is suddenly risced in his hands,
we have right to look for great results. Mr.
Gladstone is absolutely master at the present
time of the destinies of England He has an
enormous majority in the House Of Commons
at his back. The vast bulk of the people are
cheering him on. The opposition party is
weak and disorganized Even MIR. Disraelis
genius can do nothing for the Conservatives
The day has gone by when the Prime Minis
ter was little more than puppet in the hands
of the sovereign Mr.. Gladstone has more
power than the Queen, and Ii is difficult to
say what measure he could not pass through
Parliament if he chose to bring all his strength
to bear upon it, He occupies the grandest
position which any man Of his country has
been able to boast of since Parliamentary
government was known.
liberal programmes "truly liberal
programmes therefore no more than all
the world had right to look for from his
hands. He has dwelt much upon the wrongs
of Ireland; in certain sense it may be said
hat he hac yNoltfaal of
them. Now it is within his power to redress
those wrongs But his hand must not pause
there. In England he will find want more
widely spread, and discomfort more deeply
seated, than at any period within the term of
his own life. By q strange oversight this
subject was not even alluded to in the speech
prepared for the Queen. 1t cannot be so
ignored in Parliament. The abolition of
religious tests" will not put bread in the
mouths Of the hungry. It may be a task of
great difficulty to provide a remedy for
the hardships under which the English
laboring classes at present smart. But we
have been taught to believe that Mr.. Glad
stone is a very great man, and the people have
put unlimited power in his hands in order
| that he may settle difficulties which weaker
ministries could not attack. The cries of the
| distressed operatives and mechanics of Eng
land reacq to every part of the world. We
| seem to hear them in this country night and
| day. 1t might inspire any statesman to per-
| form noble and memorable deeds to see these
| thousands of helpless men before him, with
| the knowledge that he had the power to raise
them out of their misery if only he could find
| out the way. To that problem Mr.. Glad
1 stone must address himself, if he would save
the credit of his name, and retain the position
| which was conferred upon him amid the &C.
clan ations of the people.