New-York tribune., 1871-03-25
MIR. GLADSTONE'S LATEST BLUNDER.
IrpnM nrR OWN CnRRESPONDKNT.I

IFROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDbN1.I
LONDON March 9.-If you had asked any we'll
informed politician week ago to run over the
list of Mr. GIadstone's Cabinet and say who was
the most unlikely man to be taken as Mr.. Chill
ders,s successor. he would have been pretty sure
IN name Mr"Goschen. But if you had then sug-
oested that the extreme unsuitableness OF Mr.
Goschen for the Admiralty made 1t prooaple
that Mr. Gladstone would appoint him FIRST Lord'
the well-informed politician would probably have
agreed in your view. And now III fact, mere we
have Mr. Goschen as the naval Minister OF the great
est naval PowerI say it with no little fear OF rebuke
at bome-in the world. The fact is simply amazing.
AS the d6aouemeRt Of a comedy, judlcious theater-
manager would reject it as fiction too absurd Tor
the dulest audience 1t is agreed all hands that
Mr.. Goschen knows absolutely nothing about naval
affairs 1t is not agreed that his Poor law admins
tration has revealed any surprising executive pow
ers such as might Justify as it would in Mr. forsters
case the choice of Minister ignorant of the special
work to which he was assigned, but known to be
capable of mastering speedily all the needfu tech
nicaI knowledge. Why, then, was Mr.. Goschen made
First Lord Of the Admiralty
The answer may seem irrelevant, but is, believe,
the true one. Mr.. GOschen goes to the Admiralty
because Mr. Gladstone hates the Radicals. His natl-
raj choice was Mr.. Stansfeld who has had experience
| in naval matters, and whose ability is unquestoned
/
Mr. Stansfeld has been a of weakness, because
Mr. Stansfeld is or was a representative man among
the radical members of the Liberal party After Mr.
Forster had been taken in. the leaving out of Mr.
Stansfeld was slight more marked than ever. The
strain of the situation was growing daily greater
MI GadstOnes repeated mistakes in policy and blum
ders in party management were steadily enlarQng
the ranks of the Independent members below the
| gangway. They had been told at least twice in the
most unmistakable way that in the matter of office
they had no rights which Prime Minister was bound
| to respect. On matters far dearer to them on ques
| tions involving liberal principles, on import
ant details of measures which they had COM
! PEELED reluctant Government to make its
own, their wishes were neglected, and their
protests contemptuousy oyerruled. One great
reason it was publicly said in Mr.. Gladstones mind
for declining Mr. Childers resignation six weeks ago
was his dislike to bring in Mr. Sansfed, though it
was accompanied with growing distinctness of per-
ception that il would not do to leave him out much
longer Mr.. Childers came back from his voyage
in state of health which admitted longer hesta-
| ton. He must resign he must die. In this
| dilemma, driven to accept new naval minister,
secretly admonished-perhaps even by his colleagues
that fresh reconstruction of the Cabinet without
| Mr. Stansfed would invite a breakup of the party,
Mr. Gladstone seemed to have no alternative but to
put Mr. Stansfeld where he ebelonged-thatis to make
| him First Lord of the Admiralty. But step so
simple so natural, and advantageous as that was
altogether alien from Mr.. Gladstone's disposition.
He seems to have said to himself: True. Imust do
something TO stop the mouths of these troublesome
| Radicals. must open the doors of the Cabinet to
their candidate but can still contrve to do it in
| unracious way can make the concession IA little
conciatory them and barren of profit the party
| as possible. will take Mr.. Stansfeld in, but he
| shall not have the Admiralty. will take Mr. Cos
chen from the Poor Law Board which he understands
| and put him in charge of the navy, of which he is
completely ignorant. Mr.. Stansfeld knows all about
| the navy and nothing about the Poor Law Board
| so be shall not have the navy, and shall have Mr.
Goscheas Poor Law Presidency. Besides, the pay is
less the honor is less, the influence is less Thus
shall silence the radical camor at the very moment
when give them new proof how much | dislike
them"
That. | fear, is why Mr. Goschen is First Lord of
the Admiralty. The " radical clamor." however, is
far from silent Mr. GladstOne's sentiments are no
secret and he has succeeded in irritating great
body of his supporters by the act which Is an
admission of their growing power. They are glad
10 have Mr.. Stansfcld in the Cabinet but they under
stand the motive which sends him TO the Poor Law
BOARD lust as we'll as they understood the motive
which long denied both him and Mr. Forster adj
mission and which left the latter without depart
ment aud without the pay of one, when
Lis admission could longer be postponed.
Since Mr. Clilders was disabled, the Department has
been sailing under jury masts old Lord Halifax
having kind of irregular command Mr. Dudley
Baxter, the Secretary, was still lett ami Is
sIppoaed TO De familiar with the details Of
Admiralty business but now Mr. Dudley
Baxter is taken from that post aud made
Secretary 10 the Treasury in place OF Mr. StaD"cld