New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-01-24
FOREIGN MISCELLANY.
ENGLAND.
ENGLAND.
HoW GLADSTONE AIIENATED HIS SUPP0RTERs-
DISREGARD OF POPULAR sENTlMENr-THE
CABINET RECONSTRUCTION.
IRON OUR OWN CORRESPONDENCE

CABINET kECONSlhttii'N'
IRON OUR OWN CORRESPONDENCE
LoNDoN. Jan. 5-The blow which Mr. Gladston,
has struck against his most Liberal supporters ha'
been keenly felt Ii is the more severe because il il
the second and because it is the evidence of calcu
lated ostrangement, springing from political and moi
from personal reasons At the formation of Mr. Glad
stones Cabinet, l expressed plainly-more plainly
perhaps than was thought prudent in England
the profound dissatisfaction which the Radicals
felt at the exclusion of two men who were at that
time representative men, Mr.. Forster and Mr. STAINS
field. All sorts of excuses for their omission were
offered, hut the real reason was known to be Mr.
Gadstone's uncomfortable distrust of the ideas OF
the men to whose strength he owed his elevation
He was a partially converted Conservative then
and his conversion is far from complete now. he
had formed an alliance with Mr.. Bright because Mr.
Bright's active cooperation had become necessity
TO any administration which should recognize Mr.
Gladstone as its nominal chief. Mr. Bright was no
longer the leader of the extreme wing, but his name
was in popular estimation, still synonymous with
advanced Liberalism. 1t difficult and Mr.. Glad
stone knew il was difficult to organize Immediately
any strong minority of Radicals against Govern
ment in which Mr.. Bright held Office. On the two
next coming questions, the Irish Church and IRISH
Land, Mr.. Bnghts opinions might fairly be called
extreme. so il thought safe TO give all the
seats in the Cabinet to the old Wings, to Ears and
Dukes and veteran oce-holders, and TO put Oft Mr..
Forster with q Vice-Presidency of the Council
and Mr. Stansfeld with the SecTetaryship to the
Treasury. When Mr. Brights illness left the Cabi-
net wholly in moderate hands. it was thought pru-
dent TO recognize in a grudging way Mr.. ForsteTs
great parliamentary services. He taken into the
Cabinet but his official rank and pay remained the
same. Mr. Brights name was kept as a shield, while
Mr. Bright himself ignorant even OF the titles OF
acts pushed through by the Government IN contempt
OF his known opinions. The Irish Coercion act was
an instance.
Tantalizng reports of Mr.. Bright's steady con-
valescence were assiduousy circulated. His own
friends made unaccOuntable mistakes about his con-
ditiOn. The near approach of the session rendered
further delay impossible. 1t was felt that Mr.
Bright unable TO appear in his seat and bear the
weight of irSsome duty which Office imposes
must be allowed at last his own way and 90 out.
When his resi- gnation was announced, 1t was taken
for granted everywhere but in the inner official
circles that Mr. Stansfed would at last be offered
the Just reward of his distinguished abilities and
services. He had been long in Office that bis
Radicalism could not be of a very violent or
dangerous type. Out of Office he might have been an
active member of the minority which had taken post
below the gangway. He stood in peculiar position
The Radicals had reason to suspect the fidelity OF
his convictions, and would have welcomed his adj
mission into the Cabinet a recognition OF
their claims on the Government. Mr.. Gladstone
had no reason TO doubt that Mr.. Stansfeld would
have served him as Faithfully inside the Cabinet as
outside Then what kept him outsidel Nothing
but Mr. Gladstone's continuing repugnance to any
thing like genuine Radcalism. He endures 1t when
he must; when he thinks it safely be defed, he
defies it. Witness his remark TO Mr. Mall, at the
end of last session. that he might carry his support
elsewhere if his confidence was no longer gwen TO
the Government. This after he has used Mr.. Mall
and the dissenting interest which he represents
throughout the session. His slight to Mr. Stansfeld
is similarly conceived. If it personal it would
be less mschevous; but it ia not personal. The re-
lations between Mr.. Gladstone and Mr.. Stansfeld
are 80 close that Mr. Stansfeld is willing to keep,
and for the present intends to keep his subordinate
post in Mr. Gladstones Government. His exclusion
from the Cabinet is due purely to his Radicallsm 1t
is almost incredible that Mr. Gladstone should think
it safe to exhibit just an ostentatiOus dislike to
the Radical wing and shut the door of his Cabinet
in the face of a man whom on other grounds he
would welcome because of his Radicalism.
The sole explanation is the one have given. The
Liberal leader prefers to ALLEVIATE the strongest sec
ton OF his supporters rather than offend the Wings
rather than conquer his own preudices rather than
admit the fact, which stares everybody else IN the
face-the fact which is the key to English politics
the growing power of the independent and philo-
sophical Liberals. They pushed him hard last SEES
sion in many debate and division. They would
have beaten him on the Education bill but for the
support which Mr. Forster knew how to secure from
the Tories. support which never would have been
accorded to Mr. Gladstone, because he would never
Io1 no facf and I.
That instinct which is essential TO leader III the
House is wanting to him, and the want of 1t leads
him into Just such stupendous mistakes as this last
insult To the Radicals Should Mr.. Forster, on some
great OCCASION find the task of enlisting COnserva
tive allies too repulsve, it is difficult to see who
will supply the clements of Mr.. GladstOne's major
tiles On Irish Edncation for instance, what com
promise can be offered bad enough to secure Tory
support and specious enough to permit even mod
crate Liberals TO fight under the same banner'
The discomfort in the Liberal franks is far deeper
than the numerical strength shown in divisions
would indicate. Everybody knows that Mr. Faw-
cett Mr. Taylor, and Sir Charles Dixie act according
10 their own convictions without much regard to the
party whip. When Mr.. Vernon HarcOurt began to
take the same line the split in the party visibly
widened. Mr. Winterbotham's vigorous protest
against the Tory alliance which carried the Educa-
tion hill was supported by Mr.. Richards Mr. Mall,
and other members whose closest relations are with
those powerful religious bodies that have been re-
lied upOn to stand by Mr.. Gladetone on what may
call conscientious grounds. If they abandon him,
half his popular strength is tgone. They would he
vortb conciiatng one might suppose at the cost OF
=. few iu-natured remarks from more arlstocratc
supporters But Mr Gladstone is convinced that his
personal popularity will sustain him, whatever ber-
Ties he takes with Radicals. He is III danger
of relying exclusively upon his undeniable
legislative successes, remembering that some OF
them were won against the Jealous opposition
- a. podicols and believing that their resistance