New-York tribune., 1874-08-25

disclaims it. while relieving him from the imputa-
ton of having assaed the dignity of the House OF
Commons does not detract from the interest OF the
situation. Mr. Disraeli cannot unsay what he has
said of his colleague. Parliament has adjourned
and nobody knows what may have occurred privately
between the two men who now stand in such SIN
guar relation to other.
The interest of the debate did not en1 with TINS
incident. Sir William Harcourt not satisfied with
one victim made an onslaught on Mr. Gladstone
for whom, though he took office under him. he Is
not Thought to entertain sentiments of the warmest
affection The onslaught took the form OF an attack
on Mr. Gadstone's belief, what Sir William Har-
court treated as his belief in the divine right OF
Bishops and in the authority of canon law. ana
such matters. and a distinct statement that MI
Gladstone thought Archbishop Laud better author-
ity than the great names of Parker. Whltgift, or
Grndal. The doctrine of Mr.. Gladstone, said nir
Wm. Harcourt, may be the true doctrine, put IL Is
not to be found in the Constitution of England OF Oh
the Church of England or i'll the TRADITIONS Vi 'hc
great historical Wing party, and so on.
Mr. Gladstone's reply is thought by his friends 10
have been masterpiece. They speak of it as hav-
ing taught Sir William Harcourt lesson. The
Spectator, which idolzes Mr.. Gladstone and-to use
mild word-detests Sir Wm Harc0urt, says MIR.
Gladstone struck his assailant down serenely. al
most playfully without cond ascending to scorn or
descending to controversy, but with easy careless,
lounging thrusts ran his presumptuous adversary
through and through, ending with the rather sur
prisiug assertion that he had expelled Sir VIM. Ear
court from the Liberal ranks. All this is Violent
and it is hardly worthy of serious journal to talk
of Sir William as bludgeoning the Marquis OF Sails
bury aud then turning with spring and endeavor-
ing to poniard Mr.. Gladstone. There can be little
doubt that Mr. Gladstone made Sir VIM. HarcOurt
pay roundly for his attack 1t would be strange II
so consummate debater as the late Prime Minister
should not know how TO take care of himself IN
Parliamentary encounter, and to give as good
as he GETS or better. 1t is odd to find Mr.. Glad
stone appearing as Lord Salisbury's defender,
but there are points Of sympathy between the two
on ecclesiastical as on some other matters. MIR.
Gladstone was the first to explain that Lord Sails
bury did not say clustering majority. Then he
chaffed Sir William Harcourt in style that wOuld
not have done discredit to Lord Palmerston himself
There was something rresistibly dro in the picture
he drew of bis antagonist as clever and we-Inean-
ing Young man, who might hope for creditable
career after he had sown his Parliamentary wild oats.
All that is fair enough but the notion of The Specfa
tor that Sir William Harcourt has been really injured
by it will not be adopted by anybody who takes ia
practical view of affairs. To say that he has been
expelled from the Liberal party because he and its
chief have said few sharp things of each other IS
yerv wild indeed. The truth is that Sir William Har-
court has, during the session just ended, as The
Times fairly says, greatly strengthened the Parlia
mentary position which he had previously attained.
He never bad so good reason now to hope that he
may at some future day. lead the party of which he
is already one of the most conspicuous members.
G., w, 6,