New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-01-26
GLADsToNEs APPEAL TO THE COUNTRY.


GLADSTONES APPEAL TO THE COUNTRY.
MIR. Gladstone has subjected the Parliament
| to species OF Euthsnasia. 1t was growing
old 1t had lost the elasticity and vigor OF
youth and was evidently gaining nothing in
wisdom by it's length of days. It would have
| expired by limitation of law in two years
| MORE and nothing was to be gained in strug-
Cling on toward that limit. The life of o man
| is estimated by the Psalmist at seventy years,
but statistics show that half that term is the
average duration of a generation of men. The
same proportion holds as to Parliaments.
Three years and a half of the seven allotted
by the constitutional provision is the ordinary
life of House of Commons. Experience has
shown that an English legislative as
sembly generally loses its discipline
and cohesion in three or four years
Mr. Gladstone assumed Office after the Con-
servatives had been defeated by the extended
suffrage they had themselves been forced to
give the country, with almost universal APP
prevail and with everything in his favor. He
could rely upon a majority of over one hun
dred on any party question, and the pubic
opinion of the country appeared to sustain
that majority. But by a series OF untoward
incidents its subOrdinatiOn and discipline were
so shaken that on the Irish University bill,
which the Premier distinctly announced as a
measure upon which the Ministry would
stand or fall, he met with an unexpected and
signal defeat, which forced his resignation.
Mr. Dsraeli, as the acknowledged leader
of the opposition, was asked to form
new government, but no recognized the
impossibility of organizing a working majority
out of the incOngruOus elements which had
defeated Mr.. Gladstone, and declined the
responsibility Of adopting the only alternative
of disnssng the Parliament and appealing to
the country. Under these circumstances MIR.
Gladstone resumed his Office, but has never
ceased to feel the lack of firm working force
in his supporters. Ii ia, therefore, not only IN
strict accordance with constitutional pre-
cedents, but also is doubtless a judiciOus mea-
sure for him to consult the country by new
elections, which shall either furnish him
more trustworthy support in the House of
Commons or hand the honors and response
bilities of Office over to the Conservatives.
The Premier leaves no room for conjecture
rs to his motives and purposes in this action.
simultaneously with the announcement of the
dissolution, he issues an address to his cleo
tors at Greenwich. asking for reelection and
giving his reasons for the step he has advised
the Queen to take. He has no reserve in
charging his defeat upon the Irish University
bill to coalition between the Conservative
leaders and the Catholic Prelates and says
that since that event the Government has not
been possessed of sufficient authority to carry
out great legislative measures. An appeal to
the country he regards as the only proper
remedy for such state OF things. lie
goes before the people with an excellent
financial showing, promised surplus or
f5,OOO,OOO, with which the Government expect
to relieve local taxation, and especially to
abolish the income tax. A somewhat extern
sive and very practical programme is set
forth of work which is to devOlve upon the
Government in case the present Ministry is
sustained. 1t comprises a thorough overhaul
ing of the subjects of Education, Land. Game,
and Liquor Laws. IL would be hard To CON
ceive of an appeal to a people based upon
sounder considerations, and with less refer
ence to sentiment or passion. 1t is under
stood that the dissolution will be formally
proclaimed to-day, and that the elections will
take place at once, the new Parliament meet
ing early in March.
contest Will 10 Ouc VI tho iuoo1 hoeiy
contested in recent years. Both sides appear
confident of the victory, which is enough to
insure an active canvass. The chief feature
of the short campaign will doubtless be more
pronounced and conspicuous appearance OF the
radical element than has ever before been seen
I'm England. This has, in fact, been especially
noticeable during the last few months, the
late speeches of Mr.. Chamberlain and of Sir
Charles Dixie having received far more gen.
eral attention than ever before. But
even these gentlemen will scarcely represent
the more extreme phases of English rad
icalism in tho present canvass Mr. Charles
Bradlaugh, as soon as he heard the news of
the dissolution, Immediately cancelled all his
engagements in this country, and sails for
England tomorrow to take part in the active
operations of the electoral struggle. If he
succeeds in getting seat in the new Parlia-
ment he will introduce an entirely new ele-
ment into its discussions and whether he
succeeds OF not, he will undoubtedly be the
occasion of good deal of liveliness during
| the campaign. The Conservative programme
remains yet to be seen.
TUR CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS