, 1874-02-21

% ~I'ON ~ N0A VI wv ing Vi bLAN Al0AS
earned honors. This is a point upon
which Mr.. Disraeli and Mr.. B~radlaugh
come together from the opposite poles of
opinion to agree. The Conservative lead
Ell denounces this " unprecedented course
on genera principles, and finds quite an
assortment of unworthy motives for it.,
and the Republican orator clearly init
mates that Mr.. Gladstone counts upon the
chances of a winter voyage to keep him
out OF he canvass for Northampton. But
opposition from both these sources was
no more than was to be expected. Neither
Mr.. DisTeali, the champion of privilege,
nor Mr.. Bradlaugh, the champion of the
disfranchised masses, could be expected to
accept the action Of Mr. Gladstone, as
dictated by the motives which the Premier
ascribes to it. The effect upon the sup
porters of the Government, it is feared by
the Liberals, will be extremely unfavoura-
BILE. There is no doubt that the disso-
luton has not been generally expected by
them. 1t is even probable, according to
the "Spectator," that only one of the Prime
Minister'S colleagues had heard Of the
proposed dissolution till within an hour
or two of the despatch of Mr. Gladstone's
address to the newspapers. 1t speaks, as
we already know by telegraph, of the
authority of the government and the
strength of the House of Commons as seri-
ously impaired and greatly in want Of re-
novation; it %recites the defeat on the Irish
University Bill and Mr.. Disreali's refusal
to take office as the origin of the mischief
complains of the summary manner in
which, az a result Of this loss of strength.
the House of Lords dealt with the Bills Of
the last session refers to the recent par
tial electoral defeats as a~ggravating the
danger.
The members thinking nothing Of what
was impending over them, were dispersed
all over England and the Continent look
ing forward to a season Of rest and recrea-
ton. This luminous of Mr.. Gladstone
came to them like thunder out of a clear
sky. They had instantly to drop every plan
they had formed for their vacations, and
rush by the first train home to consult
with their constituents and arrange a plan
for the new canvass. 1.-The time and
trouble", says the Tribune, care important
matters; the expense still more SO; in
many cases it will be ruinous."
1t may be that the Conservatives rely
upon this state of feeling more than upon
their own efforts. It is not improbable
that the predictions o; q conservative
triumph in England, Of which the papers Of
that side are full, are based upon similar con-
siderations. 1t is certain that in the address
ofMr. Disraeli to his constituents there is no
statement of principles, no proposed plan
Of action which could be supposed to have
any effect of rousing the enthusiasm OF
the masses or provoking the adhesion of
politicians. He takes almost no exception
to the plans set forth by his rival, but
contents himself by saying that these ends
can as we'll be obtained through the aces
sion of the conservatives. ''There is some
thing positively surprising" says the N. Z.
Tribune, Gin the taunt which he throws out
against Mr.. Gladstone ofhaving violated the
constitutional law by persisting for several
months in the occupation Of a seat to
which he was no longer entitled. Every
one remembers the defeat of Mr.. Gladstone
upon the Irish University Bill, which was
followed by his resignation, and that Mr..
Disraeli, being called upon to form a new
Government, may be said to have violated