New-York tribune., 1874-01-27
MR.. BRADLAUGH'S HOPES.

A LETTER CONCERNING THE PROSPECTS OF THE
RADICALS IN THE COMING GENERAL ELECTION IN
rNGI.ND-THEIR PROSPECTS BRIGHT AND CON
TINUALLY IMPROVING.
TO ihe EditOr OF The Tribune.
SIR: In 1868 Mr.. Disraeli gave more than five
months warning Of his proposed appeal to the coltn
try In 1874 Mr.. Gladstone not only dissoives Par
lament without the slightest preliminary notice, but
has actually permitted members of bis Cabinet, in
their speeches in provincial meetings. to talk as if
the Parliament just dissolved was certainly to endure
another session. If this standing by, while men
like Mr.. Stansfeld were allowed to speak of meas
nres to be brought forward by the present Govern
mept on the opening of Parliament never meant
To omen. was not intended to deceive, then some
thing has recently and unexpectedly happened to
change Mr. Gladstone's determination. l regret to
be Obliged to come to the conclusion that the English
Prime Minister has condescended to subtlety Of
surprise, too much like a trick.
Without wasting time in discussing Mr. Glad
stones motives, l propose to examine some of the
issues to be raised in the forthcoming election
struggle and the possible results of the election on
English internal politics. 1t is hard 20 judge Mr..
Gadstones address fai,ly from the telegraphic sum-
mary but there is point SO vital that beside 1t
all others sink into insigniticance. Mr.. Gladstone
proposes some amendment of our Land laws. If he
means real amendment, then he must be prepared
to head the Radical party against the whole terri
torial aristocracy, Whig and Tory. If he means
nothing more than words fair to the and deusive
i'm practice then he is arOusing storm through the
country and will win sympathy from neither party
William Ewart Gladstone is too wise to suppose
that any considerable number of the wretched and
haf-starved agricultural laborers for whom Joseph
Arch speaks can be translated to Canada, New-Zea-
| land. or Australia by charity or Government aid
The Premier of England is thoroughly aware that
for 9 per cent of these agricultural labOrers emgra
ton to the United States is physical impossibility
in consequence Of their pauperized condition. To
give these men the vote without at the same time
enactng some fair remedial measures for their mise
ries, is to hand them weapon to be used in ignor-
ance and despair. Yet what dare Mr.. Gladstone do 7
He is hardly likely to give us an English version OF
the Prussan Stein law that our peasants may be-
come small freeholders He will scarcely propose to
infringe the rights of property by enforcing the cul-
tiyation of lands by large proprietOrs while his
friend the Duke of Argyll is increasing his deer
forests and Her Majesty the Queen has recently af-
forested large tract of land The benefit to be de-
rived from mere abolition Of the right of primo
eepiture in intestaces, or from limitation Of the
mower OF entail is remote to sfy men who are
too hungry to-day to be content with mere proba-
bitv that their great grandchildren may be better
fed.
Mr. Gladstone proposes dealing with the Game
laws There is only one treatment which can be
useful and this Mr.. Gladstone will probably
not venture to attempt; T. G., their entire
repea) The leader of the Liberal party
bid, for Radical support. but if he offers
price sufficient to win this support he must be pre-
pared 70 find arrayed against hun Lord Granville
and the Wing section the noble Lord fairly repre-
sens Isee that some American journalists think that
"a conservative reaction has unquestionably de-
clared itself in the British Isles' not only urge
that this is not true, but affirm that the Conserva-
tiyes who have recently been elected, or who have
sought election, have on many and vital
points made POLITICAL professions of an ex-
treuely radical character. In 1858 Mr.. Glad
stone made profession OF desire TO reduce
national espenditlte, and there u no doubt that