New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-02-16


pressed his thanks for it. The other Treaty made
between Holland and Great Britain, secured to the
latter equal rights of navigation with the Dutch
md was saws Mr.. Gladstone q good Treaty and not
bad one. But good or bad, the negotiations were
carried on by Lord Derby, Mr. Dsraelps Foreign
Minister and the credit discredit belongs to him.
Only the formalities of it finally settled by Mr.
GladstoRe's Government, so that MIR. Disraeh may
possibly think he hasty when he descrbedl as an
act of folly or of ignorance rarely equaled. That
will do as specimen of the way in which Mr. Dis
raelis attacks are met.
That part-tbe larger part-of Mr.. Gadstones
speech devoted to the Income Tax still leaves much
10 desire in explanation of his financial plans As
nobody can be more lucid than Mr.. Gladstone when
he likes 1t must be supposed that the obscurty is
intentional In round numbers, the surplus is five
millions The repeal of the Income Tax will exhaust
those five millions. Yet Mr.. Gladstone admits and
asserts that he should not think it juft to take off
the Income Tax without renting other mot speci
fed indirect taxes articles of general cOnsump-
ton so rs TO afford relief to all classes at the same
time He admits further, that to take off
these taxes he must impose others, ard that these
last must fall the classes who are relieved
by the abolition of the Income TaX-Or perhaps,
more strictly. on the owners of property. The pro-
cess by which the redistribution of burdens is to be
effected is left 10 conjecture. Mr. Gladstone win
probably saw when challenged that details of this
kind are for the House of Commons and not for the
hastings. His critics say the whole matter OF
finance should have been left for the same arena
But he points out with great force how little OF sub
stance there is in Mr.. Disraels declaration that II
he comes in he also will take of tho Income TAX
We got our surplus says Mr. Gladstone, by economy
We shall Keep it by economy, and the Income lax
cannot be dispensed with except by economy But
a Tory Government means Expenditure not
Economy as the history of 80 years past proves, and
if Won LET them in you have assurance that they
will or can carry out theirpresent promises think
that very good reply. Indeed. on financial ques-
tons the relative strength of the two parties is so
UNEQUAL the balance in Mr. Gladstone's favor SO
great that cannot wonder he dwells on II, ana
puts il forward as q claim to the confidence OF the
country My complaint is that he puts 1t forward as
almost his only claim, and / think also that if
finance is to be discussed at all before the people
it should be discussed fully. The whole programme
should be stated not half The half may do for
Greenwich but how about the practiced men of
business whose habit it is to look at money propo-
sails III the light of facts and fguresT They have
great faith in Mr.. Gladstone, but they have still
greater in the multiplication table. 1t is doubtful
whether they will be won over by statement they
cannot fully understand. Even plain people are
beginning to wonder how, after you have taken
i've from nNe, tueTe can DC Il ldlRt itndlhuti'
II is obvious however, that Mr. Gladstones conf
dence IN his scheme is perfect, aud he passes from
this subject where he speaks triumphantly. to an
other on which he plainly shows his apprehension.
Since last Saturday there has been time for the dis
play of "A very formidable discomfort in the ranks Of
the Liberal party If Mr. Gladstone counted on
supprcssing it by the rapidity of his movement, he
has failed lie may have hoped to conciliate il by
half promises OF that its leaders might be silenced
ny the hope of carrying their point later. Mr.
Forsters bold speech last Monday at Brad
ford spoiled that calculation, if ejaculation
there was The NoncOnformsts are a very
active and very determined body. He who
hopes to catch them asleep must wake
early and they are most unlikely to be mt Undated
by menaces of party discipline There is something
they care for more than party. They met at Crewe
the 9th, the day before Mr.. Gladstone spoke.
There were representatives of the NoncOnfoTmist
Committees of London, Liverpool, Manchester, and
the Central Committee Of Birmingham and they
had right, suppose, to speak i'll the name of the
great body of their constituents. They unanimously
adopted resolutions expressing their deep dissais
faction aud disappointment at discovering that Mr..
Gladstone adheres to the educational policy of the
last four years and that he should be nsensible TO
the fragrant injustice of extending q system
which c0mpes NoncOmfo msts to send their children
TO clerical schools. They declare it duty 10 re-
qure candidates to pledge themselves TO vote for
the repeal of the 25th clause of the Education act to
refuse Parliamentary grants to new UNCONVENTIONAL
schools. and to extend the School Board system
as to have one school free from clerical control
within reasonable distance of the home of every
child in the country. Nor do they stop with mere
expression of opinion 1t cannot be said of them
that they have not the courage of their principles.
They recommend NonconfOrmists to give no aid to
candidates who decline to accept these pledges,
affirming their belief that the temporary triumph Of
the Liberal party would be too dearly bought by III
fidelity to Liberal principles.
That is the attitude at this moment of Confer
ence representing religious bodies which include
nearly half the people Of England and suppose
beyond doubt more than half the Liberal party. If
the recommendation is to be acted on, one of two
things will happen. The Liberal candidates must
yield to these demands or in many constituencies,
otherwise Liberal beyond question: they viii suffer
defeat. There are no means OF knowing how gen.
orally resolution so ominous of disaster will be
followed. but there can be no doubt that 1t has
Crayely affected the situation and the probabilities
of Liberal victory. Mr. Gladstone painfully
aware of 1t when he spoke. 1t was necessary he
should reply in some way to the Conference, and
though he avoids mentioning it by name, the latter
part of his address is impressive appeal to his
supporters Of every shade to avoid divisions
in the face of the enemy. He starts the cry of
Liberal Union" He avows that the whole issue of
this contest will depend on it. He asserts his belief
that victory can be won if the party will put forth
ats strength. But he warns his followers that this
strength is only to be INDICATED by wise forbear
aace IL a Cabinet, exclams the Prime Minister, is
10 endeavor foresta all questions not yet mature
and tn arrive at a cut-and-dried decision on every