New-York tribune., 1878-09-28
BRITISH POLITICS.
GLADSTONE ATTACKS THE GOVERNMENT.

Al lAChS HE OON EhNmENl.
THE Ex-PREMIER SHOWS THE WEAK POINTS IN IT'S
ORIENTAL POLICY-INEFFECTUAL REPLIEs-THE
GovERNMENT DEFEAT IN SCOTLAND.
lFRoN AN OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRmUNEl
LONDON, Aug. 31.-The average Britisber has
betaken himself to the seaside. and fashionable
clety is regaling itself in various ways to prepar
for what | may venture to term the Autumn cam
paign. When people are thus dispersed north,
south east and west, it hardly be a matter for
surprise that those who are left behind find them
selves with very little TO talk about 1t is probably
full acquaintance with these facts which has led
bir. Gladstone to address his countrymen through
the pages OF The NiHeieeRh Century in refer
ence to the platform. Very few people can
be got together to hear a speech, and
the prospect is not very great of any
considerable number reading the newspaper reports
just now, but magazine article is sure 10 be read
and so l suppose Mr.. Gladstone has chosen that
form of appeal. The matter Of the article is cer-
tainly the matter Of most successful speech. Its
ringing eloGuence and its many points irresistibly
appeal to one who is accustomed to the tones Of the
ex-Premer's voice.
Mr.. Gladstone points out most clearly that the
career Of territorial acquisition on which Eng aAand
is entering is a dangerous career. one which has
proved fatal to other empires, and one which he
warns US WILL If do not take heed IN time prove
fatal to the British Empire well. She is acquir
ing new territory faster than she can organize it.
Since Lord Bcaconsfed has been in power Fiji, the
Transyaal and Cyprus have become British
territory. She has extended her Indian frontier,
aud the protectOrae of Asia Minor, if not involving
territorial rights to a large extent, involves
territorial responsibilities, and while thus adding
acre to acre and state TO state the Government
neglects the traditional policy of the country in
protecting everywhere freedom aud right. In the
old time Belgium. SPAN and Portugal were helped
to freedom. aud England led the to the creation
of the Hellenic Kingdom, but now she takes part
IN division Of the spoil little # at all less question:
able than the old PARTITION OF Poland. The only
answer which il brought against such telling
language - this is that Mr. Gladstone and those who
sneered at as his few followers are for little
England Spread. Jglelsm il It's most rcpulslve form
is held up to view. John Bulls vanity is thereby
ticklcd and Sir. Gladstone is denounced.
So again in his attack on the Government and on
Lord Beaconsicld's policy. Turkey has been bols-
tered up with promises of support IL not IN words
at least ia deeds and yet ENGLAND has lent a hand
in her partition. Greece has been grossly deceived
and mised. Instead of repeating the Income tax IL
has been doubled and the proceeds have been spent
i'm clustering demonstration, which has aheuated
thc.symplthirs Of France and Italy and made an
enemy forever Of Greece And what, from their own
point Of view. have the Government achieved
An island which will cost each year more TO govern
than the whole thing Is worth, aud the assumption
Of the prOtcctOrate of one Of the most desperately
poverty stricken ard il-Royerued parts of the EARTH
All this is answered with an afectation Of rallery
or pushed ASIDE n thnce-tOld tale to which the
country has already refused TO listen.
Signs are not already wanting TO show that the
British people becoming alive to the true points
of this controversy. IL is not impossible, or by any
means improbable that, in a very short time, Mr.
Gladstone's version will be the accepted version of
this the latest episode In English history.
Thcelecton in the pottery districts ofStahordshre
which was announced last week, in which a Liberal
was returned in the place of a Tory who had re-
signed by majority Of 800, was n serious blow to
the serenity of the Tory party but that has been
followed by another this week. The Marquis of
LOrncs acceptance Of the GOyernOr-Generalship OF
Canada has involved the resignation OF his seat for
Argyllshire. Though sitting as Liberal through
out all this controversy, Lord LOrne has been un-
able to resist the Court influence, and he has voted
ns a Tory. Before the election was announced, Mr.
Malcolm the Tory Member for Boston, threw up the
seat he already possessed IN order to go TO the North
and contest with Lord LOrnes younger brother the
seat which has been in the Argyll family Tor gener
ations The result has been a triumph for Lord
Colin Campbell of 355 votes. Lord Colin, unlike
his brother. denounced the Government policy, and
as Mr.. Malcolm supported II, aud the late member
had supported it, lt follows that the defeat OF MI
Malcolm is defeat Of the Government.