New-York tribune., 1880-04-07
MIR. GLdDSTONE,s TRIUMPH.

The election of Mr.. Gladstone from Mid
lothian is a political victory and something
more. It is democratic triumph achieved IN a
Conservative stronghold by popular methods
Lord Dalkeith had tho powerful support OF the
Duke of Buccleuch and such artificial aid IS
could be derived from fictitious votes on the
fagot system yet he has been defeated after
one Of the most exciting canvasseS in English
history. The prejudices of a Conservative con-
stituencv and the influence of an arstOcTatic
house have been overcome by appeals to the in
telligencc and consciences of the voters.
Mr.. Gladstonc's campaign in Midlothian has
been regarded by The Conservative journals
with an affrctaton Of horror which is fairly
ludicrOus. lie has been ridculed rs n Yankee
demagogue who talks to death" constituents
and country He has been lampooned and ma
ligned for his ccaseless chatter" his "enthus-
"iastic loquaciiy" and floods of defamation"
and for continued indulgence in OratOrical
"folies." He has been gravcly reprimanded
for the number, length, defective style and un-
necessary fervOr of his speeches. One journal
assumes that the first visit to Midlothian defeat
cd the Liberals in Southwark, sealed the fate OF
Liverpool, and all but achieved the loss OF
Sheffield. Another critic dcnOunccs his refer
ence to Austria rs the raying OF voluDle
fanatic" Finally The Pail MdH Gazette Ia
mcnts the dcgeneracy of the times, and saghast
with the degrading spectacle OF an cx-Prlme
Minister actually going on a stumping tour like
an American politician! And what has Mr.
Gladstone done that he is pursued with such
rancor and maevOlcnce 7 He made in Novcm-
her and again in March a thorough canvass of
Midlothian He met his constituents face to
face and reasoned with Them lie was very
much in earnest. He was convinced tina! the
Government was wholly and terribly in the
wrong, and that the prosperity of Great Britain
and the peace of Europe depended upon the sue
cess of the Opposition. He summoned all his
faculties he made az many rs three speeches
day; he answered every question which the
keen wit of his Scotch audiences inspired; he
made plain to that middle class from which he
himself sprang the COMPLEX problems of d-
plomacy and public life. He realized that every
word spoken to his constituents would bc re-
peated in print throughout ;hc Kingdom, and
that if lie could convince them he would carry
the country with them He has convinced
them He has carried the country.
Mr.. Gladstones election is, therefore, demo-
cratic victory and sOmi thing more. II is a per-
sonal triumph. The "sophi,tical rheiorician
"inebriatcd with the exubcrance of his own YER
"bosity" has pricked the bubble of Imperial
ism. Lord Beaconsicld has been driven from
Office by the great rival whose clOqucncc and
moral force have been pitted against him ever
since the long debate which brought into power J
the Aberdeen Ministry. 1t has been long fcud |
between the Pitt and Fox of this generation
and bitter as it has BEEN long. The triumph |
of Mr.. Gladstone marks what is likely to be the |
last stage of this political duel. How strong |
are the contrasts as each stands foil to the |
other How dazzling have been the achieve
ments of Lord BeacOnsfield during the six years |
of his Premiership! How complete has been
his ascendancy over his Ministry and over Par
lament! What dexterty and ingenuity he has
shown in all the vicissitudcs of his career
What prestige nc has had on the Continent! |
Yet he has never won the confidence Of the
people Even his own followers have insinc-
lively felt that he was nsincerc and diSingcn-
uous-that he was incapable of plain speaking
and honest dealing. Mr.. GladslOne's sincerity,
on the other hand, has never been doubted.
Party ranc0r and indiscriminate abuse have not
dimmed the lustre OF his virtues nor cloudcd
the purity OF his motives. ImpetuOus and some
times rash lie is always thoroughly in earnest;
versatile in culture with n genius for adminis-
tratiye details, he is swayed by lofty aspira-
tiOns; great as an orator, cOntrOversialist,
scholar and fnaucier he is a statesman with
moral convictions.