Morning journal and courier., 1880-05-29
Saturday Morning, May go, 1ss0...
ATTACKS ON GLADSTONE.


 When the English Liberals were seeking victory in the recent elections they promised much if the people would give them success, and the people, who had become dissatisfied with the Beaconsfeld government, naturally expected much when the Liberals came into power. Among other improvements, an inn pfoyement in business was anticipated. This has not yet come to pass, and the Conserve tives are calling attention to the fact that Beaconsfeld's presence in office was not the sole or chief cause of England's declining commerce. They have some forcible argu- ments Business in Sheffield and in Man chester is not brisk. Trade is very bad in London perhaps as bad as it has been at any time in this generation. The retail trades men find it hard work to stand against the competition of '!civiI service" and other stores. Strikes are threatened in various parts of the manufacturing districts, and there is talk of putting several large mills on half time. Of course it was not reasonable to expect that any change of Ministry could restore trade which has been probably per- manently injured by foreign competition, the strikes of workmen and other assaults upon it. but it is also no fairer to use the present condition of trade as an argument against the Liberals than it was for the Liberals to use the business depression as an argument against their opponents.
 The unsatisfactory condition of business is not the only comfort the Conservatives have. with plausible argument against his sheer ity a part of Mir. Gladstone's character which his eulogists make much of. Mr Jennings, in his last letter from London to the New York World, shows the feeling con- corning this matter of those who do not be- ieve in Gladstone. Says he: Before the election Austria was denounced as the curse of Europe. Now MT. Gladstone feels a cor dial respect for the efforts of the Emperor and has at all times particularly and heartily wished well to Austria in the performance of the arduous task of consolidating the en- pire.' He can now wholly banish' from his mind his terms of censure.' Can you won der that even Liberals, the elect of the elect stand aghast before this recantation? Can you or any of your readers find parallel to it in all history? The nearest approach to 8 parallel consists in certain passages in Mir. Gladstone's own career; it would be vain to search in other directions" After this,'' continues Mir. Jennings, 'tno one need be surprised to hear that the Beaconsfeld gov ernment having been turned out for pursuing definite line of policy, the Gladstone gov ernment mean to take up that identical line and pursue it with scrupulous fidelity. The whole programme has been first denounced and then stolen. So much for the high tone which governs public life in England so very much higher than anything which you poor Americans ever saw or heard of in your benighted country. No false play, no injustice, no trickery here! The reason is that we all worship sincerity When shall we equally lofty principles ruling at Washington ? Perhaps when MT. Tilden is elected President, not before." MT. Jennings is competent and usually impartial observer and writer, but most of his American readers will find difficulty in chasing Gladstone with rTf1dan