New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-02-05
respecting and patriotic citizen Of Virginia
should read, and soberly consider
MR. GLADSTONE'S WORK.


While the excitement caused by the extraor-
binary scenes in the Commons Is running hlgl
in England, Americans have the advantage OIL
distance IN forming a calm and dlspassioha'e
Indictment. They recognize in Mr.. Gladstone
progressive statesman of massive ntelectu'i
ottainmonts and supreme moral force. They
will he inst TO him. They will not subject his
administration TO captious criticism. but Will
deal with his great questions OF foreign ana
domestic policy in a generous spirit.
Their first practical inference Will
be this: reckless and unpr1nclpled
marty leader like Lord Beaconsheld
can do more mischief in the course OF SIX
vcors than can be undOne In single twelve
month nv the warmest heart, the cearest
h,ain and the most efficient conscience IN
England. Against that policy OF bombast ana
adventure abroad and neglect and inaction
ot home Mr.. Gladstone had protested. when
to nrotest was to ALLEVIATE the sympathIes OF
his friends. to create division i'll his own
Marty. and to court attack from street MOB.
Society snubbed and lampOOned him, and the
nress of the country lamented the decay OF
his public influence, hut he never swerved from
his convictions. AS the general cleo
ftOn drew near liz NHdI'HSNN WV
course of Lord Beaconsiclds administration.
On that Indictment he appealed to the couh-
try. and won his case on moral grounds
Lord Bcaconsfelds policy of NEEDING, men
ace and conquest the world over, and OF shlrk-
inc and ipefficiency at home, was condemned
in the mass not only as unwisc and Eng
lish, hut as positively wicked.
Mr. Gladstone returned to Office sOlcmnly
nledCrd to undo as far ms possible all that
Lord Beaconsfeld had done, and to do all that
he had left undOne. He has kept faith win
tlc country. He could not reverse the policy OF
the Government instantancously on three cOnu-
nents. He had to preserve direct continuity
of action and to take up the threads OF al
ministration ms they fell into his hands. lie
could not order n retreat from Cabul without
paci(ying Afghanistan. nor give up Canadian
vithout rutting some one else in possession.
He could not rcnoun'c the sovereignty OF the
Tronsyaal nor shirk the responsibilities which
the blundrrs Of 'Ec previous Government had
cntaed 1t is enough that the lines OF new
policy have already come to hight and that
every departure from the previous courses ol
administration has been in the right direction.
In abandoning career OF adventure England
has suffered no loss Of pre- Stigc. She has lc'n
given the foremost place as the coerriye agent
of European discipline, and no longer stands
committed TO n hazardous policy in Corstantl-
nope and Cahu. There is still much to be
done for Greece. the Beers and the blacks in
South Africa. Very likely; Ter Lord BcaconS-
fcds range as a miSchicimakcr was world
wide. When we turn from foreign to do
mc>lic affairs we find thar the evils of the
time with which Mr.. Gladstone Is contcnding
had their origin under the previous Admins
! tration. The Home Rule party WAS rcorGanH d,
| the Land League was iOlmcd. obstruction
! in the Commons was reduced 10
system. the authority of the Government WAS
impaired, and the dignity OF the national
Legislature was sacrificed during those AK
disastrous years Of Conservative rule when
Tier Maiesty'4 Council were too closely occu-
pied with their foreign dream, to notice What
was gong on at home and 10 adopt adequate
means OF securing public safety and legiNla-
tive dccorum. What they neglected dong Mr..
| Gladstone has the courage 10 undertake. To-
dny lac is restoring the Efficiency 0t pailnmcn-
! t,ry in>titutlons and in little while lr VIII
rrdr,,, the grIcyan q Of the lrish pcasantly.