New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-11-16
LIBERALISM IN SCOTLAND.
NOTABLE MEETINGS AND SPEECHES.

SIR WILLIAM nARCOURT ON RECEIVING TIE
FREEDOM or THE CITY OF GiASGoW-sPEECH
OF LORD RosUBEHY AT A LIBERAL CONFERENCE
IN DUNDFF-LOfD SALISBURY SUBJECTED TO
s.ATHING CBIu ISM.
YpoM r,IE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF TIE TRIBUNE
EDrBrEGH. Oct 2S.-Scotland, which is remark
able for many things is remarkable for ths that
heirg cIritorallY remote from the political capital
If Great Britain it is nevertheless centre Of po-
ltical energy II has often been the source OF I'M
portant movements aud am not sure but 1t m,ght
be said that tue Scottish people do more poIiocaI
thinking FOR themselves than any other body oi
men in the United Kingdom. TIE constituencies
are Liberal to the hackbone-so liberal thhi Inc
need of organization might seen less hero thh i'll
districts of more doubtful complexion. 10 Inc
scots themselves il does not seem so. They apply
their practical good and closcneSs OF VII u
file business of politics as to other business Ihey
have long had Liberal Associations for different
narts of scotland The result of the Midlothian
election showed the world how efficient one oil
these was-that of which Lord Rosebery was presi-
dent Now the East and the North and the West
and Northwest Liberal Associations have ANAL
camated They are henceforth TO he known as the
National Scottish Liberal Association. When LORD
RoSehery accepted the Secrctaryship OF the Home
Office wrote of him the leader OF the Liberal
party in Scotland. That leadership, which nobody
! III.
official stamp put on by his election as president
of this National Association of Scottish Liberals.
prcsumc It NAV be said that directly or in
directly all the great gatherings of Liberals IN tins
part of the Kin lom promoted by TINS Liberal
organization It's managers understand perfectly
well that Liberalism. no matter how sincere OF
prevalent cannot be left to look after itself 1t IS
plant of excellent stock and rooted in the best "i
soils but it needs watering and sunshine. 80 they
take care to keep it thriving 10y supplying these
NEEDS On Tuesday the City OF Glasgow hcStowcdi its
freedom or Sir William llarcourt. The honorS one so
rarely conferred that twas very high personal com
plimcnt to the Home Secretary; was 50 meant ana
So accepted The Glasgow Liberals none the less
MANAGED TO turn the occasion INTO great Liberal
demonstration. The Corporation is non-poh'icai
body and conirrs ITS dist notions upon sir William
Harcourt not Is "a reward Ia Liberal champion
hut as tribute to his personal merits and his high
| po,ition a, q Minister of the Crown That did not
| prevent the Glasgow Liberal Association from IN
! vIting Sir William lUcourt to address them ID tue
evening of the day the morning o. Which M hau
been made q burgess. 1t Is just concrIVa"e ll!A'
some Of the citizens of Glasgow who waited on Sir
William in the morning, as transformations win
| their gold caslet were among those who met hIm
in the evening rs ayowed Liberals. Possibly also
they thought that the effect of the evening speech
world NOT ice diminished 10y The reelected splcndor
of the mornings ceremony. The Tories II any
there lie IL the Town Council, can hardly
complain of that Sir William liarcourt
sure of a hearing by wider aud'cno than
Glasgow can furnish. lie has carried tlc art oil
what may he called purely political speaking rs
| high rs it can be carried. Nobody makes more
| effective partisan addresses. They arc composed
| with extreme care. They are full OF k"o"eds'
| aud MONT. They abound IN clever hIts nj his
| Ill i.I,gtr .,.tt il A
! proof were wanting. that Sir William iiarconrt
can use the language Of sincere conviction ard clc-
waited public morality when II suits his purpose.
The passage in which hc replies 20 Lord Salisbury
about the Beers might have cone from Mr.. Giad-
stone himself. | should have thought that few
tasks could lie more d's'asieiul to SIR W Iiliam
Harconrt than the defence of the conduct OF the
Government in the TranSyaal. Honorable as mat
conduct was, courageous rs II was, there can be Il"
doubt that it required some effort for En2lahmen
in general to lift themselves to The height from
which the full merit of it was clearly visible Lord
Salisbury at Newcastle expressed with characteristic
bitterness the feeling OF notification and anger
which a great many men of both part Is undoubt
edIv shared. II Sir William Harcourt ever had any
private doubts a 10 the wisdom of the policy Tor
which he was partly responsible Lord salisbury
completely dspelled them. The Tory Peer Is SIt
Williams fayorte aversion, and lac replied TO hts
savage taunts with feGyor OF righteous resent
mcnt which adds new ornament 10 Sir Williams
oratory The whole speech gained IN dignity ana
weight from this passage. II there he any inl'
tation upon it's effectiveness * party harangu'.
The Limitation will be found IN the distribution Of
its topics. The publc mini is not now largely
oc.uued with Afrhauistan or South Africa 1t is
ttcr ~, with ireland Bat .he portion of thi, adj
ls IN ireland WAS neither Tin. longest nor
,,o s,ro,,s, og IN. whole Considered a. A whole
ho,,orc, i answered. lis purposc. IT was damac-
i ., ,l r,,. and oiled the breast of the Glasgow
! Ill 18th fresh enthusiasm. f. would be un-
,.o.onI,I. IN II, more