The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1882-07-09

Gladstone's Rebuff.
The defect experienced by the British Min
1stry on Friday night in the House OF Com
mons was one OF those incidents which light
up q whole situation and assist the observer
10 pass an intelligent and impartial iudg-
ment on events. Few persons will be hence
forth disposed to underTate the diff
oulties which Mr.. GLADSTONE has en-
eountered during the last two months,
placed as he has been between two
Ares. and compelled to reconcile the
pledges given to the Irish members
with the peremptory demands OF reac-
honary but influential section OF his own
party. And seldom has the irony Of fortune
been more strikingly illustrated than by the
fact that the Governments reverse on FRI
day might easily have been avoided, had it
not alcnated the Parnellite members by an
arbitrary treatment which provoked them
10 refuse any further participation in the
debate on the Repression bill.
1t is probable enough that Mr.. GLADSTONE
personally regretted the harsh and impru-
dent action to which his lieutenants commit
ted him, In the matter Of the suspensions,
during his absence from the House. This
that he stroYe so zealously on Friday
10 carry out the promise made to the
Irish leaders during the discussion Of the
Repression bill in committee He had then
agreed that when the measure came up for a
third reading he would strike out the pro-
vision clothing the Irish authorities with the
power of search by night. In accordance
with this covenant, motion to modify the
clause was made by the Secretary for
Ireland and advocated by the Pre-
nier In stronger terms than he has used
ut any time during the discussion Of the CO.
ercivc legislation. He appealed to the House
most earnestly not to refuse n reasonable
concession in the absence of the Irish mem
bers, which before those members had been
0nsted from their places the Government had
bound itself to make Mr.. JOHN BRIGHT spoke
70 the same effect, and there is no doubt that
the Old Wings, whose pressure had forced
the Ministry to suspend the Irish legislators,
should have been restrained by common de-
Sency from embarrassing its subsequent &C
tion. 1t seems to have been an act Of gross
treachery for the Wings to cooperate with
the Conservatives at crisis when their own
act had deprived the Government of thirty
Irish votes, which, had they been cast at all,
would, of course, have been given for the
TREVELYAN amendment.
The fact that this detection of the Wings
took place, although Mr.. GLADSTONE went
30 far as to intimate that the rejection Of the
motion would be construed as a declaration
81 want Of confidence in himself shows how
profound are the dstrust and dislike with
which the Premier Is regarded by portion
Of his nominal supporters. 1t is plain
that SO much of the landed interest
% has heretofore protested Wing
opinions would be glad to see him
driven from Office, and that the Marquis OF
HARRINGTON Is no longer able to control this
element. This is not the only ominous con-
siusiOn to be drawn from the division on the
TREvRLYAN amendment Had the old-fash-
toned Liberals who follow Mr.. FORSTER and
Mr.. GosCHEN Joined forces with the Wings
and the Conservatives, they could ap-
parently have beaten the Government,
even had the Irish members consented
30 overlook their injuries and rallied
10 the Prcmier's support. Now, the Liberals
Of this type wavered on Friday night, and q
word from their leaders would have sent
them into the ranks OF the opposition. The
word was not spoken, but Mr. GosCHEN re-
fused to vote at all, and declared himself dis
satisfied with the reasons assigned for Mr..
TREvELYAN'S motion. There is thus much
ground for apprehension that during tho dis
0ussion of the Arrears bill the adherents Of
Hessrs. FORSTER and GoSCHEN will swell the
numbers Of the seceders and render it impos-
sible for Mr.. GLADSTONE to carry ON the Gov
eminent without o sweeping surrender of his
tyh hn 10 nl,yt ha t<,
make. Mr. GLADSTONE has often been charged
with inconsistency, but never with pusilla-
nimlty in his home policy. He can be coaxed,
hut not bullied, and should an attempt be
made to thwart him in connection with the
Arrears bill he Is quite capable OF dissolving
Parliament and appealing To the country, us
he did under somewhat similar circum-
stances eight years ago.
At present, however, IL Is quite improbable
that he will carry out the vague menace OF
resignation, for the question on which he
was defeated is not large enough To call for
such extreme measures But he is n man of
too much candOr not IL lay The blame OF his
humiliation where it belongs, and II his
just Indignation leads him TO pay less
and less heed to the Wing section OF
his party, his rebuff on Friday night
may lnure In the end to the benefit Of Ire
land. He cannot rcproach the Irish mem
bers for deserving him at a juncture when
he was striving TO keep faith with them, for
ON Monday, after Mr.. O'DoNNELL's suspen-
Sion, they gave him fair warning that they
would not again occupy their seats during
the discussion Of the Repression bill They
hav" acted ms self-respect dictated, and their
conduct shines by comparison with that Of