New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-04-04
MIR. GL1DSTONES CONSISTENCY.

| MR. GLADSTONES CONSISTENCY
Mr.. Gladstones opponents were confounded
by his ingenious defence of the British North
Borneo charter. They had proposed an amend
ment revokng any sanction TO slavery which
might he implied in the charter, and IN this
way had opcned the whole subject OF terri
torial annexation and the responsibilities OF
empire. They had baited the discussion
with a view to entanglng him III the meshes
of his Midlothian denunciatiOns of Lord
Beaconsficds foreign policy. Demanding Sc
curity against domestic slavery, an institution
which lie has always viewed with utter abhOr-
renee. they even wished him to pledge himself
that no annexation of territory should take place
without the consent of the House OF
| Commons. Mr.. GladstOne's reply was COM
plete vndication of his course III Opposition as
well as in cflice. lie contended that be had never
given q vote or taken n step throughout his
career except on the side opposed to annexa-
ton. lie had always considered the RESPONSE
bitIes of the present Empire rs sufficient to
exhaust tho ambition of any Minister or of
any Parliament, and he had no wish to over
load and break down the Nation "by gratu-
itous not to say guilty additions" But, while
denotes in that direction, there WAS no penal
law by which the enterprise of British subjects
could be repressed. They were constantly
making settlements and commercial ventures
beyond the range of the Empire, and wherever
they went Parliament was under moral respOn-
sibility to them as subjects Of the Queen. In
North Borneo the responsibility existed before
the charter was granted, and was not increased
thereby but diminished rather, because COM
pany having absolute privileges was brought
under restraint and subjected to restrictions,
especially i'll regard to slavery.
This was a moro satisfactory defence than
Lord Granville's had been in the Upper House.
Mr.. Gladstone did not assume that there were
neither risks nor responsibilities i'll the North
Borueo project He admitted that there was
danger of annexation. but argued that
it did not spring from the charter,
but from the irrepressible activity of
British enterprise; and that the Govern
ment, instead of promoting that tendency, had
made deliberate attempt to regulate it.
Whether that attempt was as judicious as it
was deliberate may be an open question but
the Premier certainly succeeded in demon
strating the consistency of his course as IN
he was tainted earlier III the session with con-
ceding the validity of Lhe Home Rule demands
and promoting thereby renewal Of political
agitation in Ireland he cited passages from
speeches delivered by him at intervals during
twenty years as evidence that he had not put
forth any novel views, but had only reiterated
convictions which lie had always ayOwed
respecting certain abstract principles OF gov
eminent What he had said had been caught
up. misconstrued and denounced with passion
ate resentment but when he came to explain
his words, it proved TO be Il generalization
which he had frequently made, and which III
no way impaired his reputation for political
consistency.
1t is not Mr.. Gladstonc's method to turn the
laugh upon his critics when they accuse him
of shifting his ground and abandoning his
principles. He does not face them with Lord
Beaconsfelds audacious swagger to intimate
that ga good deal has happened since then"
He does not avail himself of the elastic
virtues of expediency, but deals seriously
with any charges or criticisms bearing upon
the continuity of his convictions. If he in
variabIy proves such structures to be I'M
) founded, it is not because he is an ingenious
reasoner or an ambiguous speaker, but be-
cause there is 10 lack of consistency in his
views on all public questions. The sense of
moral responsibility is never wanting. His con-
duet is never swayed by caprices or prcju-
diccs or rescntments but is shaped and di-
rected by fixed principles. He has convictions
and he does not swerve from them OF what
other living statesman can as much be said