New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-03-25

and reforrns by which English society mas ooo"
reoeperated cannot be expected to retire vol
unfairly from public life 50 long as any WORK
With which he is conspicuously identified re-
mains unfinished. Mr.. Gladstone knows tha'
the English people hold him personally re-
sponsible for the settlement OF the irish queS-
tion. They have not understood the tendencies
of the Land measures, nor have they liked the
sudden shftings of his policy, but they nave
had faith in him and have been content to have
him deal with the social revolution in his own
way. Whether there was less of coercion anu
more of concession than prudence requiiou'
whether there was vacillation sometimes III
place of frmness, whether the resources OIL Ia"
lessness were somewhat recklessly mlscaicu-
lated. the constituencies could not determine 10
their own satisfaction, but they believed that IL
anv Fnelshman could dispose of the irish
ouestion Mr. Gladstone could do it. and they
gave HIM hearty, urquestOning support Our
ing the last nine months he has maze suosCin-
tal progress, but the work OF Reconstruction
and pacific ton is still unfinished. Inc secret
societies have been exposed, but not dlsOahueu'
The Land League has been suppressed ana inc
Land act and the Arrears bill have been prac-
tcally accepted by the mass of the peasantry,
but the Irish constituencies remain suiIen ana
hostile. The authority of the Grown has been
restored and five murderers have been hanged IN
return for fifty murders and long array oi
hideous outrages, but desperadoes anu con-
spirators have not yet exhausted the resources
of their maevolent hatred. Dir. Gladstone mas
not done what he hoped to do-what the con-
stituenies expected him to do. lie Will nata-
rally prefer to remain in Office until he can retire
with better grace than he can at present.
Mr.. Gladstone, moreover, has always eylnced
q jealons and sensitive regard for the political
consistency of his public career. When he has
been accused of shifting his ground and swerv-
ing from his convictions, he has not laced
about with Lord Beaconsiield's audacious
swagger to remind his critics that a good deal
has happened since then" He deals seriously
with any charges or criticisms bearing upon the
continuity of his principles. and is neyer salts
fed until be has proved the structures to be
unfounded. Now this constituencies with re-
spect TO political consistency implies not only
consciousness of moral responsibility, but
sense of logical completeness. A statesman so
thoroughly in earnest as he has always Oeen
will not merely adhere rigidly to his convic-
tons, but VIII also ne AMBITIOUS Nv hi0
work, so that his career regarded as whoie,
NAV set m symmetrical. Now the measures an
nounced in the Queens speech for the present
session are OF the highest utility, but not OF
supreme Importance. Not one OF them VIII I've
an historical landmark in the progress OF the
English people. But there are certain measures
held in reserve, probably for the final session OF
the Parliament elected in 1850, which Will he
invested with historical significance. Mr. Glad
stone entered public life directly after the pas
SAGE of the great Reform act. and in bis irst
election address no showed an utter want Of
sympathy with the popular movement which
had swept over England. During the half cen
tury that has interviewed ne has done more than
any other Engli>hman 20 promote desire Tor
a change in political aud social order, and has
finally succeeded in making advanced Liberal
ism thoroughly reputable cause. II seems
probable, therefore, that he viii remain IN office
and put forth an earnest effort 10 carry the
principles with which he is personally identl-
fled to their logical conclusion. The eqnaIiza-
ton of borough and county franchise. the re-
distribution OF seats and the consequent rrinvig-
grafton of the body of electors would be radical
measures of reform bringing TO fitting close
the career which opened with the Reform bill
of 1892