New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-05-11
DR. GLfDSr0yE,S GPFlr SPEECH

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WR. GL4DSTONE'S GREAT SPEECH
The debate on the Affirmation BILL in which
Mr. Gladstone took part, Illustrated thclittienos.
/ and the greatness Cf English character. Tho
! subject had been worn thrcadharc through the
mechanical Efforts Of the Opposition TO prolong
/ the discussion for partisan ends. 1t was an
easy and effective mode Of hara,sing the Lib
erals and Irejudlcing the constituencies against
them, and n persistent and unscrupulous use
wa, made Ct IT, The annals Of American poll
ties afford 10 exhibition of craftsmanship more
maliSn and degrading than this obstinate cn-
dcavor on the part of the Conservatives 10 pre-
vent n settlement Of tins question of theistic
test and To organize throughout the country
the elements of bieotry and ignorance. Under
the shallow preteAt of defending religion they
were putting IN great stroke OF political bust
ness and enjoying the fun Of Spreading the
thstcs in the Liberal garden. Naturally they
were Disconnected and annoyed when Mr.. Glad
stone interrupted the sluggish flow of their
tritc plattudcs and coarse lcyity and discussed
tie subject with dignity of diction, intcccasil
force and profound seriousness. At first
stunned ly his argumentatiyc vigor and silenccd
by the s0lcmnity of his tone, II was not long
before tie most unmannerly Cf them soGght to
break the force Of his speech by ,ccrs cXclama-
tionS and systematic Interruptions As he APP
preached the highest ground of this grave con
sGtutonal question involving rights Of the
electorate and of conscience and the sanctlty of
religions faith, they were abashcd 10y his ear
ncstncss; but when the noble pcroration was
ended, they went on with the regular perform
1aI 1l,.,,
deigned 10 answer him, it was only with tho
coarse taunt that he had filed the House with Il
species of pulpit OratOry, hypOcritically piatinG
Of religions liberty AID scf-sacriice while adj
vocating a measure that was "nOthing more
nor less than an clcctionccring job Of the low
est and bascst sort While they could not
reply to his argument.they could vote against
him, and this they did when the debate had
dragged on for several nights and what q car
nival of friyolitv and partisan spite rounded of
their vulgar triumph
The pcttincss and narroUncsS Of spirit which
has characterized the partsanship of the OPP
position throughout this controversy Is reflected
BY the Conservative press and especially by its
leading review, which withhods from MIR.
Gladstonc's speech "all merit except that Of an
tAUtutlN 'ItNNl attempt ~ 'Aitltdit TIC
sneaker from false and d>asrccahle DO
sition." The speech itself on thc.othcr hand,
is a luminous exposition Of the breadth and
depth of Mr. Gladstone's character. 1t is n
masterpiece Of subtle reasoning. dialectic skill
and intellectual resource Penetrating TO the
core Of the controversy, he disclosed tho fu-
tility and danger OF making any form Of belief
or any recognition of the supernatural the basis
of legislative action a religions test implied
he contcnded, violation Of the broad principles
of civil liberty, for no test could be applied 10
the exercise of civil functions except that OF
civil capacity and fulfImcnt of civil cond-
tons. The ordinary test Of the thcistic oath. |
was highly diSparaginS to Christian |
ity on theological grounds, since, provided the |
name Of the Deity were not rejected, any length |
might be allowed in tie denial of religion. |
With the lire drawn at the point where the ab- |
stract denial uf God vas severed from the alb !
stract admission of the Deity the distinction |
Was practically worthless because much of the
unbeicf On orc side was as Objectionable as tho |
ABSOLUTE atheism on tic other. B,anf atheism,
he maintained, wlGycry rarc and tai, only was
excluded by the Parliamentary oath, whereas
the specific form of iucligion now common i'm
touched by that s3-ca!lad reli gcus test If there
vas TO be any test at al. it should be a test Of
well ascertaned theism, not mere abstract
idea dwelling in the air and in tie conds. but
practical recognition Of divine government
and power" tc which men we've " account for
,very thought and word
This mastery analysis of the civil and theo-
ogical elements Of the controversy is a spleu-
I'D Intellectual feat. But il is net for lis argu-
nentatvo subtlety that Mr.. Gladstone's speech
: chiefly remarkable. Ii reflects net only the
breadth of his mind but the depth of his relig-
GUS nature. lie argues with his whole heart
nd soul that the interests of religion IS well as
hose of civil liberty are concerned In inst
nd equitable settlement of this controversy.
&c asserts that firm and courageous applica-
ion of every principle Of justice involves the
reservation and maintenance of religion.
That is to say let a political party do what is
ust and right, and the cause of religion will be
promoted let what is unjust and ia;olelant be
one, and religion will suffer. Or, IN his own
words: "When men see the profession and IL