The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1885-06-17


crisis in party affairs, Gladstone had
signally triumphed overhis caviling OPP
ponents. AT a non-critical juncture,
in matter relatively of trihing impor-
lance, the opposition wins victory.
Willing or unwilling, Gladstone has
put his enemy in tight place. On the
near approach of a parliamentary cleo
ton in which large class of newly en-
franchised voters will participate, and
in the remaining weeks of parliament
in the popular branch of which there
is a hostile majority directed by
leader of consummate sagacity, the
tories are suddenly compelled to vindi-
cate their courage by assuming the en-
barrassing and perplexing task of COM
pleting the unfinished work of the lib
erals. A stubborn. self-willed child,
who has persisted in attempts to bruise
himself, has very unexpectedly been al
lowed to taste the fruits of his own
folly at a time when he would be the
only sufferer by the experience. De-
signed or not by the liberal leader, the
recent turn of events has left the tories
in an uncomfortable predicament. The
time, the circumstances are as unwel-
come and unpropitious as they could
well be, but the liberals gain by their
defeat both prestige and tactical adj
vantage. The press dispatches give a
graphic account of the old premier's
gallant bearing in this last encounter
with his bitter political opponents. The
Boston Records special says:
"Whie one crisis was imminent another,
far more serious, has burst upon us, and the
government, which had weathered triumph
antly many votes of censure on matters
where there was ground for reasonable diff
ference OF opinion, has now been wrecked.
with the right all on its side, by union of
class interest, party hatred and the intlu-
ence of the bung' Last evening the de-
bate on Sir Michael Hicks Beachs amend
lnent to the budget dragged YEARLY for
eight hours Nothing duller could be i'm
agined than brewer after brewer defend
ing beer, and Scotchman after Scotch
man praying for relief for whiskey There
was the strongest possible muster of con-
servatives and Irishmen. As the hour for
the division approached, the excitement in
creased, until, when Gladstone rose to close
the debate, at one o'clock A. NJ, the house
was so crowded that many members We're
unable to find seats. Not for long time
has Gladstone spoken with such vigor.
There was not the slightest Interrupt
ton, in spite of his bitter thrusts at the OPP
position. The latter seemed completely
cowed. No doubt Gladstone knew perfectly
| what tho uoinu to This cd LODI
sharpness to his attack His defence of the
budget was mastery, of course, but when
it came to his attack on the conservatives
for their tactics, the house was reused into
the greatest enthusiasm. The climax came
| when, after dwelling in almost solemn
manner on the greatness of the national
need for eleven millions for the defence of
the empire, of which the chancellor purpOsed
to raise only one-half by taxation, he paused,
waved his hand almost in the faces of the
leaders on the opposition bench, and added,
in crescendo of scorn: And the regular
opposition is too loyal, the regular Oppo-
sition is too national, the regular oppo-
sition is too patriotic, the regular oppos-
ton is too constitutional, to refuse us the
money"
On the face of things, the gov
eminent was defeated on a reason
able proposition to raise money for the
national needs by increasing the tax on
beer and spirits. The real cause of the
defeat was the action of the Irish men,
bers. Measures affecting Ireland had
been, for some time, under considera-
ton in the liberal cabinet. The crimes
act, passed two years after the Phoenix
Park assassinations, expires soon by
limitation. 1t was proposed to extend
this act for one or two years. A ma
jority of Gladstone's cabinet and large
number of the liberal members were
believed to favor the extension. Prom
ises to bring in bills providing for the
purchase of lands and for local govern
ment in Ireland had not yet been full
filled by the Gladstone ministry. These
things had alienated even the uncer-
tain support the liberals have had from
the Irish members, and in the vote on
the budget, under Parnell's leadership,
thirty-nine sided with the tories, the
mortal enemies of the Irish. Glad
stone has been in advance of his party
in his desire to ameliorate the condi-
ton of Ireland. 1t has been his policy
to ask of parliament only what there
was fair prospect that he could pro-
cure. He has stood between the En-
erald Isle and the vindictiveness-un-
der terrible provocation-of the tories
but he was too cold and reasonable
for the fiery zeal of the impetuous
Parnellites. Much has been done for
Ireland during the past five years. II
has all been achieved by Gladstone
The course of the Irish members in
contributing to the overthrow of his
government is analogous to the action
of certain political temperance reform
ers in this country in defeating the re-
publican party, which has enacted wha
laws have been passed and championet
other measures to control the traffic il
malt and spirituous liquors. IRELAND
can gain no more by this fractions
course of her representatives than thu
temperance cause by putting in powe,
party that has Systematically, from
pOlicV Or princinlp opnOSp1 the rpUula