Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-09-20
THE SITUATION IN ENGLAND.
MR.. GLADSTONE'S MANIFESTO
Its fhset-The Liberal ParU Thereush'y
usi'ed-C Comments OF the Press-Ths Prim-
reese League.

tBy cable TO the Dispatch.)
LONDON, September l9.-Mr. Glad
stones manifesto, the most delphic ut
terance he ever made. has proven the
most successful pamphleteering of his
life. The document was secretly is
sued to his political colleagues as early
as Monday last. Its first perceptible
effect was the palpable approachment
between Joseph Chamberlain, Lord
Harrington, and Sir William Vernon
Harcourt, three Of the most powerful
leaders. next to the ex-Premier himself,
in the Liberal party. All three are
ambitious men, and they had been
pulling apart. Each was taking large
following along. The Radicals were
going with Chamberlain, the Wings
with Harrington. and Harcourt was en-
deavoring to hold the Moderates
together. The Liberal party was
being rent to pieces. The mani
festo puts stop to the ripping
and diyerging triumvirate, at once set
to work to replace the stitches, and
with each effort it came close together.
To-day, week only having elapsed,
the Liberal party, in Great Britain at
least, is unit. Chamberlain may be
said to be the most rebellious leader
in the whole Liberal party before
GladstoDe's utterance. Chamberlain's
Radical campaign tour included Glas-
cow, where no doubt was enter
tanned that he would repeat his pro-
nounced independence, but the ora
tor spoke in Glasgow after he had
perused the manifesto, and his speech
displayed practical abandonment of
his independent Radical views and
the adoption of the policy of
OppoItunism, and so it has been
with Lord Harrington and Sir Will
liam Vernon Ilarcourt. They have
also indicated complete submission
to Gladstone, and have become OPP
portionists. There are two explana-
tons Of these remarkable submissions.
No one doubts that if these three lead
ers had been permitted to perseyere in
the courses they mapped out for them
selves the Liberal party would have
been dismembered. 1t was pretty
generally thought that Gladstone was
tired of public life and had decided to
remain out Of it. He was implored to
reconsider this determination and to as
sumo the management of the present
campaign for his party. Success in this
campaign was essential to the continued
existence of the Liberal party. Abso-
lutte unity was requisite Of success.
Gladstone demanded submission as the
price OF his leadership. 1t is, of course,
possible to suppose that Chamberlain,
Harrington. and Harcourt consented to
drop their differences out Of pure de-
sire to accomplish the success Of the
party as a whole, and to obtain this re-
suit pay Gladstone's price, but no
doubt can be entertained that each OF
these three men has been ambitious to
succeed the "grand old man. in the
party leadership.
Circumstances have demonstrated
that the party will at present accept
no leader but him, and that without
him a restoration to power is imposSl'
bic. The suppOsitiOn that Gladstone
has consented to lead his party
back to power, and determined after
its Judgement there to retire perma'
nently, would offer a most reasonable
explanation Of the conduct of the three
submissive leaders, for in this case they
would be playing for stake worth while
In this latter event the leadership to at
tain would be that of united party
adhesive with power thing immense
" different from factional sue
cess. Many things go to show
that the latter suppostion is cor
rect. The explanation of the turn
affairs have taken in one Of the OPEN
ing sentences Of the manifesto Mr.. Glad
stone uses the following significant
statement 1T will not be possible FOL
me to repeat in the new Parliament the
labors Of previous sessions" This l.
everywhere accepted as a distinct as
seyeration by Gladstone that he in
tends, if victorious in this cam
paign. to confne himself to tn
work Of forming a ministry, anC
after remaining in office long enough
to assure successful working OF his re
established governmental machinery t
retire permanently to private life. |
is everywhere apparent that the ex
Premier's effort has secured marvel
lous and instantaneous restoration 0
unity in the Liberal party and given l
fightingtrim. tits thoroughly reyiylied
Its electoral agents in county district
report better prospects IN the oDlltera
ton of dissensions and the cOnsolida
tons upon single candidates. 1t is ais
rumored that the powers of loca
caucuses are being revived, and the.
are resuming the work Of selecting can
d.1ates and organizing the canyasses.
The Tory press criticise Gladstone
address as perplexing," " ambigu
GUS" "halting," "prolix," " one
the most inaccurate political document
ever issued to the public" "a mer
travssty on home and foreign affairs.
Even Liberal journals admit that tn
manifesto is vague and dlffuse, but tina
it has been extraordinarily effective ha
been oyerw helmingly demonstrated
and that the result undoubtedly wa
what Gladstone aimed at. III
; very yagueness and diifusenes
which characterized the documer
have this merit, that they permit eac
section of the Liberal party to interpr'
the whole production favorably, accor'
inc to factional inclination, and disarI
: the Conservatives Of cogent criticism
The extreme Radical newspaper d.
patch. commenting on the address say
that it prefers at present the leadershl
Of Gladstone to even that Of Chambe
lain. He may not be as Radical q
= we wish" says the Dispatch, :" b'
Radicalism loses nothing by biding i
' time"
The Moderate Spectator declares tn
L the result Of the manifesto Will be
enable the Liberal party to march 10
= ward like wall. Perhaps the mo
remarkable proof Of the power Of Il
D manifesto is that afforded by Il