Helena weekly herald., 1885-06-11

The news of Gladstone's defeat on the
second reading of the budget, by ma
jority of twelve on very full vote of the
House, is probably decisive and will lead
to his immediate or early resignation.
We confess that we lament his defeat al
most as much as we did the defeat of a
Republican President. If there is a sim
gle Englishmen above all Others in
whose craftsmanship we have full conf
dence, it is Gladstone. England has
many great ano good men, but not one
who can compare with Gladstone. 1t is
not that he has no rivals in eloquence
and learning among the public men of
England. These are subordinate though
important elements in craftsmanship.
There is no Englishman who so well un-
stands English history and the character
OF the English people. His aim has
been to give substantial strength to the
British Empire but cultivating the arts
of peace, by extending the franchise as
the people became fitted for it by educa-
ton and Development. Disraeli was a
trickster in comparison with Gladstone,
ready always to play the bully, seeking
to dazzle and divert the attention of the
people, without consistency or looking
for any far-reaching results. While In
some things Gladstone has been too con-
seryative to suit our American ideas, we
have always felt confident that he knew
the English people better than we did.
But there was always steady advance
in his policy. He has been a good finan-
cier, maintained the credit of the Nation
and advanced its material interests. All
of the costly and discreditable wars in
which England has of late been engaged
were heir-looms from his predecessor,
from which he has done his best
to extricate his government. If he
has not done for Ireland
all that the friends of Ireland desired,
he has at least been in advance of the
general sentiment of Englishmen, and
has induced them TO concede more than
any other leader could have done. The
Cars concessions to preserve peace
were more a concession to the honorable,
pacific craftsmanship of Gladstone than
to the English nation, and this defeat
will be signal to renew war prepara-
tions, not only in Russia, but in every
country in Europe. The radicals who
have deserted the Liberal ministry have
made a great blunder. They cannot
organize any party of themselves with
any hope of gaining the ascendancy for
years. The Tories that have won
temporary triumph by alliance with the
Home Rulers cannot hold power and
continue the alliance without conces-
sions that will drive away the country
squires and the landlords that have con-
stituted the backbone and body of that
BODY.
As oGe of the immediate effects of
:his defeate, England will probably soon
be engaged in one of the greatest wars
of the world, certainly one of the most
expensive. As one of the more remote
results, there will be new Conservative
party formed out of the Tory and Whig
landlord element and new Liberal
party. As for the Irish party, they have
their purpose to work for separation and
will never join either English party
but for temporary purposes. Those who
have declared against the Gladstone
ministry because of an increase of the
excise tax, have helped to plunge the
country into a general war which will
double and trebble every tax and soon
double the national debt. In the inter
ests of peace, progress and humanity,
we deplore the defeat and retirement of
Gladstone.