New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-11-11
MP GL4DSTONE.S FIRST SPEECH.

Mr.. Gladstones first utterances In his new
Midlothian canvass are conciliatOry. Some OF
the Liberal political managers have been urging
the necessity of bringing forward the lrlsh
question in order to silence the Tory outcrlcs
against dieestablishment. This policy of meet
ing attack by attack implied an arraignment Of
Lord Randolph Churchil's dealings with Mr..
Parnell, and an appeal to the country for an
overw helming Liberal majority as the sole
means of averting a Tory surrender of Ireland
Mr.. Gladstone in his Introductory speech has
singled out the Irish question as of paramount
importance in the canvass, but he has not
dealt with it in n narrow, partisan spirit. lie
has discussed it broadly, If somewhat vaguely,
and has committed the Liberals to new conces-
sions and compromises, rather than to defence
of the Union against Nationalist demands ana
Tory imbecility. Indeed. if he had been making
n direct appeal for Irish support he could not
have used more conciliatory language. Instead
of warning the country against the disastrous
consequences of Tory surrender to Mr.
Parncll, he argued that the Liberals must be
kent in power in order to complete the work OF
reconciliation by large and equitable conces-
sons.
In this first speech the statesman rises above
tho arts and subterfuges of the political
managers There is no attempt to institute
rcprisals against the Tories for the dishonest
and partisan use they are making of the dis
establishment issue. No counter-policy is
proposed rs a matter of party tactics ana
political necessity. Mr.. Gladstone considers 1t
more important to let the country know what
course the Liberals will take in dealing with
Irish discomfort and dsaflcction, than to make
an immediate use of Lord Randolph Churchilrs
notorious intrgues with the Parnellites. lie
assumes that the Naiionalists, as the result OF
the broadening of the electorate, will have an
increased majority in Ireland, and reminds
England that Parliament is bound to consider
the demands which that majority may cOnsttu-
tionally present. lie places only one limit
upon tho extent of those ACCOMPLISHMENTS,
that there shall be infringement upon the
maintenance of unity the Empire. WITHIN
that limit he pledges on the part of the Liberals
a fair consideration of every proposal that may
be offered by the representatives. OF the island
"To stint Ircland,' he cXclalms, I" in powers
"neccssary or desirable for the management OF
"purcly Irish matters is a great error
1t will be urged that the Liberal leader is
indefinite in his statement OF the extent 10
which the policy of concession may be- carried
and that the Tories insist with equal emphasis
that the unity of the Empire must not be
icopardiLcd. This is true; but it must be
added that Mr.. Gladstone is not more in
definite than the Irish members have been in
formulating their demands aud that while the
same limit defined, the Liberals are committed
to generous and progressive policy toward
the island, whereas the Tories are unwilling
To discuss the subject ut all. Mr.. Gladstone
has repeatedly called upon Mr. Parncll to give
an authoritative expression to the wishes ct
the Irish people, so that English statesmen
could have some precise data for determining
whether it would be possible for them TO
arrange a basis for the permanent settlement
of all grievances and questions at issue. This
is what he now hopes Will be done by the Irish
members in the next Parliament; and he
promises that the Liberals in entering upon
that discussion will be true To the traditions of
two generations of statesmen.