New-York tribune., 1885-07-10
FUNCTIONS or OPPOSITION

Whatever may be said of the present Govern
ment in England, there is marked improve
ment in Her Majestys Opposition. Mr. Glad
stone never appeared To greater advantage than
in replying to the Chancellor of the Exchequer
He exerted his authority as leader of the ma
jority of the House to secure cOnslderate treat
ment of the Government of the day. He
heartily supported the legislative proposals Of
Sir Michael Hicks-B Beach and commended the
Prime Minister'S outline of foreign policy
While reminding the Government OF the re-
sponsibility it was mourning in dropping the
Crimes Act he wished it godspeed in its en-
deavor to govern Ireland by means Of ordinary
law Throughout his reply he avoided conlro-
versy and deprecated partisanship. He be-
spoke for the Government fair play and COM
moG, justice from the Liberal side. Instead OF
instituting a system of reprisals grounded upon
the factious and unpatriOtic tactics of the
Tories themselves when in Opposition, he
placed his party Oh a higher plane of political
action. He virtually admonished his followers
that they were not to oppose the Government
simply for the sake of thwarting and embar-
RAISING it, but were to reserve their criticisms
until their duty to the country forced them to
protest against unwise legislation or dangerous
tendencies Of administration.
This example is one that may prOftably be
considered by the Republican party. After q
prolonged period of administrative power it is
now in Opposition. If it initiates the policy of
the Democrats when they wercjout of office, it
will oppose everything that the Government
proposes and will be influenced solely by
partisan hostility and spite. That is The sort of
Opposition which the Tories have been con-
Quoting since 1880 in England. They have
resisted the chief Government measures on the
narrow principle that the Liberals were in and
the Tories out. They have taken advantage of
the unusual difficulties of the Irish Egyptian,
Soudan and Afghan questions. and have in
creased the perplcxities of government by mo-
tions of censure, obstruction tactics and harass-
ing questioning Of overworked officials. Lord
Randolph Churchill owes his present position
in the India Office mainly to his ferucious hatred
of Mr. Gladstone, and some of his colleagues in
the Ministry have earned their promotion by
their INSCRIPTIONS conduct in 0bstructing leg
islation. In like manner the present Admins
traton numbers among its noisiest supporters
those who were influenced last autumn solely
by their hatred of Mr.. Blaine, and the great
body Of Democratic Legislators at Washin gton
during the last twenty years have persisteuty
obstructed Republican measures.
IL it be the paramount duty of the party in
power, SO is it also of the party in opposition,
to rise above the low levels of partisanship aud
to shape its policy SO as to promote the public
welfare. Mr.. Gladstone's idea is that Her
Majcsty's Opposition must never cease to be
vigilant and critical, must always be ready to
condemn bad measures and to combat evil ten
denotes, but must never waste its force and
energy in retarding useful legislation or in i'm
terposing factious resistance to Government