The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1885-06-19
GLADsToNPS ADMINISTRATION.
A Critical Summary of Tasks and Results.
81. Paul Pioneer Press.

st. Paul Pioneer Press.
The Liberal government came into power
In April, 1880, after Q most brilliant cam
paign of three weeks. Mr.. Disraeli, when he
dissolved parliament in March, 1850, counted
on q return to power. His had been bril-
liant administration. British supremacy had
been virtually established In Egypt by the
purchase Of the khedive's shares Of the Suez
canal stock; his sovereign, through his ef
forts, had been made empress Of India; Rus
sIa had been promptly checked at the gates
Of Constantinople and compelled to loosen
her grasp on large portion Of the spoils Of
war and retreat; . confederation scheme
had been devised for South Africa; English
prestige had been maintained 1t the Berlin
conference; the "scientific frontier" had been
devised for India, and several serious COM
plications abroad had been porposed. The
Gladstone ministry came into power with q
programme Of domestic legislation and the
abandonment Of foreign wars for aggrandize-
ment. The success Of the Liberals was large
ly due to The magnificent personal campaign
Of Mr.. Gladstone, who especially detained
against the Tory foreign policy. As prime
minister he gathered old friends around him.
He took into his cabinet such Radicals As
Sir Charles Dixie, Mr.. Chamberlaine, Mr..
Fawcett and Mr.. Nundella. The new par
lament, which assembled on May 20, 1880,
contained $40 Liberals and 243 Conserva-
tives, against the 35l Conservatives and $50
Liberals who made up the commons under
Disraeli when he went into power In 1874.
The preceding ministry left Mr.. Gladstone
to shoulder the Greek, Montenegrin, Trans
vaai and Afghanistan questions, which were
still In allegiance, together with very large
complication growing out Of Disraeli's sper-
atoms In Egypt, where the khedive had been
deposed and the British government had
ridden rough.shod over Turkeys claimed
suzerainty and had undertaken the manage
ment of the interests Of English holders Of
Egyptian bonds. Tho ministry early ad-
dressed itself TO critical Irish questions,
financial reforms, and reform In India; but
the pending, undecided foreign questions
soon doomed up to plague the new govern
ment. Al the outset the disturbances In
Ireland required suppression, and while
| legisating for the relief Of Irish tenants, Mr..
Gladstone put In operation drastic coercive
measures, and filled Ireland with troops TO
stop the acts OF violence. On top Of this
came military operations in South Africa;
In Afehanistan and in Egypt, the history Of
which need not be recited here. In none Of
these exploits did any glory accrue :" the
Liberals. Mr.. Gladstones talent lies In the
direction OF legislation and finance, rather
than In the administration OF war measures
and foreign maiters, and In these latter d.
rections his late minIstry bungled palpably.
His second ministry has, however, like bis
first, been distinguished by some splendid
| legiala,ion or the proeressiye character. A
second land act for Ireland has relieve ] not
| les thSn $1,000 tenants, aud the franchise
bill hiss continued the work Of enfranchise
ment begun In 1882, BY giving the ballot to
over 100000 more persous, largely Of The
agricultural class. In his FIRST ministry he
had beie6fted Ireland BY the tirst land act
and the education act. He established the
! ballot; abolIshsd the corrupt purchase Of