The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-09-20
THE GLADSTONE MANIFESTO.

Wonderful Effect of the Document on the
Liberal Party and on the Bourses.
LONDON, Sept. 19-Mr. Gladstone's manifesto,
the most delphic utterauce he ever made, has
proven the most successful pamphleteering of
his life. The document was secretly issued to
his political colleagues as early as last
Monday. Its first perceptible effect
was the palpable rapprochment between
Mr.. Joseph Chamberlain. Lord Harrington and
Sir VIM. Vernon Harcourt, the three
most powerful leaders now, next to the ex- Pre-
mier himself, in the Liberal party. All three are
ambitious men, and they had been pulling apart.
Each was taking a 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 manifesto put a
stop to the ripping at once, and all set at work
to replace stitches, and with each effort came
closer together. To-day. a week only having
elapsed, the Liberal party. in Great Britain, at
least, is a solid unit. Mr.. Chamberlain may be
said to be the most rebellious leader in the whole
Liberal party. Before Mr.. Gladstone's utter
ance, Mr.. Chamberlain radical campaign
town included Glasgow, where no doubt was en-
tertained that he would repeat his pronounced
Independence; but the orator spoke in Glasgow
after he had perused the manifesto, and his
speech displayed a practical abandonment of
independent Radicalism and the adoption of u
policy of opportunism. And so it has
been with Lord Harrington and Sir
Harcourt. They have also indicated complete
submission to Mr.. Gladstone, and have become
ODDOrtunlStS. M Ona dOnhtS that IF ithaca thrao
leaders h ad been permitted to persevere in the
courses they had mapped out for themselves,
the Liberal party would have been dismembercd.
1t was pretty generally thought Mr.. Gladstone
remain out of it. He was implored to
reconsider this determin alton. and
assume the management of the present cam
paign for his party. Success in this campaign
was essential to the continued existence of the
party as a party, and Gladstone absolutely was
a requisite of success. Mr.. Gladstone de-
manded submission as the price of his
leadership. 1t is. of course, possible to suppose.
that Chamberlain, Harrington and Hareourt
consented to put their opposition out of the way.
out of pure desire for success. circumstances
demonstrated that the party will, at present,
accept no leader hut Gladstone, and that, with
out him, restoration to power is impossible. If
Mr.. Gladstone has consented to lead his party
back to power. and then to retire permanently,
there would be found a sufficient reason why
these ambitious leaders should consent to sub
nit 80 gracefully and quickly.
In one of the opening sentences of his mani
festo Mr.. Gladstone uses the following signif-
can't statement:
1T will not be possible for me to repeat in the
new Parliament the labors of previous sessions"
This is everywhere accepted as a distinct
asseveration by Mr.. Gladstone that. if
victorious in this campaign. he will con-
fine himself to the work of forming
a ministry. and after remaining in office long
enough to assure the successful working of his
re-established governmental machinery, retire
permanently to private life. 1t is everywhere
apparent that the ex-Premiers effort has Sc
cured a marvellous and instantaneous return of
unity in the Liberal party, and given it
fighting trim. 1t is thoroughly revivifed. It's
electoral agents in tho country districts already
report better prospects, the obliteration of dis
sensions, and consultations upon single candi-
dates. 1t is also rumored that the powers of the
local caucuses are being revived, and they are
resuming the work of pressing their candidates
and organizing the canvasses.
The Tory press are characterizing the mani.
festo as ''perplexing." Ambiguous" .boltine,"
''prolix." lone of the most inaccurate political
documents ever issued to the public" "a mere
travcsty OH home and foreign affairs" etc.
Even the Liberal journals admit that the
manifesto is vague" and 'diffusive." But
that it has been extraordinarily effective has
been overwhelmingly demonstrated. and that
result undoubtedly is what Mr.. Gladstone aimed
at The very vagaeness and diffaseness which
characterize the document have this merit, that
they permit each section of the Liberal party to
interpret the whole production favorably, ac-
cording to ~factional inclination, and to disarm