New-York tribune., 1886-01-31
UP. GLADSTONE'S TASK.

II II.
The Queen never falters in her constitutional
dntv. Much as she diSlkes Mr. Gladstone and
Gistruss his policy, she recognizes IN HIM the
constitutional agent of the majority which has
Overtmown the Conservative Government.
She may not be convinced that 1t IS ont OF the
oucstion either for Lord Harrington to head n
combination Ministry or for Lord Salisbury to
retain office under pledges of support from the
Moderate Liberals. Bat it must he apparent to
hrr-and she has singularly lucid intelligence
i'm political cIiscs-that no other statesman can
conduct the Government until Mr.. Gladstone
has made the attempt and failed. The Liberal
leader has accordingly been summoned to
Osborne The dinicuitcs with which his path
is besct are very many and very great NO
Prime Minister of the century has undertaken
to form stable government under less prom
ising conditions. 1t is not only political
crisis, in which parties are rent with intestine
feuds and hopclcsSy divided on public ques-
tions; but it is also a crisis in the relations OF
England and Hcland. The chances OF failure
largely outnumbcr the chances OF success.
With an experience ranging over half century
of public life, Mr. Gladstone will be inclined to
oycrrate rather than underratc the enormous
difficulty OF his present task. Bat bis career
and his character leave no room Tor reasonable
doubt that he will make a reeolutc and nigh
minded effort to bring order out of the state OF
chaos to which English politics arc now re-
duced.
In the Judgment of our regular London cor
respondent the long threatened breach between
the Wings and the Radicals is now an open
rupture. Lord Harrington, who has been Mt
Gladstones most powerful ally since lST,
apparently can no longer be depended upon to
serve under his leadership. Sir Henry James,
Lord SelbOrne, and other prominent Wings
will problbly be equally reluctant to return to
office. While the numt er of Moderate Liberals
who voted with the Government IN the critical
division was small, there was large body oi
neutrals who abstaned altogether. Mr.. Glad
stones Cabinet, if he succeeds in forming one,
will be menaced with a Wing "cave.' How
formidable this new group of Adullamitcs. to
use the word which Mr.. Bright grated on par
| iamentary diction, may prove, 1t Is not safe TO
| conjecture. But it is a matter OF certainty
that there Will be Wing deserteis, and since the
! Liberals even with full list Of seats do not
| have a clear majority, it is plain that the new
| Government will be largely dependent upon
Irish support.
This, of course, is the central fact in the pres
ent situation. No Prime Minister can govern
the country AGAINST the will of Mr.. Parncll, and
consequently no Ministry can hope to remain IN
Office without making large concessions to the
Irish party. There are valid reasons for bclicy-
ing that Mr.. Chamberlain and the Advanced
| Liberals are prepared to do this. The support
| which Mr.. Gladstone has Unexpectedly given to
the agrarian proposals OF the Radicals Will
make it easier for them to follow his guidance in
| Irish matters even if he drags them to the edge
| of whatmany of them look upon rs precIpce-
| Home Rule for the island. Unqucstionobly the
| new Ministry will be recruited from the pIo-
gressive elements of the party, and Will be more
homogeneous than the last one, albeit less
| capable and experienced. 1t will be Cabinet
| in Hodges interest, brought into existence by
| a vote in favor of the agricultural classes and
! committed to large measures Of an agrarlan
nature, to which the Wing landhOders are
| bitterly opposed. But it will also be Cabinet
prepared to take up the Irish question and to
| settle it in the Irish way. Action respecting
! Home Rule may not be immediate. Indeed it
will be Mr. Parnells true policy to conciliate
public opinion in England by self restraint and
moderation in speech, and 10 allow Mr.. Glad
stone time to approach the question with delib-
| elation But the new Liberal Cabinet must
eventually come to it, OF else go down at Nf.
| Parnel's bidding.