New-York tribune., 1886-05-06
THE NEWS IN LONDON.
CRITICISM OF MR.. .GLADsToNE's MANIFESTO
OPPONENTS OF HOME RULE ENCoURAGED-UN-
CERTAINTY RESPECTING TIE PRIME
MINISTRIES PLANs-BOTH SIDES
CONFIDENT OE A MhJORITY.

CONFIDENT OF A MAJORITY.
IpY CABLE TO THE TRTBuNE.l
LONDON. May 5.-The fact which here is thought
TO oyershadow every other fact is the abandon
ment by Mr. Gladstone of his two Irish bills. That
and nothing less than that is, in the opinion OF his
opponents the meaning OF Mondays passionate
manifesto TO the electors of Midlothian. The
opinions of the NewYork press on this document
that of The TRIBUNE included. have been tele-
graphcd here They are in diametrical opposition
10 the opinions of London and great part of the
provincial press in England and Scotland. The
effect of the manifesto has clearly been to en-
courage the adversares of the present Irish meas
ures 1t is less than month"; they poirt out, since
the Home Rule bill was introduced. MI. 'Iao-
stones last word in his speech closing the 1our
days' debate was a cry of triumph The bill holds
the field ~ 1t no longer holds the field. 1t has
been withdrawn or as Mr. Goschen sad yesterday
at Leeds has been driven from the field. 1t has
been riddled with criticism, and the criticisms
remain unanswered.
What Mr. Gladstone calls class spirit has, he
sorrowfully admits pronounced against the bill.
The hostile classes include by his enumeration
station title wealth, social influence aud the pro-
fessions. Mr.. Goschcn erlarges this list. Educa-
tion intelli yence. political capacity and experience.
commerce and industry, are all adverse. Hence
this cry of despair. as Mr.. Gadstone's oppone nts
call it, from Hawarden. Hence Mr.. Glalstone's
express declaration that the establishment OF
legislative body in Dublin Is the one question now
at issue that this and no other is what the Com
mons has at once to decide He complains that
details and particulars are nov pnt forward to
bcwilder tie unwary. The details and particulars
include among many others the questions whether
Ireland shall or shall not pay yearly tribute to
the Empire. whether the IRISH Legislature shall or
10 or1a
oualifcation whether there shall be safeguards or
no safeguards for the minority. whether there shall
be veto or no veto whether Ireland snail he taxed
without representation or whether the Irish shall
continne to send members to Westminster.
Who was it, retort his Liberal adversarics, who
devoted three hours and a half to explanation of
these same details and particulars Who drafted
the fortv-one clauses of the Irish Government bill
Who was it who appealed to the sagacIty and
intelligent opinion which he now decrlesf Who
was il who described as vital and essential those
very particulars which he now bel;ttles and sets
asidei Such are some Of the questions asked.
Not less pointed are the protests against Mr..
Gladstone's attempt to represent what Englishmcn
consider patriotic resistance TO tho scheme of dis
unon as the selfish opposition of an interested
class want to know. said Mr.. Goschen. what
crime educ alton and intelligence have committed.
They have committed a crime. They have opposed
the Prime Minister'S bill. 1t IS unworthy of him
to appeal from intelligence to ignorance; nor do
the facts continues Mr.. Goschen, bear ont Mr.
Gladstone's assertion that it IS the privileged
classes who oppose him. Since when has Mr..
Chamberlain been the spokesman of the privileged
classesi
The General Assembly Of the Presbyterian
Church of Ireland, representing half million or
persors. deprecates as disastrous to the country
Do for Irola Are
a privileged class, or is the Ulster
labor convention, which has declared determined
opposition to Legislature at Dubinl Or is the
Glasgow Chamber of Commercei Mr.. Goschen
relates how at his Edinburgh meeting last week a
resolution condemning the Government bills was
moved by one of the foremost leaders of the work
ing classes who had been chairman of the demon
stration of the Corn Exchange in favor of Mr..
Gladst one at the last election.
Mr. Gladstone's dislike of the intellectual classes
is stimulated by the constant appearance OF their
foremost men in the political arena Mr.. Matthew
irnold's article on the "Nad.r of Liberalism" " in
The Naetoenh Century contains perhaps the most
thoughtful argument that has yet appeared
against legislative disunion-an argument based
less on considerations of political expedency than
ON general principles Mr.. Arnold has been and
is cne of those Englishmen who have strivcn IN
spirit for concessions to Ireland. Mr.
Lecky to-day sends another letter to Ihe IimeS
justifyng opposition to the surrender of the Irish
Government INTO the hands of the National League |
bv citing Mr. Gadstones description of the leaders
"a gentlemen wEo wish to march through raplne |
to the disintegraton and dismemberment OF the
British Empire.
Mr. Gladstone's mqnfesto was issued without
consultation with his colleagues. Lord Spencer,
the most trusted of all, knew nothing of it. He
.lo v,ort Of his
Leeds to an elaborate and able defence of the
scheme Of land purchase. Nor does any one nowknow
how MI Gladstone intends to give effect to the |
of the bills, or on what particular |
proposition he intends to take the sense of the |
House. Consultation may modify the purpose |
which inspired the llawarlen declarations. AS
for land purchase. Mr. Gladstones warning to the
landlords that the sands are running out IN the
hour-glass elicits the reminder that he described
this bill as inseparaby connected with the other,
and insisted on the Obligations of honor and
morals; and he is asked are the Obligations OF
honor and morals measurable by the hour-g glass
Speculation in the meantime continues respect
ing the majority in the House of Commons The
estimates on both sides are widely at variance.
The Ministeralists and the Opposition are equally
confident of a majority. All calculations are nu
gatory till it is known what Mr.. Gladstone Will
ask the House to vote
The Greek crisis hangs fire.
Yesterdays ceremony at the opening of the
Colonial Exhibition was brilliantly successful. No
pageant equally splendid. company equally |
varied and distinguished, has been secn at Albert
Hall since its opening The Queen was received
outside and inside with genuine enthusiasm. and
discharged her part and functions, as did the
Prince of Wales, with singular dignity and I'M
pressiveness Many noticed the emphasis with
tha of
The sneecb hoping that this Undertaking would
strengthen the bonds of the union which noc ee'Sts
IN erery norton of the Empire. Mr.. Tennysons ode,
Sir Artbur Sullivans music and Albanis singing
all won wel-deserved applause
Sir Charles Dilke's friends profess Themselves en-