New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-11-04
PRICE THREE CENTS.
CONFIDENCE IN GLADSTONE.
LIBERALS STAND BY THEIR OLD POLICY
AND THEIR OLD LEADER.
JOHN MoRLEYs EMPHATIC DECLARATION AT rHp
LEEDS CoNFERENCE-Yo SURRENDER TO
THE TORIES AND NO OvgRTUREs
THE UNfONlsrs

LEEDS CONFERENCE.-THE SURRENDER TO
THE TORIES AND NO ovERTUREs
TO THE UNioNisrs.
LEEDS, Nov. 3.-The meeting of tho National
Liberal Federation at Leeds to-day was one of the
ost successful ever held. Mr. Ktson the president.
read report showing that despite the secession
of Joseph Chamberlain and his followers the
association had increased by 100 branches IN the
Provinces. A resolution declaring tho confidence
Of the meeting in Mr.. Gladstone was carried amid
enthusiasm by acclamaton.
John Morley. speaking on a resolution to reaGirm
Mr.. Gladstone's Home Rule policy. sad that tho
party were the eve of great battle. Tho
Liberals remained stanch. Something had been
said about the conciliaton of the Dissentients.
Ali he could say was that it would be better for
the present to leave them alone. The Liberals
could stand by their old policy and their old
leader [Cheersl They felt now more than ever,
that the views of the Irish electors must be met or
tho Irish question would never be settled. IL
union of the sections of the Liberals could not be
obtained ithout the surrender of the principles OF
an enormous majority 10 small minority, the only
recourse was to fight out the battle. The majority.
Mr. Morley said. did not wish to prescribe in-
div iduals Ut excommunicate sections. But IL
would be most contemplate il the men who had
launched protest in favor of Ireland Of such mag.
pitude and moment to agree that ali Abe for
gotten. They would pursue the old course Still,
Mr.. Gladstone and other members OF the late
Government were ready to receive modified
policy if it were supported by solid reasons.
Despite recent defeats the speaker said. he believed
Mr. Gladstone was on the eve Of triumph, and
that the Liberal policy was now rooted in the
minds and cOnsciences of Liberals throughout the
country
This sentiment was received with enthusiastic
1acla rtp0t hat
FREQ public elementary schools should be estab-
lishei, and be placed under the control OF the
peoples representatives; that a reform OF the
registration laws is necessary. and that the land
laws should be amended in the direction of the
creation Of peasant landowners
At the evening session Mr.. Morley said that this
| afternoons meeting had ADDED fresh article to
the Liberal programme. namely,an early settlement
of the Irish question apon an enduring basis. which
was only securable by granting Ireland legis'
| lative assembly of her own. Mr. Gladstone waa
| still the leader Of the party, in spite Of tho
| combination against him. He (Morley) doubted
| very much tho genuineness of the Radical propo-
sails which Lord Randolph Churchill dsngled before
the Bradford electors. That spring Of Tory reform
would soon dry up Though the Government was
receiving kindly help from his Radical friend
of Birmingham he would say nothing harsh
of the dissldent Liberals, but he thought it their
duty to insist upon the present Government deak-
| ing with the Irish question without delay. Tory
| statesmen and newspapers now paraded Ireland
| as free from crime. If free from crime why did
they not hasten remedial legislation instead OF. as
| Lord Randolph Churchill had announced, dealing
with other questions tirsti The real meaning OK
| the programme was to shelve the Irish question.
| This was the misery and pity of It that Ireland
would have to learn again the cruel and desperate
lesson she had been taught a thousand times that
she is to be treated with In time OF outrage and
agitation, while nothing will be conceded 10 her on
the ground of justice and tranquility. lCheers.
| SIR William Vernon Harc0urt ascribed the
| quietude in Ireland. not to firm Conservative ad-
| ministratiOn but to the remedial egisla ION per:
sstently applied to Ireland by slr Gladstone, ana
TO the reasonable expectation that, with the assist
ance Of the Liberals, Ireland would get govern
| ment ia accordance with her wishes lie said there
was no for dsmay regarding the position OF the
Liberal party. AS to ChurchIlPs boast that he was
| often true Judge on political questions, man
| who called both heads" and tails" was likely
| on themselves not only on the questions OF
| the franchise, government IN Ireland:
cIoture and land laws, out even on the question of
their foreign policy The Berlin treaty was now
politely shown the door. and Churchill had entered
into heavy recognHances to keep the peace
In the whole situation there was n2 cause
for the Liberals TO despond. They were
the masters of the situation because the
necessities of the Tory party compelled the
Tories 10 be the instruments of the Liberal
rolicv which was still in the ascendant although
the Conservative party was in office. he Liberals
mad only to "sh0ve the Conservatives along"
Resolutions expressing approval OIL the DECISIONS
of the coufere ice carried by acclamation, AZ
were also votes of thanks to Mr. Morley and OH
William Vernon Harcourt.