The Wilmingtonian., 1886-06-19
Gladstone's Manifests.

Mr.. Gladstone has opened the new cleo
toral campaign in England. He has deliv-
cred his manifesto to the Scottish electors of
Mid Lothian.
Though addressed to Scotchmen his words
are intended equally for the electors of
Great Britain and Ireland.
The document contains definition of the
future of the Liberal party especially in re-
gard to the Home Rule question. 1t explains
Mr.. Gladstone's position in the past upon
this question and places before the people
his impression of the position of his oppo-
nents.
The English electoral campaign of 'S6 will
go on record as the most notable one in
English history. Never before did they
give promise of such commotion, such tear.
ing up of old party lines or of more extrem-
eness and bitterness in party antagonism.
The result OF this fight will determine the
most momentous question that has arisen
within the jurisdiction of modern British
constitutional politics. The leader on one
side commenced his political life fifty years
ago, at a date concdent with the accession
of Queen Victoria to the throne of England
Since that long past day Mr.. Gladstone has
been with few intermissions almost daily in
the forefront of political life.
He cannot, according to all human ideas
be very distant from its close. He says in
us manifesto 'It is only a sense OF the
gravity of this issue which induces me, at a
period of life when nature cries aloud for
repose, TO seek, after sitting in thirteen Par
! iaments, seat in the fourteenth, and with
this view to solicit for the fifth time the
honor of your confidence"
The question of Home Rule for Ireland
or as Mr.. Gladstone terms it ''the bill for the
better government of Ireland" is the gravest
and yet the simplest that has been given to
the country for its decision during the past
fifty years.
In his letter or manifesto his Midlothian
constituents the following significant asser.
tion is made =
"Weak as the late government (Salisbury'l
cabinet) was for ordinary purposes it haC
great advantages for dealing with that cris
tthe Irish question:.
A comprehensive measure proceeding from
that government would have received warn
and extensive support from within the liber
al party and would probably have closed th
Irish controversy within the present session
and have left the Parliament of 1885 free t.
prosecute the now stagnant W, rk of ordr
ary legislation, with the multitude of ques
tons it includes. My earnest hope was t
support the late Cabinet in such a course {
3 policy. On the 26th of last January the OF
posite policy of coercion was declared t
have been the choice of the government, til
Earl of Carnarvon alone refusing IT, shal
in it. The Irish question was thus placed i
5 | the foreground, to the exclusion of ever
> other. The hour, as all felt, was come. I'll
I 1
manner in which it was to be dealt with.
my Judgment the proposal of coercion wa
T not justified by facts aud was doomed t
n certain and disgraceful failure
Il |. Here Mr.. Gladstone distinctly AYERS tha
q he was ready to support the conservati,
n government Of Lord Salisbury under a mo,
flied Home Rule enactment. That he ha
q an earnest hope" to do so, and that mar
It liberals were ready to follow him in that az
h tion.
y Many will remember that moment in IL
IT history of Home Rule matters when rumt
.. was given ont of a rapproachmeut betwee
a Parner and Lord Salisbury. Though di