St. Paul daily globe., 1886-05-03
BACKED BY THE PEOPLE;
Gladstone's Popularity Grows as the Day
Approaches for Test Vote
on Home Rule.
Close Calculations on the Vote on the Sec
ond Reading Place His Major
ity at Sixty-Eight.
The Parnel1ites Place the DESERVING
Liberals and Radicals at Between
Thirty and Forty.
Reliance Placed by the Premier in the
Magic of His Name Invok ed
by Others.
Overwhelmingly for Gladstone.

Overwhelmingly for Gladstone.
Special to the Globe.
LONDON, May 2.-The gayest of Easter
seasons will be broken into tomorrow by
the reopening of parliament. Home rule
is again on everybody's lips, and other sub
Jects OF general legislation are hardly men
toned. The Easter campaigning is over,
and the result may be summed up in the
single statement that the country is over
whelmingly for Gladstone. The two great
leaders Of the secession, Lord Harrington
and MIR. Chamberlain, were not able to even
bring their own constituents up to the point
OF declaring against the premier. The
amount OF education which the
people were found to have re-
ceived on the subject of home rule was
simply amazing. The bulk OF this enlight-
eminent OF the mass must undoubtedly be
credited to the widespread dissemination Of
Mr.. Gladstones initial speech. When the
speakers, Liberal or Tory, came to address
the electors they found the latter uncom-
monty we'll posted On the home-rule bill.
They had many clever questions ready and
many graceful period was ruined by some
rustic in the audience hurting at the speak
er some well-fitting epigram from Mr..
new session will hear nothing Of the Irish
question except the
PRIVATE DISCUSSIONS
between individual members. The effect
of this attrition OF minds is most likely to
be beneficial to the home-rulers. The con-
trast in the appearance OF the Gladstonites
and the -GladStonites is very marked.
The former are jovial aud companionable;
ftta loft fnr nrrI, ,;1n
ever an impromptu discussion takes place
ence with them and almos invariably win.
The speculation as to the size of the ma
jority by which the home-rule will
pass its second reading is in
tense. Every one of the COM
mittees has immense tally sheets headed
respectively "for' and against home
rule, and doubtful" On these sheets are
written the names of every member of par
lament. His location is decided either by
personal utteranceS that he has made in
public, assurances personally given to mem
bers OF the canvasSing committee, OF by the
best obtainable information outside of these
sources. Thus the forecasts are much
more accurate and valuable than the guesses
which were made a month ago. These
lists are changed every day, If necessary
and always as soon as trustworthy infor-
nation is obtained Of members intention
to change his vote.
NO PARTISAN HOPES
OF fears are allowed to interfere with the
strict accuracy OF these tally lists, and it Is
probable that comparison of the lists of
all the various committees would not result
in finding many differences. According to
the Parnellte figures there are about thirty
men OF the Liberal or Radical parties who
can be claSSed as sure to cast their votes
against home rule. But in their estimate
of the result they call the number of de-
serters forty. Their list of probable alb
senteeS numbers sixteen, but they call it
twenty. Thus, taking the darkest view of
the case they will still have majority in
a full house of siXty-eight. Many of their
more enthusiastic members, however, con-
fdently claim that they will have over a
hundred, and they are making even bets
that the majority exceeds 100 by more
votes than it falls short Of it. There has
been considerable disappointment in certain
quarters over the fact that Mr.. Gladstone
declined at the last moment to go down to
Scotland and address his Midlothian con-
stituents. The cause given was the abso-
lutte prohibition of the trip by his physi-
clan, Sir Andrew Clark, NJ. d. There
was, however,
ANOTHER REASON
which probably had quite as much influence
upon Mr.. Gladstone as the question of his
health. He felt confident before the begin
ming of Easter week that the Scotch revolt
ers could be swung into line by his lieuten-
ants, and that the people Of Britain were
quietly studying at their homes his home
rule speech, and he felt that it would be
more tiattering to his personal pride, of
which it must be confessed that he has
full share. to have the victory won by the
magic of his name invoked by others, and
without his personal presence, than
to rush into the field as
though he was in fear that otherwise his
hosts would be defeated. He is also now
in a position to say to his late colleagues,
who shamefully deserted and afterward
abused him:
You went to your constituents, and to other
bodies Of electors, viturperating me and
bringing forth your keenest arguments against
home rule. l remained at home surrounded
by 1Dy family and my trees, and let the con-
troversy wage. The people have now spoken
decisively. Th cir utterance has probably
surprised you, but it is made with no uncer-
tain sound, and it is voice which it behooves
every man OF the house who looks for re-elec-
ton her near or remote, to hear and heed.