Omaha daily bee., 1889-10-27
A GLOOMY ENDING.
Review of English Politics For the
Past Week.
GLAOSTONlANS DISAPPOINTED
The Conservative Victory in Brlgh-
ton the Cause of It.
SIR ROBERT PEEL'S BAD ROUT.
'R ROBERT peEL's BAD RouT.
His Character Not Such as Would
Stand the Test.
eRAoLAUeA ABOVE REPRoAcH.
Described as a Conscientious and
Painstaking Worker In the House
OF Commons.-Ail Obsta cles
Overcome.
English Political Review.

BnEi1sn pOntICaI review.
(COpuriglh 1880 bU James Gordon Bcnnctt.)
LONDON, Oct. 26.-lN New York Herald
Cable-Special to The BEE. The week ends
in disappointment and gloom for the Glad
stonians The most sanguine among them
must begin to see that there is no vitality in
their cause. Occasionally there is u flicker
of life but it vanishes the moment any sus-
tanned exertion is called for. Everybody ad-
mts that the event decided yesterday at
Brighton was fair test. The home rulers
exerted themselves to the utmost. Issues
were put before the electors with great full
ness. The Irish members of parliament
focked TO their constituency and went round
about it day and night with bell which
sometimes must have caused them to be mis-
taken for the mufingman. Gladstone wrote
q letter and Whitbread maze speech, but
all was worse than useless, for the conscrva-
tive candidate was returned by much larger
majority than any Of his friends had antici-
pated. Sir Robert Peel IS left 10 realize the
painful truth that when he went over to the
Gladstonians he changed once too often.
The Irish M. P.'s may perhaps come
TO the conclusion that their cause might
have prospered better II they had held aloof
from the contest. English constituencies
will not stand being dictated to by Parnel-
ite emissar1es. The Brighton people have
effctually stopped the clapper of the home
rule bell These are truths which he who runs
may read. The great body of people do not
believe in home rule. They distrust a party
which stakes all Its future upon it. They
revolt against breaking up the ancient par
Lament of the country into u half dozen
fragments and they are sick unto death of
the whole Irish controversy and of ali who
take part in it, Until the radicals get these
Iacts well into their minds they may snatch
set here and there by luck or chance, but
they will make no permanent progress, and
they will not shake the strength of the con-
servatives' position. Even when Gladstone
rings the bell no one pays any attention.
Never did any speech of great public man
fall so flat as that at Southport Ask any
body to-day what it was about and he can
not tell you. He has a vague idea that it
was something about Ireland. The very
fact that Gladstone dare not unfold his plan
of home rule is ruinous to his party. 1t is not
as If he had never unfolded the plan. Then
everything might have been left surrounded
In mystery, but he did produce scheme and
the nation decided that it meant separation,
neither more nor less Whenever they are
called upon TO pronounce Judgment on the
same project they will condemn it again.
That was the point on which the Brighton
election turned, and 2,507 majority for a
conservative was the result, although their
candidate was an inexperienced and indif-
ferent speaker and by no means popular at
first. There was Zone thing which helped
him greatly-he had character. Sir Robert
Peel now knows better than he did before
the value of character in English public
life. Many man before him has found il
out when too late. The public may forgive
political inconsistencies, but they turn aside
from dub bious personal record. Sir Robert
Peel has lowered q great name, thrown
away golden opportunities, and dissipated
u magnificent patrimony. When he
appeals to the great body OF
his fellow-cOuntrymen to send him
10 parliament they reply: "You have had
your chance and abused it. We have no
further need of your services" Character
is nothing, some foolish people say. 1t is
upon this assumption that Sir Charles Dixie,
we are told, is coming forward for parla-
ment again. In that case the lesson which
he asks for he will most surely receive. The
conservatives have had to defend great
many of their seats owing to an unusual
number of their men being removed by
illness ordeath.
The Gladstonians have been more fortu-
nate in this respect. 1t is to be hoped that
they are not to lose very well known mem.
ber Of their party in Mr.. bradlaugh. / am
far enough from agreeing with many of the
opinions on special and religious questions
held by Bradlaugh, but as politician | do
hal 4 but bae
more conscientious man alive to-day. l have
often seen him take course which was
directly opposed TO his own interests, but
1 have never seen him do any under
hand or unfair thing His word is
absolutely to be trusted, and he will take no
part in discreditaole laws of parliamentary
obstruction or mean intrigue. More than
once have known him TO incur great un-
popularity with hs party simply by adhering
honestly to an understanding he had made
with the government on some detail of busi-
ness. He cannot be bullied into doing what
he believes to be dishonorable or even un-
fair act. He is straightforward and out and
above board with mis- transactions OF how
many leading men in parliament whose pre-
tentions are Standing much greater than
Bradlaugh's could as much as this be truth.
fully saidl l should be sorry to have to
reckon them up. 1 have served on com,
mittees with Bradlaugh and have never
Z failed to remark not only the great acuteness
he displays in sitting facts, but the inn
mense industry he brings TO bear upon the
investigation of any subject 20 which he ad
dresses himself That is one
secret OF his success ia the house OF
commons. He rarely speaks without
having thoroughly matured tho question
He never wastes the time of the house
Thus 1t comes to pass tnat many who had q
bitter prejudice against him on account OF
some passages in his career which did moi
look we'll from the outside, now have genu
ine respect for his character as we'll as foI
his ability. Did any man ever effect such q
change OF feeling Of the house towards him
self A few weeks ago Bradlaugh was
hnstled ignominiously out OF it. seized %,
policemen, dragged through the hall and