The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-10-03
WILLIAM E. GLADSTONE.

stone was obviously delighted. When
quiet had been restored DR.. Watson moved
and Burt seconded resolution expressing
affection for and undiminished confidence
in Gladstone. The resolution was carried
with renewed acclamations.
When the cheering had subsided Glad
stone rose to speak. Looking back to 1886
they saw. he said, what was believed to be
crushing Liberal defeat. But during
the years that had since elapsed
the horizon had frightened There
were many precursors of certain vic
tory, and that victory could not be
far distant. Much had been said about
the late conversion of the national debt.
All the saving thereon, and more, he de-
clared, had already been absorbed and
effaced from the public accounts, not only
by enormous increases in the charges for
supplies and the necessary civil rates of
the country, but also the enorm-
Gus increase in naval and military
expenditures. He should like to
have spoken on the governments foreign
policy. The policy of the present admin
istration had been well nigh the inverse
and reverse of Lord Beaconsfield. Just as
the Liberals endeavored to make the work
of the Beaconstield administration
difficult because they thought it was
doing i'll, SO they had striven to
make the work of the present administra-
tion in its foreign policy easy, because they
thought, so far as information went, that
its spirit had undergone a beneficial
change. al shall indeed rejoice,n contin-
ued Gladstone, ''if before the day
comes for the present administra-
tion to give up the ghost it will
be possible for Lord Salisbury to make an
effort to relieve us of the burdensome and
embarrassing occupation of Egypt, which,
as long as it lasts, must be cause of weak
ness"
Gladstone spoke word of congratula-
tion and hope in regard to the temperance
question, reviewing the work, and added:
Those approaching my period of life may no
witness it, but many of you will see thorough
and efficient reform of the laws connected with
the traffic in alcohol, with acknowledgment of
the right of local populations to settle the ques
ton whether, within their borders, public
houses shall exist. lCheers
Touching the question of the abolition
of hereditary peers, Gladstone said it is at
present rather in the shade, owing to the
priority of the claims of other subjects.
He should not be sorry if it would remain
in the shade longer, provided the lease
were gained by forbearance and wisdom in
dealing with public sentiment. He warned
the house of lords, however, that it might
make the matter burning question if the
peers were tempted to listen to the counsel
given by Lord Salisbury when he con-
templated the possibility of Liberal
victory, and reminded them that all would
not be over even if the commons should
pass the home rule bill; that the house
of lords might interpose itself between
the Judgment of the nation and the
incorporation of that Judgment in the
fo|>n of law. The lords tried that ruse in
7 1881, throughout the proceedings on the
Reform bill, and underwent humiliation.
Gladstone himself, in 1860 and 1861, had
the felicity to be In conflict with the lords,
who had, he said, made great battle upon
the repeal of the paper duties, one
of the most difficult and important ques-
tions in the whole free trade controversy.
sYou know what the consequences have
been of the establishment of free press.
which has donePmore than any other
single cause to educate the country, and
TO which We mainly owe the vast extern
sion of the franchise. Should the lords be
seduced to accept the deplorable sugges-
ton of Salisbury they themselves will be
first TO repent it.
Regarding registration reform, Gladstone
said there was much in favor of giving it
a forward place on the Liberal platform.
Coming down to'the question of labor,
he said the labor representation in parlia-
ment must be extended. Those charged
with the management of the affairs of the
party viii exhibit the utmost
| disposition to assist wherever a
| constituency is found favorable 10 the
| claims of the labor candidates. The con-
stituency must bear the cost of the resi-
| dence of these labor representatives in
i London. Nothing can be clearer than the
| title of such members TO receive
such aid from the public treasury
| as will enable them TO discharge the task
imposed upon them for the public benefit.
Furthermore, it is among the iadispens-