New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-11-29
GLADSTONE At 'BIRKENHEAD
MAKING A TELLING POLITICAL SPEECH.
PAYING HIS RESPECTS TO LORD SALISBURY AND
DEFENDING THE LIBERAL HOME RULE
:, pOIICY-THE LABOR QUESTION.

DEFENDING THE LIBERAL HOME RULE
pouCY-THE LABOR QUESTION.
London. Nov. 2s.-Mr. Gladstone was to-day one Oh
The sneakers at the exercises attending the formal open
ing OF a recreation hail. at Port Sunlight near birhen
head The newspapers he said, were teemihg win re-
norris of political addresses. But however much nc
desired not to speak, Il Impossible that he shonid
remain altogether SILENT because such silence might
bs m,scontrued The antiquities OF the position OF
the so-called Liberal UnionIsts" were now lifted
The last shred Of thr pretext OF Liberalism had been
removed by Lord HartingtOn's frankness.
Referring to Lord Salisbury Mr. Gladstone said that,
while affecting sympathetic consideration OF the new
castle programme the Premier had tried 10 swamp the
one man. one vote" question in the larger separate
question Of woman's suffrage. Lord salisbury con-
demned parish councils altogether that his sympa
,he,Ic consideration Of the programme Then ne cited
the tendency OF nations to eentralize, as an argu-
ment against granting Home Rule TO Ireland lie
said the unity OF Spain was 400 years Old. Lofu
salisbury might Just have well have cited the union
OF the seven Kingdoms Of England with the heptarchS
In regard to France, continued Mr.. Gladstone every
wise man thought that that country was ovcrcchtr'i
lied Lord Salisbury had better ground In the case OF
italy, but the Liberals did not dare ask for ireland
what every state in the German Empire now enjoyed.
Mr. Gladstone declared that Lord Salisbury seemed ~
nOrant OF what going on in the BLUSH Emp"e'
When he was young man, all the coion'
les were governed in Downing Street. since theh all
the colonies had received local autonomy, and ninciy
more than ireland had asked for yet their hearts Dea'
warmly In unison with the mother country.
Lord salisbury had called Home Rule capsuieu
medicine Doubtless he authority on physc'
as he had had to take several nasty doses In recent
ycars-lke that Of the South Motion election POSSIBLY
Lord Salisbury too busy In the Foreign Oihcc "
pay attention to the sublunary affairs OF TINS country
The two reasons for placing Home Rule in the van Oh
the Liberal policy justice TO Irelahd anu
the necessity for clearing the road for other
legislation. Having no hope in the present, Lord
Salisbury had occupied himself by predicting what
would happen when Home Rule bill was passed lie
had talked OF coming massacres and cruelty In red'
Did such predictions proceed from the Dfaih Oh 'ne
PREMIER or did he hear them in Bedhm? lie was
Hike a silly nursemad, who when unable to pacify a
child by rational means tried to frighen II by stories
of hobgoblins. daughter and cheersD
Speaking later, Mr.. Gladstone dealt at length with
the labor Uuestion lie said that idle wealth was far
worse than heavy labor The laborer had legitimate
place in Gods creation, but no place lad been ap
pointed for the idle wealthy man. To Mr. Gladstone 5
mind there was no cause for alarm as to
the future Of the workingman. He did
not believe that there would be permanent
fight between capital and labor, because he
believed i'm the good sense and good feeling OF both
parties. The problem could be solved, not by magic
or mathematics, but by sound civil, secular and
Christian feeling and respect for mutual rights only
within few years had the labor party become
strong. The system of profitsharng was extremely
attractive as adjustment but then came the ques-
ton how IL was to be adjusted In those years III
which there was loss instead OF a profit.
Doubtless strikers helped the workers. cause, but he
thought all would agree that they were adapted only
10 what he might call rude state Of industry Much
might be hoped from cooperative distribution
and production toward solution of the problem,
because this would give the laborer the same position
and feeling as the capitalists. Workers were no more
exempt from nrmity than other men. and the ntoxl-
cation OF the power they had might bewlder them
as it bewlldered others; yet lie had sufficient BELIEF
I'm the character Of his counrymen to hold the convc-
ton that these errors would correct themselves. 81
In an elbjuent pcroration, Mr. Gladstone appea'ed
10 employers 10 give the workers, besides an increase
of wages and a decrease OF hours, sense OF common
feeling with their employers; to establish brother
hood OF man and man TO look ut the heart ana col-
science as well as to the appetite and ambition Tor
solution Of these difcues-above ALL to look to the
Providence that shapes ends and TO recolect the
sacred words: Behold, how good and pleasant thing
it is for brethren to dwell together III uniiy.'