New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-12-11
sHIS HONORABLE FRIEND"
9TH. AIR. LABOUCHERE BE AN ALLY OR
A FOE OF THE MINISTRY?


o,rjo,t. 1892. BY The Tribune Association.

.ha
w ~ marks Their Specification is not Shakes
..,.on but Parliamentary Honorable does not
IN what Antony meant when he declared that
m.,,us and his friends were all honorable men.
~. Ar Gladstone is in the habit of referring
- n, Iabouchere in the House OF Commons by
.s;. title and borrow ii from him. 1t never
20. more appropriate than on the present
occasion.
,eferred last week to a conversation between
n, Gladstone and one of his radical followers, re-
l.,ina in part TO his majority in the House of
3 commons For reasons sufficient TO me- l left
!. ANONYMOUS, and gave but fragment of the
,,Acls story. Since then sundry English papers
,.v, published brief version of this
nddent and named Mr.. Labouchere. 1t
was Mr. Labouchere, and the publicity
,hev rave to the name and to some of the facts
eavcs me free to state what really happened.
, 7 do not mean by that phrase TO vouch for the
accuracy of every statement herein contained.
Eycept Mr.. Gladstone. Mr.. Labouchere and Mrs.
Labouchere. nobody was present at the interview,
which took place under the shadow of the Vic
toria Tower Such accounts as are current must
come, so far as they rest on any authentic
evidence, from one OF these three persons. What
I offer you is summary Of the best evidence
attanable.
do not think that Mr. Gladstone has said much
about the matter. should be much surprised
il Mr.. LabouChcre had not. 1t is his habit to
talk TO all corners of all parties with the most
astonishing freedom. Some cynical comment by
Mr. Labouchere on affairs, or on the people who
conduct them, is almost always in circulation, and
some of his most daring criticisms his own
political friends are expressed TO Conservative
listeners. I wish, however, to warn you that the
story give is derived from what the lawyers
call hearsay evidence. | can only soy that |
should no. give it if had not good reason to
think il true. IT hat a certain importance, and
bears pretty directly on the question which agl-
tates good many minds in this country, namely.
that of the probable duration of the present
Ministry.
Nevertheless it may be well TO say first, that
,be Importance of Mr.. Labouchere himself is over
nted; sometimes in England and sometimes, per-
haps even in America. He has many amiable
PERSONAL qualities and rer arkable gifts, but he
would be the fist 70 laugh at anybody who should
take him as a serious politician. What happened
at the formation of the present Ministry furnished
o measure of his real strength. He was thought
BY his frienls TO have claims TO a Cabinet office.
Mr. Gladstone thought otherwise. and offered him
nothing. Forthwith Mr.. Labouchere began a
campaign against hi, revered leader. lie attacked
Mr.. Gladstone, he attacked the Queen, he attacked
the Cabinet. Has anybody ever met the man who
thought either the Queen, the Cabinet or Mr.
Gladstone the weaker for this attack? II recoiled
mon himself. His failure was manifest. The
indifference of the country was complete lhe
imputation upon the Queen was mistake IN
tactics, as well as in taste and feeling Inc
criticism of Mr. GLADSTONE and his colleagues was
regarded as the criticism not indeed Of an Office
seeler fer there is no evidence that Mr. Labouchere
sopcht office. hut of man who wanted II and
had not cot it That he resented not getting 1t
was plain. He was angry and sore lie made
what mischief he could in his weekly paper at
the time. and was clearly bent on more. Caustlc
sneecbes of his were repeated everywhere Some
Of Them Won have had The latest was MS
answer 10 one who asked him whether he meant
to turn out the Government.
"Turn them out?" replied Mr.. Labouchere.
any dear fellow, shall have the greatest trouble
to keep them in !!
He took line Of his own-nobody can blame
hin, for that-but a line in conflict with that OF
his party of his Irish friends and of the Radicals
who follow him in the House of Commons-about
a dozen in number. He urged that Home Rule
should be postponed to English reforms. He re-
opened question supposed TO have been settled
by the overwhelming voice Of the party against
Mr.. Gladstone himself. He suddenly pronounced
against the retention OF the Irish in the Parlla-
men, at Westminster after they had got Parla-
men, of their own on College Green. Either OF
thes, proposals was full Of danger. The hrst OF
then, the postponement of Home Rule, would, IL
adopted, have brought on catastrophe, ana MI.
Labuchere knew it would. The Irish would not
have submitted to take back seat. / do not
see who could blame them for refusing, or for
averging themselves at once on Ministry when
askcl them 10. The question OF Irish representa-
ton at Westminster is hardly less grave, though
SOM compromise on that might he possible
Tut Mr.. Labouchere flung out both sagges-
tos in his iniritable, jaunty, fippant cheerful
ws, flung them about with as little apparent re-
gard for consequences as his dynamite friends
With their bombs The most vital matters or
Pablo policy are to him but so many playthings
4 powerful Ministry is to be upset, great
measure 10 be wrecked ere ii is fairly launched
lest Mr.. Labonohere find life dull. 1t is the bust
ness Of Ministries and Parliaments 10 provide
him with intellectual excitement
Mr.. Gladstone's friends warned him that his
honorable friend was in q dangerous mood. lie |
gave little heed to the warning. His courage |
and confidence are not Of kind 10 be shaken by |
q mutiny in the forecastle Finally one or two |
men went TO Mr. GadstOne-one, it is said, with |
Mr. Labouchere's lSnOwedge-to urge him TO do |
something to appease the sense Of injury which |
ranked in this patriot breast They told him |
That mischief was brewing and that there was
risk enough ahead without exposing himself TO
q iie in the rear. Mr. Gladstone thereupon wrote |
a note TO Mr.. Labouchcre saying that he was
about TO leave London, that it was long time
'nce they had met. that he should be glad to con-
Ter with him, and asking whether he might call.
Il sounds incredible but believe it is quite true,
that the Prime Minister said to the Member for
northampton and Editor Of Truth" that If it
we're not inconvenient he would come on day
named at about 5, and hoped Mrs Labouchere
would give him cup of tea. A civil answer
vas returned. Mr. Gladstone went. The visit
lasted one hour and three-quarters.