The Irish standard., 1892-04-02
MINNEAPOLIS AND ST. PAUI, SATURDAY, APRIL

would never lend himself to such a
scheme he fixed upon Lord Granville's
subordinate in the titular leadership of
the party-Lord Harrington. The plot
failed, and down to last week those who
had not been 'sbehind the scenes" at that
particular epoch in our history believed
that it had failed through Lord Hartjng-
toms loyalty to Mr.. Gladstone. Strange
to say, among those who entertained this
belief was Lord Beaconsfeld himself.
Among the sayings reported Of him in
his last year was one regarding Lord
harrington. II am disappointed in him. !"
Lord Beaconsfeldi is alleged to have said
'sHo has deceived me. Isnever thought
hewould have deserted Woman in her
hour of need. y Nor, as a matter of fact,
had Lord Harrington deserted the Queen
%hen she asked him (under the advice of
Lord Beaconsfeld) to form govern
Rent, which by the force of oircumstan.
COS must have been largely an anti Glad
st0nian government. AS we stated q
week ago, he returned to town from
Windsor and tried to form an admins
tration; nor was it until he had failed
in:the attempt that Mr.. Gladstone was
sent for. ##
We have made very explicit state
ment, and we challenge contradiction,
not from irresponsible and misinformed
London correspondents" but from those
who really know the truth-a band now
unhappily as small as it is select. But
having reaffirmed what he said last week,
we have word to say about ourselves.
One of the evening papers which had not
quoted our original statement gave
prominence to the erroneous correction"
OF the Manchester Guardian under the
heading 'The Speakers Story Against
Lord Harrington" We decided to &C.
ospt this definition by the editor of the
Pail Mall Gazette Of our personal atti-
tnde towards the Duke of Devonshire.
We did not tell "a story against him."
nor have we ever attacked him. We
gave 8 plain recital of certain indisput-
abls faots in the dukes political career
* thA told against rather than for him
we at least are not to be blamed on that
account And let it be remembered we
touched upon the subject in the first in
stance. On the eve of the Rossendale
election series Of most wanton and un-
founded attacks we're made upon ME-.
Gladstone in a number OF the ministerial
journals, and notable in the Times. The
burden of these attacks was charge of
"ingratitude'' on the part of the Liberal
eader-ingratitude towards Lord Hart
ington. "Mr. Gladstone wrote the
Times, sis under the very greatest per.
sonal obligations to the Duke of Devon
shire;" and then with venemous insolence
that journal went On to remark that 'the
burden of gratitude presses heavily on
certain natures, and this may be the rea-
son." and so forth. In other words, Mr..
Gladstone was held up to public scorn
and contempt as person who had been
guilty of mean and despicable conduct
towards one to whom he ought to have
been bound by the closest ties of graft
tude. 1t was this reckless and menda-
cious accusation, closely touching the
personal honor of the Liberal leader,
which seemed to us to demand refuta-
ton. The refutation could only be sup
piled by plain statement Of facts as
they were known TO the Duke of Devon
shire himself and TO one or two other
persons 1t was perhaps too much tc ex-
peot that the duke would come forward
of his own accord and prick the bubble
blown by his silly sycophants in the
press, though we own that we do not
envy his feelings when he read the SCR
vile comparisons they drew between his
own amagnanimity" and the base ingrat-
itude OF Mr.. Gladstone. Bnt failing the
duke it was necessary that someone else
who knew the truth should speak out,
and We have accordingly done 80. Our
sole purpose has been the v1ndication OF
Mr. Gladstone from wicked and slan-
derous charge, and that purpose we be-
lieve we have accomplished.
A Judge said to convicted assassin:
'sPrisoner at the bar, have you anything
70 say why the sentence of the law should
not be passed upon youw
"Will what I say make any differ
ence?' asked the convicted assassin.
"Don't see how it can" the Judge
reAectively. mo, it will
not. !"