Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-07-17
Mr.. Gladstone's Victory.

The most salient fact developed by Mr..
GLADsroSks victory is that the measure OF
his strength was infinitely below the mes-
sure of his expectations. At best. when
the grand old man comes to form gov
eminent he will take arms against sea
of troubles" which. 1t is conceded. will in
the course OF few short months toss him
again upon the mercy of the country.
Certain 1t seemed that more propitious
time to put Gladstonianism to the test
could not bave been chosen by the Liberal
leader. We say Gladstonianism. tor
upon that has been built largely TIE
superstructure of Mr.. GLADsToNE's sue
cesses. His power has been in great
degree in his purity of character
and bis magnetism. No man whose
personality was not potent basic factor
of his measures could have boxed the
political compass as Mr.. GLADSTONE has
done aud retained as long as he did an
apprcciable following. Even England is
not stranger TO the desire for change,
and with the advent of the present fight
there was 4 feeling that the SALISBURY
Parliament had outlived its usefulness.
The country was exercised over no great
foreign issue, and as Mr. GLADSTONE Is an
adept IN the matter of ssitating questions
of local reform his adherents appeared
fully justified in painting his prospects IN
iridescept hues.
But what is the situation? Midlothian
tells in unmistakable terms the story OF
waning Gladstonianism. as did Oxford and
other constituencies before it. Farther.
| Mr.. GrApsTosr's majority will be about as
discordsnt and unruly an element as ever
assembled in tae House of Commons. and
when it is remembered that he has never
been good diciplinariap. the end is not
difficult to foresee. IL he forces his home
rule measure he viii go to the people
handicapped by having obtained tho
shadow instead Of the substance of what
no SO sanluinely claimed. Ii he does
not, and IN tho mean time some grave
| foreign complication arises. he will
GO down on that issue. The British
public have not forgotten MIR. GLADsroSs's
timidity in dealing with the Afghan bound
AIRY question. whereby much that was
gained by BEAcoNFIELD's vigorous and de.
| fart policy was neutralized. They have
not forgiven him for his vaoillating policy
in respect of Egypt. and they hold him
| chiefly responsible for the loss of British
prestige in the Soudan ana useless sacri-
| fee Of men and money IN the Khartoum
expedition. They are not blind to toe
! fact that the relations of Englsnd to the
signatory Powers 10 the Triple Alliance. as
established by SALISBURY. constitutes an-
other important safeguard to communica-
ticn with India, to say nothing OF their
bearing upon the Eastern question
as whole. The result Will be
that the moment an Issue involving Eng.
lands attitude towards foreign powers
comes prominently to the front. Mr.. GLAD
STONE will fall under suspicion. and the
ssnsitiyeness Of the people on such issues
will assert itself to the end Of bringing
about bis downfall. As we said a few days
ago, be will have attained the exalted
honor Of having been Prime Minister four
times. but that he will wear the honor oi
his last elevation any length OF time
hardly seems possible in view OF the con-
dItioas that surround him. His pathway
viii be beset by numerous stumbling.
blocks and his tenure Of Office 10 de.
peudent upon so many contingencies that
| il VIII not Only be uncertain from the be-
ginning. but will prove very distractins
and demoralizing 10 both his Ministry and
his electoral following. Wemay, therefore,
from now on to the next general election
look for o period OF unusual unrest in
England.