Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1894-03-09

When Gladstone retired from politics in
1874 a struggle ensued for the leadership be-
tween Lord Harrington and Mr.. W. Z. For
ster. Lord Harrington succeeded, but did
not make brilliant success OF the work, and
Gladstone had 10 lie persuaded TO come back
from his retirement. Under the guidance OF
Mr.. Parnell home rule has been put first and
foremost Everything else has had TO take
a back seat. the withdrawal Of the Irish
vote any night in Parliament would turn the
government out. But it will be remembered
that the House of Commons had no sooner
passed the Home Rule bill and sent it TO the
House OF Lords than the second part OF its
progress was taken up.
Having gratifed the wishes of the Irish
people Mr.. Gladstone sought TO conciliate
the voters OF Scotland, Wales and England,
to procure reforms sought for by the labor
ing classes. to extend the franchise and to
facilitate and cheaper elections. With the
passage of these bills, and no matter whether
they were thrown out by the House OF Lords,
the Liberal party could then go to the coun-
try with a showing OF promises fulfilled.
The retirement of Gladstone will let loose
n lot Of discordant elements long kept in
allegiance which would call for abilities Of the
highest order to keep from disrupting the
Liberal party. The question Immediately
comes up whether the Unionists should be
taken back. They are the gentlemen under
the lead Of Mr.. Chamberlain who left the
Liberal party when home rule was made the
issue. At present they belong 10 neither
party, but form a respectable minority in
parliament.
The Unionists and the Irish members can
never, however pull in the same boat The
Irish members could put the Conservative
party in power tomorrow by voting against
the government There is hardly doubt
that they would hesitate TO do so II home
rule was abandoned 1t is n fact that before
Gladstone made his final decision to Mr.. Par
nell regarding the terms he would offer in
his first Home Rule bill the Conservative
leaders were in communication with Mr.. Par
nell with the same object in view. 1t was
simply question of which party would make
the largest offers.
The Conservatives have recently been con-
siderng home-rule propositions of their own
which differ from that proposed by Mr.. Glad
stone, but not in principle. The Irish que5-
tiOn will be seriously disturbed by the re-
tirement of Mr.. Gladstone, aud the day OF
ireland triumph perhaps postponed, The
Irish however, controlling as they do the
largest OF independent bodies in parliament
would be sure TO command attention for the
question ut all times.
In England the prime minister must he
well-known man, q real leader whose name
is power. There are many such in the
Liberal party, but to pick out the man would
now be difficult. Much would depend on the
course Of events. In any light the retirement
Of Mr. Gladstone at this time cannot be re-
garded otherwise than as n disaster for the
Liberal party. 4 great man is his party's
pride. He is even more than that be is u
large part of its capital. Gladstone's popu-
laritv has won many elections where pro-
grams would have failed. His name alone at
times has swept the country.
There was one man who shaped the closing
years Of Gladstone's political life. That was
Mr.. Parncll. He forced the Irish issue. For
eight years il has occupied the attention OF
British statesmen to the practical exclusion
Of everything else, and even after the removal
Of Mr.. Parncl himself it has remained the
dominant question in British politics.
For years it had been the ambition Of Mr..
Gladstone to make Ireland a stronghold Of
the Liberal party. The strength Of the Lib
eral party has always laid not in England
but in Scotland and Wales. Ireland has aS
many votes in Parliament as Scotland and
Wales combined II was therefore obvious
that Ireland. Scotland and Wales, with the
seats which the Liberal party could pick up
in England. could outvote England in the
House OF Commons every time, for the Con-
ServntiSe party is AS essentially an English as
the Liberal is II Scotch party. This was q
very pretty little scheme.
In the absence of u talented Irish leader,
Mr.. Gladstone would probably have succeed
cd in carrying it far towards execution. He
would have tntrenched himself and his party
safely, II not permanently, In power, Tor. as
between the two great British parties, the
natural leaning of the Irish people Is towards
the Liberal. But Mr. Parnell came upon the
Ii tbia al ut
once. He started in to organize n purely
Irish party on n purely Irish issue, and in
this he was marvellOuSly successful.
The keynote Of Parnells program was neu-
traity between the Liberal and Conservative
parties. treating with both and supporting
the one which would make the most liberal
offers for home rule. When Parnell had
elected his members he held the balance OF
power. and both the great British parties
were almost at his mercy. Out OF Irelands
total parliamentary representation OF 1906,
| Pnrncll captured 81.
But Mr.. Gladstone was fully aware of the
price he would have to pay for the Sc votes OF
| Mr. Parnel. He did not hesitate long, and
| events have shown that he was right in his
| selection. He gained in votes more than he
| lost and was swept back into power
But there remains the question of home
| rule. Mr.. Gladstone has always claimed
| tNNt ne mas nelu MS NINA open on tnht SUD
| jcct. And when Mr.. Parnell was returned
with Sc votes in his inside pocket Mr. Glad
| stone said 'Ireland has spoken" Nearly
| "a per cent. of her members demanded one
| thing rule. Ulster, hitherto the strong
| hold OF English Protestant sentiment in Ire
| land. returned "A majority Of her members in
| favor of home rule. A Parnellite even sat for
| Londonderry. In the face of such facts as
| these Mr.. Gladstone said that no argument
| could be made--that the hour had come.
There is one thing that must not be forgot
| ten in this connection. Mr.. Gladstone is not
| merely II statesman. He IL likewise Il poll
| tirian. He il eminently practical. Yet he
| has infused into his home rule campaign the
| fire and the ardor Of the most jealous enthu-
sast. In England they say that he Is bigoted
on the subject. They also say that Parnell,
though dead, ia still his master, and that the
| possible loss Of the Irish votes haunted him
| like n nightmare. Between these two ex-
| tremes lies the truth.
| No one who has watched Mr.. Gladstone's
words and acts of recent years can doubt the
sincerity OF his purpose. 1t has been
| plain to the American II not to the English
people that the accomplishment OF home rule
| for Ireland was the one great measure OF re-
| form upon which he had set his heart-that
| il was to be the browning work OF his mar.
velOus career. And here entered thequestion
| Of his health.