The Irish standard., 1894-02-10
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 10. 1894.
GLADsTONE's RESIGNATION.

CLAOS lONES MEDIUM "A 1OH.
The rumor circulated by the Pall Mall
Gazette respecting the early resignation
of Mr.. Gladstone from parliamentary life
has caused a good deal of uneasiness
among Liberals and Irish Nationalists.
Notwithstanding the mild contradiction n
of the report by Mr.. Gladstone's private
secretary, it is not at all unlikely that the
news may be verified in short time.
Within the last few months it is said
that very significant signs of failing
power have been observed IN Mr.. Glad
stone, and Ballard Smith, the London
correspondent of the New York World,
says he haa authoritative information to
the effect that the ''Grand Old Man" will
soon retire from public life. W. T..
Stead, of the Review of Reviews, who is
now in Chicago, is reported to have re-
ceived intelligence in con firmation Of the
report from authentic sources. Edward
Blake, M. F., however, believes it Is moth
ing but Tory canard, and thinks Glad
stone will remain at the helm of the ship
of state until the Home Rule bill becomes
law, and Ireland has her parliament in
operation It is fondly hoped by the
friends OF the Irish cause that old age
and it's in6rmities will not compel Glad
stones retirement from parliamentary
life until his great work is accomplishe d.
IF he retires sooner. self. government for
the Green Iele will not be obtained as
quickly as if he had kept in the harness.
The late Andrew Clark, Gladstone's ply
sician, used to say that Gladstone would
live longer and be in better health by
remaining at work, and it is safe to say
that il his health permits he will not re-
sign the premiership at this stage of the
Home Rule and other bills in the inter.
est of the. British democracy.
In the event of his resignation Sir
William Harcourt will probably be his
successor. John Morley, though man
of great ability, hardly possesses the
necessary qualifications for the leader
ship OF the Liberal party. Some of the
Irish members entertain doubts of Har-
courts sincerity as friend OF Ireland,
and think he has been prompted by OK
pedie, cy for the retention Of his party
in Office more than by any real love OF
ireland to advocate the cause, of Home
Rule. Be that az it may, Harcourt or
any other who steps into Gladstone's
place must fulfill the pledges given to
the Irish people, or the Liberal party
will soon be ousted from Office. The
Irish party is strong enough to compel
the Liberal ministry to keep faith with
them if an alliance of the Liberals and
Irish Nationalists is to continue un-
broken. The Irish members must exer-
else caution and not trust the Liberals
too much. With Gladstone they may be
safe: with some other leader it may be
different. We're the Liberals to be re
turned by sufficiently large majority at
the next election az to be enabled to get
along without the Irish, we fear that the
claims Of the latter would receive but
acant attention. We have no confidence
in Wings or Tories when Ireland's inter
ests are at stake. They are all English
man. and it matters not to Irishmen
which party will grant to Ireland the
restoration of the God-given rights OF
which she was deprived by British
treachery at the beginning OF this CEN
tury. Let the Irish represen tatives be
yioilant and brave in their country's
cansa. and whether Gladstone resigns or
not. Home Rule will in few years be
an accomplished fact.
~@-%1SN-a> ryrEr nv NHHTlT<rNIc4