New-York tribune., 1894-04-12
MR.. GLADSTONE.
HIS RELATIONS WITH THE DUKE M
ARGYLL AND WITH OTHER OPpo.
NENTS AND THEIR ATTI-
TUDE TO HIM.
ondon, March n

| Argyll NAV be respectfully commended:
"Mr. Gladstone Is the Oldest friend now hav.
| In the world and the widest and deepest differ.
| ences both as to political opinion and political
methods have never altered our personal rel,.
tions. His great qualities need no TESTIMONY
| from me-
If the censor would try TO understand TIA
meaning Of that brief statement and all tha. Il
| implies he would come much nearer 10 tn.
| view OF the nature Of public life in England
than he now has He would see how men nav
, honestly differ on great questions and yet hon.
estly respect each other and heartily Ike
| each other. The friendship for Mr.. Glad.
stone TO which the Duke testifies finds
counterpart in the friendship for the Duke q
Argyll TO which Mr. Gladstone has testified
But the American censor may suppose that
though the Duke and Mr. Gladstone differ
they have not openly attacked each other Hs
has only to turn to a speech delivered by thu
Duke Of Argyll at Glasgow last November to
see what kind Of political attack Is here though
to be consistent with personal goodwill The
Duke described his friends policy as policy
OF legerdemain. and said: Mr. Gladstone has
been working now for eight years in order to
keep the people Of this country hoodwinked and
bamboozled into the acceptance OF his propo-
sails" He said Of Mr.. Gladstone's Edinburgh
speech on the House OF Lords that IL was marked
by all his characteristic faults. First, there are
a great many facts concealed. Second, there an
a great many facts which are passiOnately mis-
represented. And third, there are irrational
sumptions underlying them all" lie reminds
his audience that Mr.. Gladstone, who now
throws the Of 1891 in the face of the House
OF Lords" was himself at tina; time warm
sympathizer with the Tory causc.
"He never had any sympathy With the Reform
Of 1881. He came into Parliament as the nominee
Of the Duke Of Newcastle. who was the great.
est Tory in England and in all his speeches at
that time he fully reflected and represented
the general opinion under which the House Of
Commons was elected"
That is pretty plain speaking. Is Il not? But
palmer still is 10 come. After just panegync
upon Mr. Gladstones great Budget and Budget
speech Of 1853, the Duke draws the contrast
between that and his Budget Of last year:
"IIe has brought in a Budget which has been
the scorn Of all Feeble in its execution. ignor.
ant in it's facts unjust in its conclusions. 1t has
been matter for universal reprobaton.'
Even Mr. Gladstone's age becomes A topic Of
comment. He still stood. in the Dukes opinion.
in many respects head and shoulders above all
his colleagues and all his contemporaries in the
House Of Commons. Then he speaks OF Mr. Glad
stone and himself in the same sentence:
"Our powers may be the same. but the bal.
ance may be gone. and that which was merely
a weakness in early life may become posi-
tive disadvantage in the years which are now
come upon us. | sincerely believe that is the
case with Mr.. Gladstone. | say that no man
OF eighty-four ought to pretend 10 be Prime
Minister Of this country"
There are gmpses OF ancient history In this
speech: of the times that is, when Mr. Gladstone
and the Duke were both colleagues under Lord
Aberdeen. and later under Lord Palmerston. They
have. think. much historical value, but the
way in which some OF the Incidents OF those
days are narrated must be CALLING in the ex.
treme TO Mr.. Gladstone. For instance:
During these years Of Lord Derby's Govern
ment. Mr.. Gladstone was seeking for an opening
for his future career. He 'ettled.' as the Scotch
would say. toward Lord Derby and not toward
Lord Palmerston. He accepted an important
mission from Lord Derby 10 Greece. and gener.
ally voted with him in Parliament. He voted
for the Tories in the division which turned our
the Derby Government. and l believe that e
was purely his dislike Of Mr.. Dsraeli and Mr.
Disraelrs Jealousy of him which preven;ed-ani
nOlnlDS tlSt-hI. biduStNlt dN Nl.-- N'4iiS A4eAA
joining the Conservative party"
Do you suppose Mr. Gladstone likes being re-
minded of these episodes? Certainly not. But
do you suppose he bears malice against the
the Duke OF Argyll for recalling them? Again
l say, certainly not. Nor is there trace Of
malice in the Duke. Almost in the same breath
he says:
Whatever may be my differences with Mr.
Gladstone I sha all rever Goa 50 n hear testimony
to his great personal gifts. He is the best Of
all possible private friends he is the most inter
es,ing OF all possible colleagues. and. regards
departmental work he is the most considera.s
OF all possible chiefs"
Then he tells the history OF the struggle foe
the repeal OF the paper duty the opposition a
the Lords. and how Mr. Gladstone circumvented
them. The House OF Commons itself was but
half-hearted for the repeal and the Lords threT
out the bills:
Now Mr.. Gladstone always hates being op-
posed by anybody, and this was his revense
He determined for the future that all bills In
volved in the Budget should be brought In IN
a cump so that the House OF Lords should not
have the power 10 say Yes 10 one and NO 70
another l was party 10 that. and when
look back to IL do declare think It rather m
the nature Of a trick than a wise course for any
statesman to pursue
Mr.. Gladstone had said at Edinburgh that all
the legislative changes during the last sixty
years have been carried against the opinion o.
the House Of Lords by mere submission. !
say" retorts the Duke. this is gross slance'
and absolutely untrue" He describes the whole
Edinburgh speech as a melancholy exhibiths
Of vituperation and passion" He tells his GAS
gov audience:
You are now opposing Mr.. Gladstone on 40
count of total want Of common-sense and even
Of decent moderation in his policy and IN D"
method. He has abused the powers OF par"
leadership. He has abused the doctrine OF "
serve Of secrecy from the people. He ~.
abused. lastly. the welding OF party mator1teS
When the Duke comes TO the period OF Hom
Rule his words grow stronger still. He jus'he'