The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-02-02
suppo.s MIR. Gladstone should Resign ?

ton for the statement made on Wednesday
by the Pull Mall Gazette that Alr. GLADSTONE
would soon resign the office OF Prime Min
lister. The authorized telegram sent from
Blarritz on the same evening by Mr.. GLAD
STONES companion denied. indeed that the
Prime Minister had definitely decided to
take the step which he was said 10 be con-
templating. But IL admitted that, for many
months past. his age and the condition Of
his sight and hearing have, in his judg-
ment. made relief from public affairs de-
sirable. As we must infer that a voluntary
retirement from public life on the part Of
Mr.. GLADSTONE may take place at any mo-
ment. the effect Of such stop upon Eng
lands home and foreign policy becomes
question OF great interest.
II is generally admitted that Mr.. GLAD
STONES successor at the head OF the Liberal
Cabinet would be either Lord RosEBERY or
Sir WILLIAM HARCoURT. and, more proba-
bly,. the former. Could either Of these men
hold together the discordant elements OF
the Gladstonian party, and also command
the support Of the seventy-one anti-Parnell-
tie mombcrs. whose cooperation Is indispen-
sable for tho formation OF q majority? 1t
should be remembered that the concessions
to the Unionists In connection with the
Parish Councils bill provoked consider
able body OF English Radicals to violent
opposition, and that nothing but sense OF
loyalty to their venerable chief prevented
them from carrying resistance to the pitch
OF revolt. 1t is also certain that only Mr..
GLADsToNE's personal influence has held
back the Welsh Radicals from mutiny. on
account of the Governments refusal to
grant their demands for the immediate dis
establishment OF the Anglican Church in
Wales. Between the so-called New Radi-
calls, who are largely tinctured with social
istic ideas. and such men as Lord RosEBERY
and Sir WILLIAM HARCoURT. there is moth
ing in common. either as respects the trend
and scope OF internal reforms or with re-
gard to the countrys foreign policy. Even
II the Gladstonian party had majority
independent OF the antiParnellites. it would
almost certainly be shattered were Mr..
GLADsToSE's guiding hand withdrawn.
But II Wing statesman OF the PALMER
sToN typo. to which 1t is clear that Lord
RosEBERY belongs. could scarcely hope to
control the Weshmen and the English
Radicals. how much more difficult would he
find 1t to maintain the necessary coalition
with the anti-Parncllite members 1t is
Mr.. GLADsToNE's personal devotion to the
home rule cause, which is the main. and
we had almost said the sole guarantee that
Irish aspirations will not again be sacrificed
as hitherto they have always been. to Eng
lish interests. There is, indeed. no doubt
about the sincerity Of the home rule senti-
ments OF Mr.. MORLEY. but he has no chance
OF becoming Prime Minister. and his infiu-
ence is likely TO wane with the retirement
Of the chief who has trusted aud advanced
him. That the other Gladstonians OF Cab
met rank are lukewarm or indifferent in tho
matter OF home rule and may be expected
to disclose their real feelings the mo-
ment that Mr. GLADSTONE disappears.
is thoroughly understood by Mr.. JUS
TIN MCCARTHY and his colleagues.
Will the anti-Parncllites wait to be
betrayed. or will they hasten to make the
best terms possible with the Unionists by
fracturing u coalition which will have no
solid reason for existence after Mr.. GLAD
STONE has withdrawn from Office Does
any wcll-nformed man believe that
Cabinet headed by Lord RosEBERY or Sir
WILLIAM HARCoURT would faithfully COM
ply with the demands for the relief Of
evicted tenants. and for an amnesty to
political prisoners. which Mr.. REDMOND in
tends to make on the reasseIDbling Of Par
Lament? Is there any chance that. in the
absence of Mr.. GLADSTONE. the Liberals
will reintroduce the Home Rule bill. either
this year or next? II to such questions
only negative answers can be returned, what
is there left for tho McCarthyites to do but
to abjure the coalition with the Liberals,
10 hnf A. r.,
selves For the moment they have IL in
their power to extort large concessions
from the Unionists. for it lies with them to
say when Mr.. GLADsToSE's successor shall
be beaten and Parliament dissolved. Even
by abstaining from voting they could re-
duce the Liberals to minority.
II has. indeed. been suggested that the
can have no wish TO return
TO power at this juncture. when the neces-
sity Of largely increasing the navy will in
volye the imposition OF unpopular taxes.
and that they may consent. for a time. to |
support Lord RosEBERY, whose foreign |
policy is supposed to be framed on ConscTv- |
alive lines. There is precedent for such |
a course in the course taken by Lord DERBY |
during the last years of Lord PALMERsToH's |
life. Especially II they believed in the i'm |
minence OF war which would threaten |
commercial supremacy. the Con- |
servatives might deem it wise TO adopt |
tactics whose probable outcome would be |
the absorption Of the Wings and od-iash- |
ioned Liberals in the ranks OF their own |
party. Such a scheme. however. would find |
a vehement opponent in Mr.. CHAMBERLAIN. |
His radical projects are already sufficiently |
listasteful TO the Tories. aud they would he |
at once repudated. should combination
with Lord ROsEBERY render the assistance
u the member for West Birmingham super
Iiuous, But Lord SALISBURY and Mr.. |
BALPOUR could not throw Mr.. CHAMBER
LAIN over without breach OF faith which /
would disgrace them In the eyes Of their
own followers. We incline. therefore. TO
believe that. In case BIr GLADSTONE shall
resign. the Unionists will make up their
minds 10 accept office. Notwithstanding its
present unwelcome responsibilities. and