The Warrington Examiner. — 1876-10-14 (Warrington, Cheshire, England)

TORY NEWSPAPER ON MR. . GLADSTONE.  THE saying that no man is a hero to his valet was explained by Goethe, who said that it was not because the hero is not a hero but because the valet is a valet. The gentlemen's gentlemen, who are engaged by Tory newspapers in the present crisis, to dance attendance upon Liberal statesmen, to follow them from public meeting to public meeting, and to deliver to us their letters in the most gracious manner they can command, follow the example of their fellowflunkeys in the fashionable world, and relieve their feelings, in the intervals of service, by abusing their superiors to their hearts' content. Conspicuous amongst this unhappy class are the writers of a newspaper to which Mr. Bright did the honour of referring, in half a dozen contemptuous words, in his recent speech. The Manchester Courier represents that large section of the Tory party which, bringing to the science of politics neither independence of thought, acquaintance with facts, nor the literary art which may do much to disguise these disqualifications, disarms the serious criticism of political opponents, and only offends one by taste. You cannot enter into a controversy with a person who tacitly admits that he is but the mouthpiece of the opinions of others, that he is obeying the summons of the wether-bell to the best of his ability; but you can quarrel with him if, in the discharge of this humble office, he commits unpardonable offences of vulgarity and indecorum, exceeding all the bounds of possible social intercourse. A man may be a fool and a gentleman at the same time; but a fool who is coarse, ribald, and, also a knave, forfeits even the silent contempt of decent people, and society is bound to whip him now and then to encourage the others. The Courier of last Wednesday containei two leading articles on Mr. Gladstone, which, looked upon as specimens of English journalism, and considering the language in Which they are written, the spirit which animates them, and the reasoning which they attempt, are simply disloyal and dishonourable to the. English Press, to which the paper presumes to belong. Those of Mr. Gladstone 's bitterest opponents, who are also men of fairness and judgment, deny him neither genius, patriotism, nor noble aims. They may say that he is irritable and impulsive, they may be hostile towards him in proportion to the very success with which he carries out a policy to which they are opposed, and in the heat of political controversy, they may sometimes assail his character, instead of assailing his opinions. Mr. Bright told us that the difference between the two great parties is, that during the last twenty years the Liberal leaders have learned something, and that the Tory leaders have learned nothing. If there are apparent contradictions in the public career of Mr. Gladstone, these apparent contradictions are in reality the singular consistency of a great mind, which adapts itself with an exquisite sympathy to the ever-changing conditions of national life. The most significant proof of Mr. Gladstone's influence is brought to us every day by his enemies, the impotent rage and resistance which he has the gift of provoking, is the best evidence we could have of a corresponding amount of sympathy and support. But there is a difference between the roar of an infuriated lion and the piteous howls of a whelp, and the spectacle of the Manchester Courier won, rying Mr. Gladstone is not less ludicrous than that of a gnat trying to sting an elephant. On Monday evening a great meeting of working men was held in London, and the principal resolution carried was to the effect —" That this meeting, accepting the admission of the Prime Minister that the policy of the Foreign Office is not in accordance with the public sentiment, demands the immediate assembly of Parliament, that the national will may find constitutional expression. And, further, this meeting, and the great majority of the people of England, re, garding the present cram as one requiring staiegr,aanship characterised by boldness combined with prudence, earnestly appeals to the tight Hon. W. E. eladstoue to resume the active position he formerly occupied in the House of Commons, and to undertake to find a suitable mode of expression for the wishes of the people by a policy in harmony with the will of the nation. A long and eloquent letter was read from Mr. Gladstone, which contained a marvellously lucid statement of the present aspect of the Eastern difficulty in its relation to the conflicting interests of the Great Powers. "But," Mr. Gladstone writes, "the question has also a domestic aspect of serious and growing importance. The Prime Minister has admitted that his views of Eastern policy are not those of the people Yet the Government will not, it seems, by a dissolution allow the people an opportunity, of expressing their sentiments in an authentic manner. Mr. Gladstone then urges continued agitation for an autumn session, and concludes with the words—" It is a duty to strengthen the hands of a Government when disposed to do good; but I know of no duty to strengthen them for evil." It seems as if this challenge, leaching the kennels of the Manchester Courier, the leash of the two youngest cubs was slipped, and if their bite does not hurt much, their bark, as we shall see, reflects credit upon their female parentage. It might be supposed that if Mr. Gladstone is committing political suicide by "rendering himself ridiculous in the eyes of Europe by the display of blind and passionate vanity," that this course would be encouraged by opponents who desire the extinction of his pswer. But this is not the ungenerous view which the Courier takes. The spectacle is a painful one, and poetic justice will not be fulfilled, if Mr. Gladstone disgraces himself by persisting in a dissolution which would upset the present Government, and thus rob the poet of the future of the idyllic subject of "Disraeli and Gladstone" dividing the spoils of office in a quiet, gentlemanlike, way. Never in his whole career, it seems, has Mr. Gladstone so utterly thrown to the winds good taste, prudence, dignity, and even personal selfrespect. A number of conspicuous instances might be cited in which he has offended in a similar way, but not to the same extent. On former occasions the exhibitions of his undignified vanity have certainly been ridi-culous, but they have not been dangerous to the integrity of the Tory party. But now things are looking serious, for Mr. Gladstone has taken advantage of the prevailing enthusiasm and has thrown himself at the head of a scratch troop of irregular political forces which reminds the historian of the Manchester Courier of Falstaff's ragged company in the play of Henry IV, The result has been atinmueissetroasbpleeafi:of hises,ai Id yet Mr. Gladstone) persists in his foolish escap ado, and he " eonown proposals which have almost everywhere excited contempt on account of their impracticability, except when they have armload alum and indignity #9l; t44,P4.4 9* '