The Press. 1 THURSDAY, MAY 21, 1914. Mr Gladstone and Parnell.

Press, Volume L, Issue 14978, 21 May 1914, Page 6

The Press. 1 THURSDAY, MAY 21, 1914. Mr Gladstone and Parnell.

Into tho details which Mrs Parnell has now, witji curious tasto, thought per to.pi ve to tho -world regarding her illicit relations -with slr Parnell while she was still Mrs O'Sbea, wo da not propose to enter, althouzh it is to be ' feared that these will probably give the ' 'book she has written a greater vogue than if eho had observed the reticence on this subject which one would naturally look for in such a, case. The more legitimate interest connected with her revelations consists in the light they ' shed on tho character of Mr Gladstone. | The book; wo are told, reveals a close ' Bubterrancan relationship between Gladstone and Parnell -while the two woro openly fighting in the House 'of Commons. Mrs O'Shea states that sh© acted as a go-between, coiniuencing in ISS2. and adds that for ten years Gladstone knew of her relations with Parnell and took advantage of them to keep in touch with Parnell, but changed hie attitude after the divorce proceedings in deference to the Nonconformist couscience. .Now May 6th, ISB2, was the date of the Phcenix Park murders, and Lord Morloy records that Mr Gladstone received word through an "emissary" (unnamed) that.if Mr Gladstone thought it necessary for the maintenance of his position and to carry out his views that Mr Parnell should resign, the Irish leader ■wae prepared to do so immediately. To this Mr Gladstone replied that his duty did not permit, him for a moment to entertain Mr Parnoll's proposal, but ho ■was "deeply sensible of the honourable *' motives by which it has been ."prompted." His opinion, which he save to-Lord Granville, was that if Mr . Parnell went, no restraining influence

crease, and no repressive Bill could have availed to put them down. There is now practically no doubt that this "emissary" was Mrs O'Shea. Mr Gladstone as much to MiBarry O'Brien, tho biographer of Parnell. He mentioned having received <i letter from Parnell suggesting his retirement, and his own reply that ho thought the retirement would do harm. Mr Gladstone then added: "I had a

'' communication from Mrs O'Shea " about the same lime. She wrote to " ask mc to call to sec her. Well, sho " told mo she was niece of Lord Hather- " lev, and I called to see her. She " said that rf great change had come " ovor Parnell with reference to myself personally, and with reference to " tho Liberal Party, and that he de- " sired friendly relations with us. I " said I had no objection to friendly " relations with him, and wislied to " meet him in a fair spirit." On being asked if he had any written communications vith Mrs O'Shea, Mr Gladstone replied: "No: I wrote her no letters of "importance. I wrote her letters ac- " kuowlcdging hers, as I liavo told "you, in the case of the first appoint- " ment. But aIJ my communications " with her were oral, and all my com- " munications with Parnell were oraJ." That Mr Gladstone continued to use this means of communication with the Irish leader is extremely probable. It would seem that Mrs O'Shea—who is evidently a very clever woman—had previously been in communication with Mr Joseph Chamberlain, since Lord Morley mentions the latter as having received information from the same "emissary" as the one who conveyed Mr ParnelPs offer to resign. Politicians sometimes have to do business with strange people if they wish to know what is going on. No sano person, however, will beliovo that cither Mr Chamberlain or Mr Gladstone knew either, at this timo of tho intrigues which, according to Mrs Parnell herself, wore concealed with such elaborate precautions from tho world, or indeed at any later time, until the scandal was suddenly exploded like a bomb upon a hitherto unsuspecting public. t

TLat Mr* Gladstone, however, rogarded tlio Parnoll scandal from a political rather than- a high moral standpoint thoro is plain evidence besides ilrs Parnell's statement. Three days after the decree vro find him writing to Lord Morley suggesting that tho Irish Party had a right to decide the question as to -whether Parnell should continuo as their lcador, that owing to his "enormous services" they wero "in a. position.of immense ditti"culty," that the Liberal leaders should be passive and should "wait and "watch." "It is yet to bo secsf ho added, "what our Nonconformist "friends, such a man as , for ex- " ample, or tuch. a man as ' , will "say. If I recollect ri_ht, Southey's " 'Life of IVelson' was in my early days "published and circulated by tnp "Society for Prorabtina Cliristian "Knowledge. It would be curious to

"look back upon, and eeo how the " biographer treats his narration afc the "lender points. ,. That a man of high religious principles and austoro morals as Gladstone, to all appearance, was, could writo in this cc'ol, calculating wny >ipon one of tho most startling domestic, scandals in ■ modern times, 60-i:»is fllsnost .incomprehensible. As a matter of fact, he did deliberately "wait and watch" until the great meeting of tho Liberal Parly at Sheffield showed liim how deeply ttfe Monconformiet couscienco -was stirred, and not till then v did ho convoy a very delicate Intimation through Lord Morley to Mr Parnell that ho had better resign. On this occasion Parnell refused to resign, and then iiord Morley showed him a letter in tho nature of an ultimatum from Mr Gladstone, which ho proposed to send to tho Press;

"Yes, , ', replied tho Irish leader, according to Lord Morley, quite amicably, ac if it were no particular concern of hie. "I think, Mr Gladstono "will bo quite right to do that; it "■will put him straight with his "party." For cool cynicism and matchless effrontery, wo think this reply can hardly bo equalled. Evidently Parnell thought that Gladstono was as blind to cvory consideration except political expediency as he was himself. That was not true, but even in Jlr Gladstone's case we have strong evidenco of the all-absorbing nature of a love of power, and its tendency to blunt and deaden other strivings in a tuan's nature.

The Reds and the "Liberals." They must bo quito a little army by now who have found it a. fascinating and amusing hobby to study- the tactics of our poor "Liberal ,, friends. They try every dodge: from the falsification of figures to the simple vituperation of the Government, from general invectivo to uncomely innuendo. Thoir latest inspiration is the quito delightful trick of suggesting tbat Mr Massey and the Red Feds, art* really allies! And they do it with all the charm of perfect artlessness. They "do not," they solemnly declare, "themselves believe" that Mr Massey and Mr Semple are working hand in glove, but they really think quito excusablo "the rumour" that ttio alliance has been made, and they assure i as that "people are saying' , that tho Prime Minister is ready to bargain with the Social-Democrats. The only i criticism of this humorous "happy "thought" of tho Opposition apologists which appears to be necessary is the suggestion that it will cause a momentary alliance of Mr Massey and the Red Feds, in a hearty laugh. We may permit ourselves, however, to wonder if [tho audience to which "Liberalism" addresses iteelf is roally composed only of those who will hear without a smilo of the i "rumour" referred to. Of course., this amusing invention —which, speak- | ing seriously, not oren the most benighted "'Liberal" will be able to swal-

low—is evidence of the Opposition's alarm at tho firmness of the public's conviction that "Liberalism" is in communion with the Social-Democrats. The evidence on the point, which was quit-o conclusive long ago, is added to every day. The Auckland correspondent of the "Otago Daily Times, - ' in an illuminating message which we reprint on another page to-day, furnishes some new testimony. Tho Red Fode. and their friends, ho says, have "evidently ro"ceived instructions from someone to " attend political meetings held by Go- " vernmont members and there howl, for " Sir Joseph Ward" :

: 'lt is much the same crowd each time. References to the strike arouse them to a frenzy of vituperation: mention of tho sr.ocials draws forth hoots; and the- name of Sir Joseph Ward is recoived with delirious cheers. Sever:;, striko agitators aro generally in evidence, leading the dernon-Ttrations. . . At Mr Bradney's meeting the snir.o course was followed, and the same meu were in evidence as at numemus Federation demonstrations of late. They religiously howled for Sir Joseph Ward, and hootwi at the mention of tho Government's settling the- strike, while Mr Artlrur Rosser was tho mover of th<> amendment. It is evident that the Red F<jls. are out. -as far as Auckland is concerned, to make tho campaign a rowelv and bitter one. find it is curious to note that they leave Liberal meetings severely alone."

The instinct of the P.ed Feds, has told them that the Reform Party is the enemy of Syndicalism, and that their only hopo lies in the success of tho '•Liberals." That is why they cheer tho "Liberal" speakers and hoot the Reformers.; why Mr P. C. Webb insists that the situation must be so "engineered" a,s to return Sir Joseph Ward to office; and why tho country is going to do on a- large 6cale next December what it did at the municipal elections. It is small wonder that in his Napier speech on Monday, Sir Joseph Ward showed that ho at last realises the effect upon public opinion of his attitude and the attitude of his friends during tho strike.-' Referring to a Ministerial statement that tho Government would stake its existence on the strike, tho leader of the Opposition said that "he "should have thought that any Go- " vernment worthy of tho name would "try to abolish friction between "classes." Tho public, however, would insist upon remembering the strike. It does not need even the fresh reminders of tho community of interests between "Liberalism" and Red Fedism which the anti-Reformers continue to supply through their appeals for "Liberal"Red Fed. solidarity. The very journal which has been describing as a "malic"ious invention" the plain fact as to the "Liberal"-Red Fed. arrangement declared so lately as yesterday that it is only by quarrelling among themselves that tho Wardites and tho Social-Demo-crats can fail to return "a Government "that will really represent their views "and their aspirations." That is quite plain enough for all plain people.

Misunderstood. Tho people of Now Zealand who have enjoyed tho pleasure of reading full reports of tho admirablo epeeches delivered by Sir lan Hamilton can see at o'neo that the uneasiness expressed in certain Japanese newspapers is without any justification. Apparently very brief abstracts of Sir lane remarks havo been cabled to Japan, and those have been misunderstood. It is true that in. his speech at Hamilton Sir lan pointed out that tho Pacific might bocome a great storm-centro in the future, and ho -went so far as to add that "hero it might bo decided whether "Asiatics or Europeans were going to "decide the future of this planet. ,. But it is evident from tho contest that tho General-was referring, not to "our allies tho Japanese, for whom it is wellknown that ho has a great admiration, but to the Chinese. "China," a country over which ho travelled two years ago in the course of his inspection, he eaid, " showed eigns of breaking up. Tho '■ old moral restraints had fcone. While "there ho saw a modernised Chinaman " scratching his name with a nail upon " tho wall of the Tomplo of Heaven, a " temple until recently so sacred that "tho Emperor alone would approach it, and that only once in a " -ear. This was but an illustration to " show the change out of which chaos "and weltering confusion were ovolv- " ing conditions such as existed at the "time of the French Revolution from "which Napoleon arose." He also referred to the way in which tho Chinese wero gradually pushing British competitors out of trade, cvon in portions of the British Empire. Those aro signs of danger to our nation which have before been commented upon, and which cannot be too often or too forcibly pointed out. But Sir lan Hamilton is tho last man in the world to say anything to wound tho susceptibilities of a high-epirited nation with whom we are on terms oi friendship and alliance.

' While on this subject, it must bo admitted, however, that public men in tho colonies arc not alwaj's fio careful as. they ought to bo when dealing with international questions. Oversea Ministers are- sometimes apt to forget that their position gives them a far wider audience than that enjoyed by private members, and that their remarks, being cabled abroad perhaps in a too abbrfvviated ioren, may bo productive of serious difficulty to tho British Ministers who have charge of our Imperial relations. The lato Mr Seddon, on one occasion, drew upon himself a stinging rebuko in "Punch" for an inadvertence of this sort, and other Liberal Ministers have been guilty of glaring indiscretion. Wo frankly admit that one or two members of the present Government who have tho excuse of being new to office, have not been so guarded as they ought to bo in their references to Japan. We agree, therefore, that no good purpose can he served by causing irritation and cus-

trust on the part of a nation with whom we aro in alliance, especially when it is to onr interest that that alliance should continue.

Let the South beware. An awful threat comes from Auckland. A correspondent of tb.s "New Zealand Herald"—a correspondent after tno editor's heart —warns his fellow-townsmen that "the despoilers , ' of Government House and grounds will take advantage of the damage to the building by the recent fire to press their claim on the house and sito for university purposes. Loyal Aucklar.ders must v.-atch the Government. "Woe betido them if they do hand over the Metropolitan of any portion of the grounds to the onemy. The result will be an Ulster explosion." Thie calls up a delightful picture of Mr Albert Glover. M.P.. the unsleeping guardian of tho Queen City's honour, playing the pnrt of Sir Edward Carson. However.'it frill bo time enough for Mr Allen to 'think about the conduct of our Army when Aucklar.ders bejiiu to drill, and Mr Glover takes the saluto at a review in the Domain.

To many people some of the acts of tho militant suffragettes indicate a deranged rather than a criminal mir.d. '•Truth'!, discusses this point in relation to tho attack on the Velasouez picture. the explanation of which, given by the woman herself, was that she tried to destroy the most beautiful woman in history tho Government was trying to destroy that womnn of most beautiful character. Mrs Pankhurst. "Truth" remarks that there* i« hero an obvious hallucination, for so far from destroying Mrs Pankhurst, the Government has been doinp its best to prevent her destroying herself. If sa--- •'•Truth. 7 ' in tho opinion of exports, the deed and the explanation do not amount to insanity, it can only bo on the ground that what is insanity in a man is not insanity in a woman. "Simtvistf the Bishop of St. Asaph were to explode a bomb i« St. Paul's, and to explain that ho 'had to do' this because- tho Government were destroying the Welsh Church. He would most assuredly Ko to a lunatic asylum."

We very gladly give publicity to-day to the appeals of tho Mayor and Dr. Blackmoro on behalf of tho projected Open-air Home for Children. Dr. Blackmoro points out that preventive measures aro really as important as post-infection treatment, aud he holds that the work of prevention should aim specially at dealing with the child. The object of tho appeal is tho raising of about £30,00 to establish two Homes in which care can be taken of children threatened with the disease. A few years ago the work of enlisting the practical interest of the public in tho fight against consumption was difficult —the disease works so silently and unsensationally. To-day, however, all intelligent people realise the strength of the enemy, and realise also tho power over it of enthusiastic effort. The establishment of the proposed Open-air Homes will undoubtedly deal a blow at the tyranny of tuberculosis, and tho scheme is one which, dealing as it does with tho littlo ones, should appeal to eTery parent and to every other person of feeling. Already, it is pleasant to note, the co-operation of a great many citizens has been secured, and we trust that tho appeal of the Mayor and Dr. Blackmore will stimulate the public to givo quickly and as generously as [ possible.

Tho tendering of a citizons , social to tho troops of tho Chri&tchurch Garrison is a very happy idea. It is quite plain that tho national defence system has come to stay, and there has lately been abundant evidence that tho public approves very strongly of the training of our young men. Tho social which is to be held on Saturday evening in the King Edward Barracks will give the Territorials some little- evidence that their work is not taken coldly, as a matter of courso, by the public, but is watched with interest, sympathy, and admiration. Wo shall look forward to a big muster of troops on the occasion, for tho invitation extended to them on behalf of the citizens is a genujn© recognition of the good work that the men are doing in tho interests of their country.

A correspondent sends tis some clippings from the local Opposition journal, asking, "Did you notice this latest inexactitude?" The, "inexactitude," as our correspondent mildly calls it, is a statement that during tho strike there was nothing at any time in the chape of strike disorder in this district. Wβ did not pay much attention to this statement, because it was a delightfully irrelevant "reply" to our general statement that "tho round baton," as the and the Red Feds, call it, was provided only for the curing of the rowdies. We were merely criticising Mr Witty's appeal for Red Fed. applause, and made no mention of Christchurch. How unfortunate our clitic was in choosing what was doubtless thought a, safe irrelevance is made clear by our correspondent's clippings. They are from the columns of the same paper. On November 19th it said, referring to the Lyttelton watersiders:

Their accredited representatives had stated most definitely and precisely that there would be no violence on their part, and their sympathisers had every reason to believe they would keep their compact. For ourselves wo had no doubt at all on this point. . . . But the impartial reports we publish this morning of what actually happened havo dashed that hope to the ground. And on the following day it blamed tho men for "tho deplorable occurrence," which was ah outbreak of violence and intimidation. There appears to be no road open to the "Liberals" which they can follow for fivo minutes without floundering into trouble.

While wo .ore dealing with this point, we fcol that we ought to mention that tho ''Liberals" are settling down to a steady course of apology for, and explanation of, their "platform speakers." Mr Witty's actual words on tho occasion referred to in ovir preceding not© was that under the Reform Government, "instead of a square deal for the workers there was a round baton." We said at the time all that is necessary upon this evidence of a communion of thought, interest, and language between tho "Liberals" and the Red Feds. Mr Witty's newspaper felt that some explanation or apology was needed, and it said, rather shamefacedly, that he was "dealing in the picturesque phraseology loved by the politician." The love of this sort of picturesque phraseology is confined;, fortunately, to the "pro-

gressires." In future, when Mr Witty or anybody else on his side, makes a statement either eturid or untrue, we must forgivo him and think of him as only an artist in the picturesque. When Sir J. Or. Ward was charged the other day with having made a statement demonstrably untrue, it was first alleged that he did not make the statement. When it could no longer be denied that he did make the statement, tho defence took tbo shapo of a plea that he is a rapid speaker who gives an obscure turn to his sen-tence-s. So, in future, he must be left uncriticised, because it is unfair to expect accuracy or common sense from a man whoso words rush forth in a confusod torrent. These "platform speakers" and "flying squadrons' , must some time appear to their apologists hardly to be worth their keep, as it were.