The Evening Star THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 1875.

Evening Star, Issue 3729, 4 February 1875, Page 2

The Evening Star THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 1875.

The retirement of Mr Gladstone from the leadership ot the Opposition in the House of Commons was hot unexpected. Many causes appear to have contributed to this. The combination of various reformers against his Ministry points to the dissatisfaction that is felt with some of the measures introduced and supported by himself and his colleagues, and the evident stand which Mr Gladstone was prepared {n make against further changes, led io the withdrawal of support by large sections ot the community. No doubt the late Premier s health is not so robust as it once was, and the necessity for relief froin the anxieties and hirmoil of public life may have laid much to do with his determination, .But every statesman appeal's to settle in his own mind the limits beyond which ht' is not prepared to go in matters of reform, ihe late Sir James Graham, who catered the House of Commons as a radical reformer, dosed his public life as a Conservative, It was not that he had changed his opinions, but that the measures which in early life he had advocated had been adopted, and, therefore, he considered e’nongh had been done. So with Mr 'Gladstone. 'iom some of his speeches there is ieasoi\ think lie was not at one with his party in some of I the measures that were passed during I ds Ministry, and that ho had yielded to tin •ir views rather than break with the m. For instance, in one speech made by him, in which he expressed disapproval of the proposal to separate the < Church from toe State, he even d a doubt as j to the wisdom of the step ti then in dis-

establishing tlio Irish Church. This concession seems to point to the widening difference between the views of Mr Gladstone and the strong Liberal parties in the country. The desire for severing fhe connection between Church and Skitr* advocated not only bv that large i-lass of dlsr.Diileiv; who claim to be placed on an equal social fooling Yvith the endowed Church, bub by a very respectable minority both of clergy and laity within the Church itself. They hold the theory that the' Church loses more than it gains by the alliance, which they consider to be too intimate a mingling between things spiritual and temporal. Nor aiv Mr Forster's educational arrangements more c.itisfaetory to those who claim tlr.r nil rdo ! gious sects shall be placed on a common •. footing. Denomiuationalism is not in favor with them, and Mr Forster’s measures have tended in that direction. Nor was the tendency to compromise with the Ulivamontanists on the Irish Universities Bill less distasteful to liberal men like Professor Fawcett. These malcontents joined with the Conservatives to overthrow the Gladstone Ministry, and it is evident, therefore, that if farther Liberal progress is to be secured, a more yielding leader than he will have to be found. His last publication—his now celebrated pamphlet, in which he demonstrates the impossibility of a man serving two masters, both claiming spiritual and temporal jurisdiction—has raised another section of the community against him, without reconciling him to his former supporters. Mr Gladstone is isolated. He is too Liberal to join himself with the Conservative party, who profess to make a stand against what they term “ further innovation,” and too Conservative to be hurried into extreme measures by the enthusiastic classes who would uproot all abuses before public opinion is ripe for the change. Mr Gladstone has withdrawal from a position which he could not fill satisfactorily with his own convictions. In thus acting, he has : taken the only course that can be considered dignified and honest. He has shown that he does not desire power for its own sake nor for the sake of party. He has done his work, and done it well. In some respects it is to be regretted that confidence has been withdrawn from him, for the very step which he has taken in consequence of its witlidraw T al proves how worthy lie is of it ; but the reorganisation of the party that must now take place will 1 render necessary many concessions on the part of Mr Disraeli’s government. The Conservative party has ahvays been made of plastic material. They have a remarkably delicate perception of the state of the pulse of the nation ; and when they find it beating high, so that there is danger of fever, they yield at ■ once what they have for years resisted. More has ever been wrung from Conservative fears than through Liberal reason, although the last educates the people as to what they are to ask, ( Much, therefore, as Mr Gladstone’s ' retirement must be regretted by those who have watched his able career during years of difficulty, we do not think England will lose by it. The work he has done is bearing fruit, and the harvest will be reaped by others.