10 NOVEMBER 1894, Page 2

The Doily Chronicle and the Westminster Gazette are very severe

on Mr. Gladstone for giving his opinion at all in thie. matter after he had retired from political life. But should retirement from political life disqualify any man from ex- plaining his view of a great social question which does not at all affect the policy of a Government, and cannot be said to- have any immediate political bearing ? It is surely rather hard on a man to silence him on matters of predominantly moral and religious concern, simply because he has long been a great statesman and wielded an immense influence. Apparently the more weighty an opinion has been, the more it is dreaded, when once its party bias has disappeared.