A hundred years ago
From the 'Spectator, 17 October 1868—Mr. Glad- stone's appeal to the electors of South Lancashire, together with his very remarkable speeches at War- rington on Monday, and at Liverpool on Wednes- day, place his claims to the confidence of the nation before Parliament on three distinct and very strong grounds. He claims our confidence for the past, by what he has done to make the administra- tion of affairs thrifty and efficient; for the present, by what he has done to secure for the nation at large a wide and substantial representation in the new Parliament; for the future, by what he pledges himself to do to break down the animosities between Great Britain and Ireland. On each of these points alike his policy is sharply defined; on each of these points alike he promises, and, if he obtains a majority, will have the power, to achieve more. Again, on each of these points alike, Mr. Disraeli has either positive evil to expiate, or defeated bad intentions to apologize for, or nothing whatever to show.
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