2 JULY 1892, Page 10

The only assumption of Mr. Balfour's which we regret, and

know to be mistaken, is that of Monday's speech to the effect that "if Mr. Gladstone had not been put in a minority in 1885, we should never have heard of Home. rule." That is not the case. There are many who know that Mr. Gladstone desired to have a majority independent of the Irish Members, expressly that he might bring forward Home. rule without being liable to the imputation of angling for Irish votes. And his offer to support Lord Salisbury, if Lord Salisbury would propose Home-rule, is sufficient con- firmation of this matter of fact. Still, a series of more statesmanlike speeches, almost wholly free of false assump- tion, and quite free of ad captandum rhetoric, has not been delivered by any man in our time.