Mr. Gladstone made a short speech at Northampton rail-
way-station on Wednesday, in which he lamented very justly the foolish struggle over Mr. Bradlaugh's admission to Parlia- ment, and described the legislative characteristic of the present period as essentially one of emancipation, eman- cipation of industry, emancipation of thought, emancipa- tion of the Press, emancipation in regard to the franchise. It does not seem to us that an Eight-Hours Bill even for miners can exactly be called a measure of pure emancipation. It is not emancipating any man to compel him to take a holiday when he would rather do an hour or two's more work. And even a forced sale of land, though it may prove emancipa- ting to the buyer, is hardly emancipating to the seller who is compelled to sell against his will. Mr. Gladstone added, in relation to the Irish Local Government Bill, that he could hardly believe the rumour that it was to be shunted in order to make room for "a quack measure of Mr. Goschen's " for the introduction "in the most extraordinary manner" of one- pound notes. It is hardly like Mr. Gladstone to label as a " quack " measure the plan of the most accomplished financier of the day, without giving so much as a hint of the quackery he detects in it. Will not this wild hitting diminish rather than increase the influence of the great enthusiast who every day stakes more and more of his political reputation on the success of his party at the next General Election ?
