The result of Mr. Gladstone's speech in Scotland has been
as satisfactory as we could hope. Of course, the leaders of the Free-Church Party have expressed their disappointment, though they add that "nothing will affect our admiration for Mr. Gladstone, and our readiness to follow him as leader of the Liberals whenever the welfare of oar country permits us so to do." Nevertheless, they feel compelled by their sense of duty to call respectfully upon all in Scotland with whom Disestab- lishment is a matter of conviction and conscience to meet the new situation with unflinching firmness and resolution. Mr. Gladstone's refusal to lead cannot relieve us from the obligation to do justice to our own convictions ;" and they urge insistance on Disestablishment as the most important article of the Scotch Liberal creed with all candidates for Scotch seats. This appeal is signed by Principal Rainy and Principal Cairns, and will undoubtedly carry with it the whole weight of the Free-Kirk leaders. Still, we confidently count on Scotch laymen to com- pute more wisely the importance or unimportance of haste in a matter of this kind, where the weight in the other scale is not merely the unity of the Liberal party, but the reform of the House of Commons and some reasonable security for the existence of the United Kingdom.
Previous page
