On Disestablishment he spoke with remarkable frankness, not only declaring
for Scottish Disestablishment,—though he counselled in another speech great " tenderness " in dealing with the manses and all the vested interests,—but speaking of the defence of the Church in England as sheer Toryism. " If you ask me what Church Defence means south of the Tweed, I can tell you in the twinkling of an eye ; it means Toryism. It means sheer, unmitigated, not unveiled or un- disguised, but perfectly resolute, effective, inveterate Toryism. I am supposed, gentlemen, to be a sort of a Churchman in my own country, but they never asked me to join a Church Defence Society." We should have said that there are a great many hearty Liberals in England who have already joined, and a vast number who in case of serious danger would join, Church Defence Societies. But Mr. Gladstone looks upon them with something like disgust,—we wonder why ?
