MR. GLADSTONE.
[To nas Emma On ma BPECTRTOR."] SIR,—For the last fifty years I have been, and still am, an admirer of Mr. Gladstone ; and though I differ from his present policy on many important points, I still believe him to be not only an eloquent statesman, but an honest man.
I therefore notice with intense dissatisfaction the unceasing and unjust imputations which the editor of the Times is in the habit of bringing against the high character of this great man. I will mention only two instances :—Whenever the editor argues against Mr. Gladstone's policy on the question of Home-rale, although myself strongly opposed to the details of that policy, I feel indignant at the constantly recurring charge that Mr. Gladstone is actuated by the overwhelming and passionate desire to return to power and office, a motive which is con- tradicted by every step and change in his life's history.
Again, in to-day's Times, Mr. Gladstone expressed himself
" wicked enough to agree with " Sir Edward Watkin in his views of the Channel TanneL I am sorry that he so expressed his con- currence, and I trust that work will never be completed. But the editor of the Times is not ashamed to ascribe as a motive for such expressed concurrence, the desire to obtain a few votes in Parliament from Sir E. Watkin'a followers.
To attribute motives for any action is often a dangerous operation ; but to attribute mean and disgraceful motives where a person may act from the highest and most patriotic con- siderations, is no part of political principle, but can only be accounted for by the influence of party or personal spite.—I am,
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