BRUTALITY IN POLITICS.
[To THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR.".1
Sta,—It is bad omen for the reunion of the Liberal Party that the virulence with which Mr. Gladstone is attacked by those Liberals who disagree with his Irish policy has attained such a pitch as to be quite intolerable.
Last Friday, the leading journal published a letter from Mr. Arnold-Forster, in which he says of Mr. Gladstone (whose offence consisted in calling Mr. Sexton "a distinguished Member "),—" His acquaintance is a varied one, and, indeed, I know that wherever this country has an enemy, he has a friend."
Be it observed, the accusation is not that some of the friends of Mr. Gladstone are the enemies of this country ; but that "wherever this country has an enemy," that enemy is the friend of Mr. Gladstone, and this to the knowledge of Mr. Arnold- Forster. Truly a comprehensive indictment, and ridiculous enough, in all conscience. Yet the Times, in a leading article, comments on the "just severity" of Mr. Arnold-Forster's remarks ! The editor must be very much overworked, or he could hardly have failed to see that the passage is mere balder- dash. It was the outcome of thoughtless ferocity. It cannot
possibly express Mr. Arnold-Forster's convictions, or those of any human being. However extensive his knowledge may be, he certainly cannot know that all the enemies of England are the friends of Mr. Gladstone; for I cannot suppose that Mr. Arnold-Forster, whatever he may say, is intimate with every scoundrel who hates this country in every part of the world. Neither is it possible, as a matter of fact, that Mr. Gladstone- should have the enormous circle of friends with which he is- credited.
Mr. Arnold-Forster has had, I believe, a college education, and is presumably an apostle of "sweetness and light." He should learn to suppress the flow of meaningless Billingsgate, and refrain from indulging the "passion of hatred" which he con-
demns in others.—I am, Sir, &c., MONKS WELL. Monkswell House, Chelsea Embankment, S.W., January 181h.
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