Sir Edward Clarke, who spoke at Accrington on Tuesday night,
treated Mr. George Russell's desire to regard the Armenian question as a question of party, and to prove it to be the duty of the Liberals to compel a more effective inter- ference on behalf of the Armenians, as showing an inspiration derived from Hawarden, which he denounced as one of most dangerous origin, declaring that Mr. Gladstone had left no distinctive mark on our foreign policy of which the nation could be proud. We should say that there is nothing of which it will be more proud than the part Mr. Gladstone took in securing the independence of the Balkan States, and in compelling Turkey to hand over Thessaly to Greece. Indeed, if England is no longer Turkey's backer against Russia, it is very much Mr. Gladstone's doing. Sir Edward Clarke said, as regarded the Education Bill, that "neither in the present nor in a future House of Commons would a scheme of rate-aid for voluntary schools be introduced by this or any Government with any chance of success," in which we heartily agree with him. And he made the very sensible suggestion that, profiting by their experience on the Education Bill of last Session, the Govern- ment should pass a resolution allowing our Government to carry on Bills which have reached a certain stage in their progress, from one Session to another. Every time-saving I xpedient that can be reasonably advocated is of the first importance to the House of Commons.
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