Mr. Gladstone acted as chairman at the dinner of the
Cobden Club on Saturday, and made a speech on Mr. Cobden and Free Trade which contained one noteworthy idea. He doubted whe- ' ther Englishmen were much better or wiser than their neighbours, but thought it part of the " designs of Providence to employ each country in solving certain social, moral, and political problems for the benefit of others. Countries are put through the fire, as it were, in order to try the effect of the process." For example, there is railway communication. England solved that problem, but in the process flung a hundred millions into the sea. Is not that carrying the theory of Providential government—in which we entirely believe—to the verge of common-sense ? Surely the object of punishment—and if loss is arranged by Providence, it is in the nature of punishment—must be the discipline of the suf- ferer, not the education of his neighbours. It is a little difficult to conceive of God making whipping-boys of English share- holders, in order that French shareholders may lose a little less money.
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