As for the Tories, Lord Randolph claimed that on all
questions affecting the health and morality of the working classes, beginning with the Ten-Hours Bill, the Tories had hitherto led the way. And the sole claim of the Radicals to turn them out is that for four years they have done everything in their power to delay all wholesome legislation, and having succeeded in that great effort, they allege that they have earned the political gratitude of the English people. If their appeal were answered, what would be the consequence, except probably a recurrence of the great disasters which occurred in rapid succession between 1880 and 1885, instead of the smooth and successful foreign policy of Lord Salisbury F—while Mr. Glad- stone's followers, the moment they acceded to office, would begin snapping and snarling at each other like a pack of angry hounds. No doubt the Irish people are disaffected to the Constitution under which they live ; but who is responsible for that except the Irish Party, which has proclaimed it its first duty to render the British government in Ireland im- possible F Yet, on such a pretext as this, it is proposed, at a time when the air of Europe is full of electricity, to turn out a Government which has gained the respect of Europe and kept the peace, and to substitute one whose hands, when last they were in power, were full of quarrels with the other Governments of Europe. The speech was an extraordinarily clever speech, but Lord Randolph's hasty and ill-judged actions have practically destroyed his political persuasiveness with British electors. They think him "too clever by half," and. with some justice.
Previous page
