We must add to all these causes one other, the
almost entire failure of Mr. Gladstone's expedient for regaining popularity. The people did not understand and did not like a Budget being submitted to a plebiscitum, and persistently affirmed that Mr. Gladstone meant to take taxes off the rich and put them on the poor. Owing to the excessive and injudicious speed with which the elections were-forced on there was no time to correct this, no time to perfect organisations, no time for the appearance of new men. The Tory party, being undivided and having no cry but the Constitution, searcely felt this ; but the Liberals, who were in a chronic state not so Much of quarrel, as of controversy among themselves, felt it bitterly, and were beaten in many places from sheer inability to unite in, time on the right candidates. This was
especially the case in the medium boroughs, where, moreover, the caprice of men just relieved from the pressure of social, proprie- tary, or other influences made itself most keenly felt.
