Mr. Gladstone made a great speech at DallEeith on Tues-
day. It was very remarkable as showing how entirely he has .ceased to think that England has any interest at all in the welfare of Scotland or Ireland, and we suppose, conversely, that Scotland, at least, has any interest at all in the welfare of England,—and if we do not say the same of Ireland, it is only because Mr. Gladstone is compelled by his concession to the demands of his followers to admit that Ireland has an interest in English legislation, though whether that interest is friendly or hostile, he does not reveal. He insists on treating the Three Kingdoms as if they were entirely separate, on com- plaining that English votes settle Scotch questions (as Scotch votes certainly often settle English questions, though Mr. Gladstone does not dwell on that side of the matter), and, indeed, on treating the Three Kingdoms as if it were a great grievance that they should be amalgamated at all (except for what may be called obviously common interests). He would give Scotland Home-rule as soon as Scotland wishes for it, and the whole drift of his speech is to excite a vexation against English interference in Scotch affairs, which should tend to make her vote for it. Mr. Gladstone appears to us to be marching through- Home-rule to disintegration. We do not see where this dissecting of the map of the United Kingdom is to end.
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