Mr. Chamberlain may be said to be
the most rebellious leader in the whole
liberal party. Before Mr. Gladstone’s
utterance Mr. Chamberlain’s radical
campaign tour included Glasgow,
where no doubt was entertained that
he would repeal his pronounced in
dependence. But the orator spoke in
Glasgow after he had perused the
manifesto and hi* speech delayed the
practical abandonment of bis inde
pendent radicalism and the adoption
of the policy of opportunism and so it
has been with Lord Hartington and
Sir Wm. Vernon Harcourt. They
have also indicated a complete sub
mission to Mr. Gladsonc and have be
come oppor'un.sts.
There are two explanations of these
remarkable submissions. No one
doubts that if these three leaders had
been permitted to pursue in the
courses they had mapped out for them
selves
THE LIBERAL PARTY WOULD HAVE
BEEN DISMEMBERED.
It was pretty generally thought
that Mr. Gladstone was tired of pub
lic life and had decided to remain out
of it. He was implored to reconsider
this determination and assume the
management of the present campaign
for his party’s success in this cam
paign was essential to the continued
existence of the liberal party, and as
party and unity was a requi
site of sucr jss, Mr. Gladstone de
manded submission as the price of his
leadership. It is, of course, possible
to suppose that Chamberlain, Ilarting
ton and Harcourt consented to drop
their differences out of a pure desire
to accomplish thesuccesof their parly
as a whole, and to obtain this result,
pay Mr. Gladstone's prices, but no
doubt can bo entertained that each of
these men have been ambitious to
succeed.
