| Show GLADS TOSES CHANGE OF FROST FRONT the announcement that mr gladstone has baa changed front on the welsh disestablish ment bill and thereby has alarmed the British liberals and brought a feeling of jubilation to the hearts of 0 the conservatives will occasion no surprise to those who are acquainted with the political Dolit loal career career of the grand old man at each recurring election tion in great britain for many years past one of the stroner points his bis political enemies have sought to make against him Is in that be changes his bis mind on leading questions and where at one general election he be may be found on the affirmative side the next is liable to discover him taking the negative view the response of mr Glad stones friends is that this is an evidence of his bis being alive to the be necessity of the hour far while the progressive non man will not change the progressive one does so when he receives additional light leading thereto or when changed circumstances require it and while admitting the liability of mr gladstone to shift as an occasion requires his supporters point out oui that be boa b never returned to a position po altion abandoned by him whatever of force there more is in isi in the ra reasoning moning it I 1 has ha rendered ineffectual the he efforts to show inconsistency because of change of mind and mr Glad gladstone stones friends have been unswerving in their fidelity As matters were in the last general election if the liberal party in great britain had bad not been pledged to the disestablish went ment of the welsh welch church it could not have pained the successes it achieved lit in wales and probably would not have been returned to power but while success in the weigh was essential to the general genera victory it was not dot gained without losses elsewhere liah ment was then a very live issue in wales nude so go by the arbitrary and harsh attempts of church officials to enforce the collection of tithes from non under an english statute permitting such procedure the lesson eaon of that times time how however everl conveyed to the church dignitaries an understanding that continued assaults of that character upon uon meant the reduction of the church to the same condition as the non nod oon con formost denominations denomination es not only in ID ralpg calep but probably in england as aa well supporters of the dominant church generally did not approve of thin enforced collection of tithes from nonconformists conformists non coin and declared deo lared that it if nothing abort of disestablishment would stop atop it then that must come in the past the three years yeara the state church has bag come to realize the danger which from its own injustice oven even when approved by form of law As an a consequence the policy of eo enforce forcel collection of tithes from noo members has been avow adly abandoned at least for the time being this being the case the reason for the churche churchs s members giving support to the policy has ceased to exist and with it much of the antagonism of the nonconformists there can be no doubt that mr gladstone hilly fully comprehends oom the situation in this respect and being a churchman himself be cannot longer support a policy against his own church when it has boa removed the cause of offense to pursue it farther would not be only not muff magnanimous but neo oes essary sary and unjust hence mr gladstone Glada change is entirely consistent with a peace loving and statesmanlike career there way may be also another reason for the ex premiers action at this time As the retired leader ot of the party in power mr gladstone is a person of considerable importance with the party out of control be would become comparatively insignificant in political affairs and might be easily laid aid on the shelf under a continuance of the present regime the liberal party soon must lose its narrow margin of advantage but with a movement from within to effect the charge which public opinion seems to demand and the gain that would come from having the disestablishment question quietly removed from the controversy the glad sto niane could go before the country with renewed courage and brighter prospects than on the old lines line it might cost the sweeping away of the present ministry but tuat that would woul be a taking small price for another victory taking these things into consideration there is ie likely to be more rejoicing than gloom in the liberal ranks except as to a very few when the matter la is fully under stood and the unusual jubilation of the conservatives will sink away as aa they observe the play at poll tics bics which mr gladstone even in his advanced years has haa shown himself capable of in making his hie change ot mind public it to ia pretty certain he be has not done so no without witt ioui the full knowledge and approval of his hia trusted prominent political associates |
