Show GLAD STONES GREAT VICTORY those triumphs which bring with them popular approval are the most moat grateful to the patriotic heart and most enduring to the nation in whose behalf they are wrought in all the history of statecraft ancient and modern and not even for the present moment overlooking the achievements of lysander Lye ander richelieu or jefferson we fail to find an achievement out ranking outranking the home rule victory of william ewart gladstone when are fully considered all the difficulties which lay before him in the way of national prejudice hostile majorities and an enfilading fire of criticism from all over the world coupled with the weight of more than a half score years beyond the allotted three score and ten resting upon him when the task aak was begun we feel free to go further and say that it has no equal that the home rule bill may be defeated to in the house of lords is most probable but the foundation is laid and it cannot be destroyed perhaps the author may not pot live to see the edifice comple is unreasonable to think that he will but he has accomplished what he set out for a reformation ii british senti ment toward ireland and the irish attested by the action ot the re represent presen dative branch of the national parliament A majority of thirty four la is not large considered by itself but measuring it by the change of feeling which it represents it amounts to a stupendous quantity the grand old man is happy now well may he be I 1 |