THE G.O.M.

Marlborough Express, Volume XXIV, Issue 140, 3 July 1888, Page 2

THE G.O.M.

« " Curse on his," quoth false Sextus, " will not the villain drown ?" If we substitute Mr Chamberlain for Sextus, and Mr Gladstone for Horatius, the line is singularly applicable. This Horatius ." kept the bridge " as long as he could, and then plunged into the turbid waters of public opinion and struck out for the shore,, while on the bank stood Conservative foes and Unionist traitors. He is now m midstream, and the question is — will it ever be that on dry earth "he stands"? If we are to judge from the past, yes. " O Father Tiber, to wliom tlie Eomans pray, A Roman's life, a Houiuu's arum, toko tliou Iv charge this day," "Father Tiber " means now public opinion, to which an Englishman has never prayed m vain, and it is to public opinion that Mr Gladstone now prays. But he not only prays — he acts. Only a month or two ago Mr Gladstone was away m the South t of Europe recruiting, and people shook 'their heads and talked of old age, failure, dotage, but lo ! while they were thus talking, he came back and on the first provocation stood on the floor of the House and delivered a speech which for fire, vigour! eloquence was equal if not superior to any deliverance of his m his earlier days ; a powerful invective against the coercive measures of the Government. This m itself is astounding. ; , but the astonishingness of tbe feat is not quite realised until we read his criticism of Col. Bob Ingersoll. A statesman of Mr Gladstone's years fighting hard against power, finds time to write elaborate treatises, and by way of recreation just gives the Colonel a drubbing. What we want .to know is, — where is "the conservative David who is game and capable enough to come out and oppose this Goliah?.