MR GLADSTONE ON HIS MAJORITY.

North Otago Times, Volume XXXVI, Issue 7463, 10 September 1892, Page 1

MR GLADSTONE ON HIS MAJORITY.

Mr Gladstone, in speaking on his majouty tlio other d.iy, said: Do not bo discouraged because our nominal majority in the House of Commons i.s not a \ cry large one. It is between foity and fifty. If we had economised our lesources at Peith and elsewhere it might have been better. It will comfort you to know that 1 h ive sat m t\\ enty-h\ c Parliaments, and m five I ha\e .seen Liberal Governments in ofhee which have done a groat deal of woik foi the countiy with not such a m.ijonty as is now leturned to support Libeial pmieiple-.. Another point of considerable and curious intercut, . you know tlieie is a body of gentlemen who call themselves Liberal Unionists. It is a \eiy gieat stictch of courtesy fni us to call them Libeial Unionists, because we do not think their conduct has tended to the union, but to the disunion of the country. If 1 have called them Liberal unionists ifc is from my respect for them. 1 do not know whether you ha\ c observed that there lias been a great change in their position ioi the last six yeais. They voted against us in the matter of Home Rule ; and they said, " We must vote against you in eveiytlung else, m older to keep in oHico a Government that is opposed to Homo Rule." But look at the change. Tho Umoni.st votes m the last Parliament wt'ie given to support a Government opposed to Home Itule. Will they not continue giMiig Tory votes?, I believe I am the iusb man that has put tho question. A% there aie 54 of them, it is a question of some interest. I can't help cherishing the hope that some of them will do right. We must hope for the best, although you often feel it the wisest to expect tho worst. I look upon them with a kindly interest ; but whatever they do, whether they do their best or their worst, the Liberal cause does not depend upon them and 1 trust Liberalism will be strong enough to set about the re.d piosecution ot its woik with sin^euty and earnestness and decision.