Mr Gladstone.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 7000, 1 November 1890, Page 2

Mr Gladstone.

The triumphal progress towards the " Heart of Midlothian " loses none of its accustomed heartiness. The same crowds, the same cheering, the same enthusiasm, on one side ; on the other, the same brilliancy of oratory, the same astonishing energy, the same fidelity to principles. This time we find both Mr Gladstone and the Irish Secretary in agreement about one phase of the Irish question. Both say that it must be settled. It would be a curious thing if Mr Balfour were to go further and come over to Mr Gladstone's method of settling it. It is the only method. If Home Rule for Western Australia, why not for Ireland? There are not wanting shrewd observers who declare that this will be the course which Mr Balfour will eventually follow. Be this as it may, there are not many signs as yet that he will do anything of the sort. Mr Gladstone criticises the system that asks the Irish Secretary to administer the affairs of a country he never goes near. In that lies a great part of the question in a nutshell. The people of Scotland evidently agree with the G.O.M. as enthusiastically as on the day when they gave Mr Parnellthe freedom of Edinburgh. They are together in the noble aspiration to gild the closing yeara of the glorious reign of Victoria with the gold of justice. It must have been a grand speech in which these fine words occurred.