In

associated with the name of Mr. Cobden-gravely assured the world that by granting this purely honorary distinction the Queen had "overstepped the bounds which limit her Constitutional action." It was the last honour that was to be conferred on the Tory chief for several years. By the end of the month it was known that the elections had gone disastrously against the Government, Scotland and Ireland had declared for Mr. Gladstone in the most astonishing way. Of the members for the former country only 7 and of those for the latter only 37 were classed as Conservatives. England 263 Liberals were returned as against 208 Conservatives, although Lancashire showed a majority of two to one in favour of the Government and although the Marquis of Hartington had been beaten in the county where his local interest was strongest by 1500 votes, the verdict of the country was unmistakeable. It was calculated that the majority against the Government was not less than 112, or 60 more than that upon which the Liberal whips had been able to rely in the purely party divisions of the last Parliament. There was of course nothing to be done but to submit to the inevitable. On the 2nd of December Mr. Disraeli went to Windsor, where he had an audience of the Queen and returned to town in time for a Cabinet Council. The Council sat for an hour and a half, and when it rose the Government of the Conservative party was at an end. A statement was at once put forth by the Prime Minister, in which he wrote:Although the general election has elicited in the decision of numerous and vast constituencies, an expression of feeling which in a remarkable degree has justified their anticipations and which in dealing with the question in controversy no wise

The Government Resign.

365

statesman would disregard, it is now clear that the present Administration cannot expect to command the confidence of the newly-elected House of Commons. Under these circumstances Her Majesty's Ministers have felt it due to their own honour and to the policy they support not to retain office unnecessarily for a single day. They hold it to be more consistent with the attitude they have assumed and with the convenience of public business at this season, as well as more conducive to the just influence of the Conservative party, at once to tender the resignation of their offices to Her Majesty rather than wait for the assembling of a Parliament in which in the present aspect of affairs they are sensible they must be in a minority. In thus acting Her Majesty's Government have seen no cause to modify those opinions upon which they deemed it their duty to found their counsel to the Sovereign. on the question of the disestablishment and disendowment of the Irish Church. They remain convinced that the proposition. of Mr. Gladstone is wrong in principle, probably impracticable in application and if practicable would be disastrous in its effects. While ready at all times to give a fair consideration and willing aid to any plan for the improvement of the Church in Ireland, to the policy which they opposed last Sessionrife as they believe it to be with many calamities to society and the State-they will continue, in whatever position they occupy, to offer an uncompromising resistance."

The step thus taken was approved universally. It was a mere matter of course that papers like the Standard should say that Mr. Disraeli had done well by accepting the popular verdict without a murmur but it was more satisfactory to find that the most pronounced organs of Liberalism approved what

"Mr. Disraeli,"

he had done. Said the Spectator, "Mr. Disraeli's conduct, although astute, is still manly and straightforward. He is a gamester in politics, but having lost the rubber he pays the stakes without a squabble." The Saturday Review, pursuing the gambling metaphor, declared that he had not thrown down the cards in a pet but had done a much more sensible thing in that he had forced his adversary's hand. The Economist thought his act a "singularly graceful" one. said the great financial organ, “has many defects but he has one merit when he means a thing he knows how to do it. He has saved the nation the painful spectacle of a solemn farce by not waiting to be ejected when he knew he must go." The weekly press was but an echo of the daily, which found something very remarkable in the coincidence between the date of Lord Beaconsfield's letter (2nd December) and the Emperor Napoleon's coup d'état. All the journals, however, with scarcely an exception recognized the manliness of the step which had been taken and even the Telegraph-then Mr. Gladstone's especially favoured organ-recognized his letter as "able, sagacious and conciliatory."

Strictly speaking there was no precedent for the course thus taken by Mr. Disraeli and his colleagues. The only occasion on which anything of the kind had occurred, was when after the death of Mr. Canning in 1828, the Cabinet formed by the Earl of Ripon fell to pieces from internal weakness and dissensions before the meeting of Parliament. It proved, however, a wise course to adopt, and it may after all be questioned whether Mr. Gladstone, in his ignominious defeat in South Lancashire, did not suffer quite as great a loss of prestige as did his rival. The verdict of the country

Mr. Gladstone in Office.

367

was for the time in favour of the principles of Liberalism as embodied in Mr. Gladstone's policy, and it was obviously the most dignified and sensible course which the Administration could adopt to accept that verdict and to march out with the honours of war. It was as obviously wise and dignified on the part of Mr. Disraeli to advise the Queen to send at once for Mr. Gladstone. Under ordinary conditions it might have been advisable to recommend as the future Minister one of those public men whom the Saturday Review called "the well-placed dummies of the Whigs." This, however, was no ordinary occasion. The defeat of the Government was entirely the work of Mr. Gladstone and his Radical followers; the principle which had brought about that defeat-the disestablishment of the Irish Church-was notoriously opposed to the views and wishes of the Whigs as a party, and it was only in accordance with custom that the spoils of office should belong to the victor.

CHAPTER XII.

MR. GLADSTONE'S GOVERNMENT, 1868-74.

The new Administration-Meeting of Parliament-Queen's Speech-The debate on the Address-Mr. Disraeli's speech-Opinions of the Press-Dangers to private property-Debate on the Irish Church Bill-Speech on the third eading-Trinity House banquet-Mr. Lowe rebuked-Prorogation-Session of 1870-Queen's Speech-Irish Land Bill-The Irish policy of the Government-Irish Land Bill-The Ballot-" Lothair"-The critics-Mr. Goldwin Smith-The fables of the Edinburgh—The Saturday Review-Coincidences -Public demand for the Book-Speech on the State of the ContinentLord Granville's " surprise"-Buckinghamshire manifestoes-Session of 1871-Queen's Speech-Debate on the Address-Mr. Disraeli's speechAppreciation of Lord Clarendon-Fenianism and the United States Governinent-An incompetent Administration-On the Declaration of Paris-Mr. Lowe's Budget-The Match Tax-The Leader of the Opposition and his criticism-The Charge of "hounding on the country "-War Taxation in time of Peace-Direct v. Indirect Taxation-Military Reform-The Abolition of Purchase Mr. Gladstone's coup d'état-Mr. Disraeli's comment-Appeals to the Prerogative of the Crown-Ballot-The Government determined to force the Bill through the House-Tactics of the Government-A Pythagorean system of legislation - Prorogation-A Confession of Failure-Mr. Disraeli at Hughenden-The Health of the Queen-Telegraph absurdities—Ministerial Apologies and Explanations-The new Session-Debate on the Address -The Collier scandal-The Ewelme Rectory job-Personal Government in excelsis-The Washington Treaty-Mr. Disraeli in Manchester-The Pomona Palace demonstration-Speech in the Free Trade Hall on Reform— On the improved condition of the working classes-The policy of the Government-The Treaty of 1856-A Policy of Sewage-No sign of a return to office-Constitutional dinner at the Crystal Palace - Mr. Disraeli's speech-A Wasted Session-Session of 1873-The San Juan award-The Geneva award-The debate on the Address--National indignation-Mr. Disraeli's speech-Irish University education-The Government Bill-Why the Tories opposed it-Mr. Disraeli's speech-What the Government had done-The Fate of the Government sealed-In a Minority of three-Resig