Lord Hartington, in his speech at Cardiff on Wednesday, replied
with great power to Mr. Gladstone's assertion that he had condemned the Parnellites in 1881 because they were wrong, and supported them now because he knew that they were right. He asked when it was that the Parnellite policy changed. Did it ever change till Mr. Gladstone brought in his Bill conceding the greater part of their demands P Did
they ever withdraw the views which in 1831 Mr. Gladstone described as a "policy of plunder ?" Had not those views been virtually reiterated by Mr. Parnell and his friends again and again ? Had they ever condemned the boycotting and tyranny of the National League? Have they not gratefully accepted subscriptions from those American followers who issued the " literature of assassination ?" Have they not defended the National League when it has covered with contumely the whole judicial staff of Ireland, from the Judges to the process-servers ? Is there the slightest evidence that in any one respect the Parnellite Party had abjured the policy and doctrines and practices of 1881, until they found that Mr. Gladstone was their devout and convinced proselyte in 1886? In 1881 the resources of civilisation were to be drawn upon without limit to defeat Mr. Parnell. Now,—without any change in Mr. Parnell, —Mr. Gladstone declares himself for the very man against whom he was then so anxious to invoke all those inexhaustible resources.
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