The London Welshman

authorities, when it lost the opportunity of fight- ing the Czar's power, turned its force upon the old and the helpless. There can be no excuse, whatsoever, for this outburst, and the inability of the authorities to cope with the disorder and keep the mob within bounds, is a clear evidence that there is practically no law in the country. In the opinion of many persons well qualified to judge, the reforms have come too late, and ,even if administered in the most liberal sense they are totally inadequate to quiet the country. The Times correspondent, at Copenhagen, had a conversation on Sunday with Mr. W. T. Stead, who had just arrived from Helsingfors, and was informed by him that the gravity of the situa- tion in Russia could not be over estimated, that he thought that Russia was on the eve of a most gigantic massacre." It is quite evident that no Imperial manifesto can do away with the ill-effects of generations of misgovernment. Whatsoever a nation soweth that also shall it reap. The Gladstone Memorial.-On Saturday the national memorial to Mr. Gladstone, which stands at the junction of Kingsway and Aldwych, was unveiled by Mr. John Morley, -and handed over to the care of the London County Council. The Council itself provided the site, and the statue was executed by the eminent sculptor, Mr. W. H. Thornycroft, R.A. Whilst the memorial is placed in a most prominent and central position, there is still a feeling that it ought to be nearer the Houses of Parliament, where he laboured so faithfully on behalf of the nation for so many years. We -can hardly believe the rumour that a site in Parliament Square was refused by those in power. Surely Mr. Gladstone deserved a better recognition than that; howsoever much one might disagree with some aspects of his policy. The proceedings on Saturday were presided -over by Lord Peel, and besides Mr. Morley the Duke of Devonshire also spoke. Lord Rosebery was present for a while, but was not called upon to say anything. Not one of the members of the Government put in an appearance. There may have been unavoidable hindrances in their way, but we think most people will agree with the Duke of Devonshire that it would have been graceful on the part of some of them to join in the tribute paid to the brightest ornament of British politics in modern times. Mr. John Morley and the Duke were naturally most eulo- gistic in their remarks, and dwelt upon three characteristics which were uniquely combined in Mr. Gladstone's character-his courage, his idealism, his intense practicality. The bitter opposition to Mr. Gladstone's policy was not so much against that pulicy on its merits as against the spirit that was behind it. Materialism found in him an implacable foe, and in its rage made a determined effort to destroy him. It partly succeeded for a time, but there are .already signs of a swingback. As Mr. Morley said on Saturday, the demand now is for states- men who shall "create, shape, and mould" opinion instead of standing by in prolonged hesitation about the devise of the more popular cause. Great ideals must come to the front again, and the statue in memory of Mr. Gladstone, placed as it is in the midst of the busy life of London, will be a standing witness .against materialism. Mr. Chamberlain's Speech.—The Member for West Birmingham opened his third autumn campaign since he announced his fiscal policy, by addressing his own constituents on Friday last. We do not believe that the speech will carry that policy much "forrarder." We find in it no further elucidation of that policy, nor any fresh reasons why Great Britain should adopt it. Certainly it showed that Mr. Chamberlain means to fight for it to the bitter end, though' he admitted that he will be defeated in the next election. His only hope seems to be that the Liberals, after their triumph, will fall out among themselves, and that then the nation will take him at his own price. We shall see what we shall see. But the speech revealed what Mr. Chamberlain thought of the tactics of his leader during the last Parliamentary Session. He made no attempt to hide his disappoint- ment at the postponement of the general elec- tion. I myself," he said, had hoped that we might by this time actually have found ourselves in the act of deciding this party issue which lies before us I could not force it upon the Government if I desired to do so. But I wish an election because the great Unionist Party is marking time when it ought to be fighting the enemy." On the tactics adopted in face of the motions brought forward in the House of Commons in favour of retaining Free Trade, he was bitterly severe. "While we put our swords into their sheaths our opponents drew their swords and refused to accept the truce that was offered, and what has been the result ? It is to be seen in the proceedings of the last Session of Parliament, which to my mind were more humiliating to ourselves as a great party than I can recollect in the course of my political experience. We who boasted of a majority of eighty in the House of Commons left the field to our opponents. We allowed them to carry without opposition resolutions to which the vast majority of our party were entirely opposed. I do not like running away from our political adversaries." What does the Prime Minister think of those scathing words, we wonder ? But Mr. Chamberlain's most bitter sarcasm was reserved for Lord Londonderry, a member of the Cabinet, who recently declared that he was a Free-fooder, and claimed Mr. Balfour as such. The words used with regard to him have interested us more because Lord Londonderry has something to do with Wales. We thought him a man of high position and considerable authority. But, according to Mr. Chamberlain, he is not one of the oldest or one of the most important members of the Cabinet. He owes his position entirely to the Prime Minister. He has continually boasted of his loyalty to the Prime Minister, and yet we find him supporting the Free-fooders who are the bitterest enemies of that policy. I understand loyalty in a different sense. I accept the policy of the Prime Minister." We think the Unionist organs will be obliged to see that after this speech the less they say about factions among the Opposition the better