The Cambridge modern history. Vol. XII, The latest age / planned by the late Lord Acton ; edited by A.W. Ward, G.W. Prothero, Stanley Leathes.

Date:
1910
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: The Cambridge modern history. Vol. XII, The latest age / planned by the late Lord Acton ; edited by A.W. Ward, G.W. Prothero, Stanley Leathes. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    83/1078 (page 43)
    dissolved Parliament (November 18). The elections took place shortly after and in Great Britain turned principally on Mr Chamberlain’s unauthorised programme and, especially in the counties, on Mr Jesse Codings’ watchword of “ three acres and a cow11 which attracted the rural labourer. In Ireland the sole issue was Home Rule. In the result, the Liberals reckoned about 335 votes, the Conservatives about 249, the Nationalists about 86. Gladstone’s independent majority was not in sight. His first inclination was to allow the Conservatives to remain in power and to give them his support in an attempt to settle the Irish question. But, meanwhile, it had become known that he himself was prepared to deal with the problem, and the Conservatives declined to negotiate. Lord Carnarvon’s resignation seemed to imply a Con- servative decision against Home Rule, and the Queen’s Speech (January, 1886) was phrased so as to exclude that solution. The Government had no sooner announced their intention to introduce a Coercion Bill for Ireland than they were turned out on an amendment to the Address relating to allotments for rural labourers. Gladstone was left with the task of framing a Government pledged to examine in a favourable spirit the possibility of granting some form of Home Rule acceptable to the Irish party, on which his majority depended. Lord Hartington, Lord Derby, Blight, Goschen, Sir Henry James, and other men of mark declined to join him. Sir Charles Dilke was not available. Mr Chamberlain and Sir George Trevelyan joined, while reserving their independence of iudo-- ment. Lord Spencer, President of the Council, whose final conversion to Home Rule carried great weight, Sir William Harcourt, Chancellor of the Exchequer, Lord Rosebery, Secretary for Foreign Affairs, and .Mr John Morley, Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant, gave more unreserved support to the Prime Minister; and a strong Ministry was eventually formed, though it contained from the first disruptive lhe new Ministry had difficulties to face from the start. Lord Salis- bury had accepted the union of Eastern Rumelia with Bulgaria which had been safely completed in 1885, but the extension of Bulgaria had aroused thejealousy of Greece, which demanded compensation from Turkey Lord Rosebery continued the policy of Lord Salisbury, and supported the Luropean Concert in applying pressure to the Hellenes. War was thus averted. Upper Burma, annexed by Lord Salisbury after a short i^r T’ dlStUrbed ,b7 ebels and dacoits for man y months before in r^L:h°n WaS CO™P et?d* The dePression of trade, already acute neeches’ inT^f ; and’ in February, 1886, after listening to speeches in Irafalgar Square, a riotous mob plundered shops in Piccadilly hf preitheir pr°greSS Was arrested by the police! actp^ed But 77 f ^ T, blamed’ and bis resignation was r] ?. ' , °ther interests paled before the issue of Home Rule Gladstone s proposals aroused dissension in the Cabinet, and on March 26 CH. JJf.