It was in December, 1885, that the present Lord Gladstone; in
conjunction with the late Sir Wemyss Reid, sent up "the Hawarden
Kite." After a lapse of thirty-two years, that strange creature
is still flapping about in a stormy sky; and in the process of
time it has become a familiar, if not an attractive, object. But
the history of its earlier gyrations must be briefly recalled.

The General Election of 1885 had just ended in a tie, the Liberals
being exactly equal to the combined Tories and Parnellites. Suddenly
the Liberals found themselves committed, as far as Gladstone could
commit them, to the principle of Home Rule, which down to that
time they had been taught to denounce. Most of them followed their
leader, but many rebelled. The Irish transferred their votes in the
House to the statesman whom--as they thought--they had squeezed
into compliance with their policy, and helped him to evict Lord
Salisbury after six months of office. Gladstone formed a Government,
introduced a Home Rule Bill, split his party in twain, was defeated
in the House of Commons, dissolved Parliament, and was soundly
beaten at the General Election which he had precipitated. Lord
Salisbury became Prime Minister for the second time, and ruled,
with great authority and success, till the summer of 1892.

Meanwhile, Gladstone, by his indefatigable insistence on Home Rule
and by judicious concessions to opponents, had to some extent repaired
the damage done in 1886; but not sufficiently. Parliament was dissolved
in June, 1892, and, when the Election was over, the Liberals, _plus_
the Irish, made a majority of forty for Home Rule. Gladstone realized
that this majority, even if he could hold it together, had no chance
of coercing the House of Lords into submission; but he considered
himself bound in honour to form a Government and bring in a second