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He did little while in opposition to increase his reputation. To Gladstone's reckless and demoralising Irish legislation he offered no effective resistance. The Irish Land Bill of 1 88 1 was allowed to pass, after Gladstone had accepted the Lords' amendments, and the same course was adopted with the infamous Arrears Bill of the following year ; though in the latter case it is only fair to Lord Salisbury to remember that he wished to insist on the Lords' amendments, and so defeat the Bill, which he described as an act of simple robbery, but he was overruled by his followers.
In the last two articles which he contributed to the Quarterly Review? he subjected Liberal policy at home and abroad to the most scathing and damaging analysis. The writer's enunciation of sound Conservative principles, and his searching insight into the psychology of Radical legislation, render these articles not only eminently readable, but applicable for page after page to the events of the present day. Whether he deals with the increasing influence of that school of political thought, whose " distinguishing mark is that in any issues which may arise between England and any other population, foreign or dependent, they usually find reason for thinking that England is in the wrong " ; or dilates on the dangers of hasty and ill-considered legislation, or of the uncontrolled powers of the House of Commons ;
1 October, 1881, "Ministerial Embarrassments" and October, 1883, " Disintegration."
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