J. Morley, Life of William E. Gladstone, 3 vols.
(London, 1903); J. R. Thursfield, Peel (London,
1907); W. F. Monypenny, Life of Benjamin Disraeli,
Earl of Beaconsfield (London, 1910-1912), vols.
1-2, covering the years 1804-1846; and S. Lee,
Queen Victoria, a Biography (rev. ed., London,
1904).]

IV. THE SECOND ERA OF CONSERVATIVE ASCENDANCY, 1874-1905

*158. The Question of Irish Home Rule.*--During the five years covered
by the life of the second Disraeli ministry British imperialism
reached flood tide. The reforms of the Gladstone government were (p. 151)
not undone, but the Conservative leaders interested themselves
principally in foreign and colonial questions, and home affairs
received but scant attention. The result was public discontent, and at
the elections of 1880 the Liberals obtained a parliamentary majority
of more than one hundred seats. It remained for the second Gladstone
government, established at this point, to adjust a number of
difficulties on the frontiers of the Empire; but the heart of the
ministry was not in this sort of work and the way was cleared as
speedily as possible for a return to the consideration of problems of
a domestic nature. In 1884 the Representation of the People Act was
carried, and in 1885 the Redistribution of Seats Act. But now, and
throughout a decade and a half following, the question which
overshadowed all others was that of Home Rule for Ireland. Upon this
issue, in its variety of aspects, governments henceforth rose and
fell, parties were disrupted and re-aligned. In 1885 the Parnellites,
or Irish Nationalists, incensed because of Gladstone's indifference to
Home Rule, and taking advantage of the ministry's unpopularity arising
from the failure of its Egyptian policy, compassed the defeat of the
Government on a measure relating to the taxing of beer and spirits.
The Marquis of Salisbury, who after the death of Lord Beaconsfield, in
1881, had become leader of the Conservatives, made up a government;
but, absolutely dependent upon the Irish Nationalist alliance and yet
irrevocably committed against Home Rule, the Salisbury ministry found
itself from the outset in an impossible position.

*159. The Liberal Unionists.*--The elections at the end of 1885 yielded
the Conservatives 249 seats, the Irish Nationalists 86, and the
Liberals 335,