or the most part
radically changed; and a new parliament chosen on the old system of seats
and franchise, even if it were legally possible, would still be empty of
all semblance of moral authority. Under these circumstances, some in the
tory party argued that instead of taking office, it would be far better
for them to force Mr. Gladstone and his cabinet to come back, and leave
them to get rid of their internal differences and their Irish
embarrassments as they best could. Events were soon to demonstrate the
prudence of these wary counsels. On the other hand, the bulk of the tory
party like the bulk of any other party was keen for power, because power
is the visible symbol of triumph over opponents, and to shrink from office
would discourage their friends in the country in the electoral conflict
now rapidly approaching.

The Queen meanwhile was surprised (June 10) that Mr. Gladstone should make
his defeat a vital question, and asked whether, in case Lord Salisbury
should be unwilling to form a government, the cabinet would remain. To
this Mr. Gladstone replied that to treat otherwise an attack on the
budget, made by an ex-cabinet minister with such breadth of front and
after all the previous occurrences of the session, would be contrary to
every precedent,--for instance, the notable case of December 1852,--and it
would undoubtedly tend to weaken and lower parliamentary government.(125)
If an opposition defeated a government, they must be prepared to accept
the responsibility of their action. As to the second question, he answered
that a refusal by Lord Salisbury would obviously change the situation. On
this, the Queen accepted the resignations (June 11), and summoned Lord
Salisbury to Balmoral. The resignations were announced to parliament the
next day. Remarks were made at the time, indeed by the Queen herself, at
the failure of Mr. Gladstone to seek the royal presence. Mr. Gladstone's
explanation was that, viewing "the probably long reach of Lord
Hartington's life into the future," he thought that he would be more
useful in conversation with her Majesty than "one whose ideas might be
unconsciously coloured by the limited range of the prospect before him,"
and Lord Hartington prepared to comply with the request that he should
repair to Balmoral. The visit was eventually not thought necessary by the
Queen.

In his first audience Lord Salisbury stated that though he and his friends
were not desirous of taking office, he