tomed to see class
interests of all kinds put themselves on their defence under the
supposition of being assailed, yet he had never seen a case where the
modes of operation adopted by the professing champions were calculated to
leave such a painful impression on the mind." Credible whispers were heard
of the open hostility of high military personages. In one of the debates
of this time upon the army (Mar. 23, 1871), speakers freely implied that
the influence of what was called the horse guards was actively adverse to
reform. Mr. Gladstone, taking this point, laid it down that "military
authorities without impairing in the slightest degree the general
independence of their political opinions, should be in full harmony with
the executive as to the military plans and measures which it might
propose; and that only on this principle could the satisfactory working of
our institutions be secured."

The correspondence with the Queen was copious. In one letter, after
mentioning that parliament had been persuaded to extend the tenure of the
commander-in-chief's office beyond five years, and to allow the patronage
and discipline of the army to be vested in him, though the secretary of
state was responsible, Mr. Gladstone proceeds:--

It would have been impossible to procure the acquiescence of
parliament in these arrangements, unless they had been accompanied
with the declaration of Mr. Cardwell, made in the name of the
cabinet, and seen and approved by your Majesty, that "it is of
course necessary for the commander-in-chief to be in harmony with
the government of the day" (Feb. 21, 1871), and with a similar
declaration of Mr. Gladstone on March 23, 1871, also reported to,
and approved by your Majesty, that while all political action
properly so called was entirely free, yet the military plans and
measures of the government must always have the energetic
co-operation of the military chiefs of the army.

(M117) The end was of course inevitable.(235) The bill at last passed the
Commons, and then an exciting stage began. In the Lords it was immediately
confronted by a dilatory resolution. In view of some such proceeding, Mr.
Gladstone (July 15) wrote to the Queen as to the best course to pursue,
and here he first mentioned the step that was to raise such clamour:--

As the government judge that the illegality of over-regulation
prices cannot continue, and as they can only b