, 1875-01-17

1847, when he was returned for the Uniyersit,
Of Oxford. At this time the questions O.
University Reform and the removal Of th'
Jewish disabilities came up, and his position
On these matters led to his breaking witt
the Conservative party, from which hs
| finally separated himself in 1851. HI
became Chancellor Of the Exchequer undel
the Earl Of Aberdeen in 1859, and continued
| in this Office under the PALMEEsroS Ministry,
His career since his accession to the leader
ship of the Liberals upon Lord PA1NERs1oN's
dccease is generally familiar.
llr.. G1ApsroNE's reform measures have
been mora numerous and Of groater aid to the
British Government than those Of any states'
! man Of this century. While he has never
been great student in political economy,
nor Tho originator of any startling theories in
this science, he has The greater glory of apply
ing tho principles whose soundness A6a keen
demonstrated to. tho relief and benefit Of his
country. His fundamental principle Of nation
al finances WIS to raise the revenue by taxing
the smallest number Of articles,-an they OF
luxury on appetite, and never at the
point OF production. That is to say,
he taxed neither 1abor nor capital
in it's working condition, but only after it Ind
produced its results. He would not tax
mortgages, or notes, or money at interest, but
the income; hc would not tax tile tools or
raw materials Of work kmen, though be might
the fabrics they produced. His system Of
taxation, in one word, was relief Of pro-
ductive industry, and during his official Life
he repealed taxes which had yielded from
e3o, ,o00, 900 to e40. .o0o, 600 without reducing
the revenue below the wants Of the nation.
He also reduced Government expenses at
every point where it was possible, or the e1-
igencies Of the public services permitted it.
He actually spent less money in the fiscal
year of 1884 than Ind been spent any year
since he entered public life, notwithstanding
the increase OF wealth and population
His measures added more to the ma
terial comforts or the 1aboring masses
than those Of all who had pre-
ceded him, except PEEL and CoDpEs, aud he
equaled them by pushing their own reforms
further than they had ever hoped to so. In
the matter Of ta1ation, his measures were
constantly in the interest of the industrial
classes, since his rule was to tar only the 1u1u-
ries, vices, and vanities Of the nation. He be-
production.
In addition to his admirable ideas on
finance and taxation, Mr. GLADSTONE carried
out many practical projects of reform We
recall notably the Free-School aud Compul-
sorry Education measure, in which he re-
received the active help Of Mr.: FORSTER, who
is likely to succeed him; the Disestablish-
ment Of the Iikh Church, which is perhaps
tia most widely known Of his reforms;
the Reformed 1and-laws Of Ireland, by
Which bankrupt estates can be sold;
the abolition Of purchase in the army; the
Tenants Rights bill, giving tenants in Ireland
ownership in all the improvements they
make; tbs negotiation Of the Treaty Of
Washington, which prevented war with the
United States; Law Reform in the En-
pire, by simplifying pleadings and procedure,
md creating one Supreme Court by the con-
solidation: Of several other Courts. His
Temperance measure, by which the saloons
we're closed earlier in the evenings aid On
Sundays, and his scheme for a free unsec-
.arian Irish university, built up an opposition
% him among the very classes he had dons
most for, and led first to his resignation IS
Premier, next the defeat Of his party, and
,ow to his retirement His recent pamphlet |
1irected agninst Ultrnnon tanism shows by |
he sensation it produced il Great Britain |
md throughout Europe that his influence will |
till be exerted, though in different way.
The hight Hon. WILLIAM T. Fons11n, who |
8 named as G1Ans7oxE's probable successor
q leader of the Liberals, has been in public !
ife since 1861, and he's gained reputation as
bold and independent thinker, IS well as an
ndefatigablo worker. His greatest public
eryice YVES rendered in connection with tha
Education bill, but he has not yet demon
trated The versatility and ability essential to
be filing Of the place which GLADSTONE has
vacated Indeed, it may be many
ears before that place can be filed by any
aan Great Britain will produce.
TIE LAEEFnONT PROPERTY.
The bill which has been introduced into
he Illinois Legislature authorizing the organ
zatioa Of jointstock companies to build
MON depots in cities, 10 evidently intended
. cover and solve the complications between
he city and the railway companies relative to
be sale of the three blocks lying betwecn
randolph and Monroe streets, on the lake
ront. The bill provides that five or more
ersons, OF three or moro railroads, may form
company, limited as to a term Of years, md
nth capital not exceeding $s,ooo,ooo, and
1ey GhaN be granted articles Of incorporation
'henever three OF more railroads agree to use
40 depot which they propose to construct.
he company SO formed shall then have