, 1875-01-17

| Ths formd retirement of the great e1-
Premier GLADSTONE rs the leader OF the Lib
erd party of Great Britain illustrates a
unique system Of politics, totally different
from anything known in this country, and
| probably not generally familiar to American
readers. It is very well known that the
Premier is always the recognized lender Of
the Government party, and that defeat in
Parliament leads to his retirement, and &
change in the Administration, By precedent
which has the force Of Constitutional law.
But the formal retirement Of leader of the
Opposition is much more unusual occur
renee. It reveals the fact that the opposi
ton acknowledges leader, whose position is
just as well assured in his own party
as It would be if his own par-
ty were in power and be occupied
the Prcmier's place. He is formally chosen
by party caucus, dictates the policy ef tho
Opposition, leads the debates in Parliament,
md otherwise manages party affairs with An
authority never vested IN any one person in
this country. The system is ons that has its
advantages and its disadvantages. We will
not examine them now, but simply soy that
party discipline can never attain so strict
construction in this country. Political inde-
pendence, individual ambition, the strong
hold ''availabiity" exercises over Ill cur
parties, and the indexible character of the
Administration during the limited term for
which it is chosen, alike prevent IN imitation
of the English system, even II it were
desirable.
Mr.: G1ADsroNE's resignation is equivalent
to his retirement from public Life, and, as
such, it il the most important crisis in En-
g1ish politics sinco the death of PALMEns7oN,
moro important even than TINT event,
since GLADSTONE was ready to step into tho
place which PA1.MERsToH had vacated, while
there is now no one whose qualifications for
the succession areso thoroughly demonstrated
as G1ApsrosEs were then. 31r. GLADSTONE
assumed the leadership Of the Liberal party
Immediately after Lord PA1MERsTos's death,
though he retained the Ch.nceIorship of tho
Exchequer in Lord HussEI1s 3 second Admins
trntjon. He first became Premier in Decem-
ber, 1863, on the resignation OF 1lr. D1sRAE11's
Ministry, and he remained in Office till Feb
ruary of Inst year. As already intimated,
however, Mr.. GLADSTONE had long before
established his claim to the leadership. Born
Dec. 20, 1909, he is now only little moro
than e5 years Of ago, Of vigorous health and
ha1ne, and, all other things being equal, too
young to retire permanently from public life.
But complication of political reverses in
the last year OF his official term seems to
have destroyed his interest in public affairs
and his accession to q large personal fortune, |
left him by his wife's brother since he resigned
his Ministry, probably persuaded him to re-
tire altogether. Il
GLADSTONE began his public career in 1882,
forty-throe yeara ago, 7'!o:. be WEE returned !
to Parliament from Newark in the Conserva- !
tvs interest. His n,e.eantila origin (his |
father being larso sod successful merchant |
Of LiTerpooD, allied with his University suo-
oesses, first brought him to the notice Of Sir
ROBERT PEEL. who appointed him one Of the
Junior Lords of the Treasury in 1884 From
that time on with perhaps larger share Of |
political reverses than falls to man who
keeps 80 uninterrupted = 1told on public life,
Mr. GLADSTONE has been in Parliament and |
~ ~A@4I0s AAV AS~&AaAA0 oA%A0A -AC@A2+oAJ AVA /
Colonial Affairs under Mr: PEEL; then Vice
President Of the Board: of:z!rade and Master
Of the Mint in 1s41, in which position he was
the advocate Of tbs commercial policy Of the I
Government in the Lower House Of
Parliament Hs also was sworn in as
a member Of the P1ivy Council at this
time, and tho work Of revising the tariff fell
to him This work was one of his greatest
services to Great Britain, and, upon its CON-
pletion, it was found to bo so thorough, and
SO admirable in all ita details, that it received
the sanctioned Parliament with scarcely an
alteration. In 1913 Mr.. GLADSTONE became
President df the Board Of Trade, and in 1876
secratary Of state for the Co1onies. Shortly
after he resigned hia saat in Parliament and
re,t3aiuad bftait3a 3ll tn nnusth1 6lentiGh II