Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1878-03-09
NO. SO.
Miscfllaneous.
W. L. GLADSTONE.

The best time to take Gladstone is as
he appeared last NJ ,ndsy night on the oc-
casion OF his great speech in favor Of the
amendment to the motion Tor a vote of
credit l. was known that he was to speak,
and, as a consequence, everv available
seat in the house was taken The opposi-
iion benches were all occupied; the peers
gallery was filled to Overhowing with
members of the House of Lords. and
other distinguished guests. among whom
were the Prince and Princess of w iles,
Princes Leopold and Chistian, and the
Crown Prince of Austria. The ladies'
gallery was dimly seen through its graf
ing to be "A brilliant jam. In fac, scarce
ly ever was there assembled in the House
more distinguished auditory, as to
wealth, title and intellect. than the one
which gathered to hear Mr.. Gladstone.
Thousands vainly sought admittance; the
corridors were densrly packed. and a
great number stood beneath the century
old arches ot Westminster Hall, and wait
ed for hours before and after the time of
opening with the frail hope OF seeing
some disin guished member pass In or out
or of hearing some fragmentary ech res
of the debate. There was some prelimi.
nary business transacted amidst an impa-
tient buzz. and general inattention. FL
nally the question OF the evening was
reached, when instantly great hush fell
upon the audience, and was immediately
| followed by tremendous burst OF cheers
from the liberal side OF the House, "a Nc.
Gladstone rose to his feet. on the Speak
er's left, and stepped forward to table.
removed his hat, arranged mass of man.
uscript on IA pile OF books, and placed his
hat aud some water Immediately in front
of him He was as cool and deliberate
as it in his study alone. and there were
| not about him the most brilliant anil criti-
cal audience that could be assembled in
Great Britain. III, began in low, dis
tinct. musical voice, that contrasted al
most painfully with the rrofound silence
hat fell upon the assembly rs he com
menced his remarks. His inLonations
were gentle; his tone almost pleading;
his bearing was winning, pacific. Evil
IDENTITY his role was that of peace. But
day or TWO before he had made most
tremendous onslaught upon the Govern.
ment and its leader; but now he had come
with "healiug on his wings and his voice
| was as sweet and his manner as gentle as
those OF woman at the bedside of q sick
child.
The audience saw before them slender
man of medium height. in age close upon
the sixties. His head is large, well bal
anced on his shoulders, with thin, grey
hair, and bald in the regions of intellect
uality.
His complexion is almost ashen in hue,
his face is plowed with deep lines as if
turrowed by thought, his expression is be-
nignant and toned with touch OF sadness.
HIS nose is prominent. giving massive
strength to the face, his eyes are brown,
piercing, full of fire, which is somewhat
hidden by the partly-closed lids and which
has the effect OF making him seem as il he
wished To reveal nothing, while compre-
hending. seeing everything Such was
the man as he appeared then; as he stood
erect easy, and poured forth a torrent of
words which, however swift it came. was
never other than clear as crystal As his
speech progressed, his voice, without los
ing its sweetness, became more penetrat-
my, full. resonant His voice is powerful
OF baritone quality, luxurious, and
| smooth and flexible as that of a singer.
His words seem impassiuned, and this
seeming is increased, by way OF contrast,
by the repose OF his manner. His ges-
| lures are few, simple, scarcely ~ full
length; his body emphasizes sentiment
| with an easy forward motion, but is never
rocked or shaken. however passionate the
utterance. SopronounceG was his repOse.
so sustained his equipolse. that neither The
| enthusiastic cheers of his adherents nor
the laughter and ironical applause of his
opponents produced a wayer in the level
line OF his movement.
But interruptions were not frequent.
There were long stretches in his progress
flights full Of graceful beauty which his
antagonists watched with entranced inter-
est, .nd scarcely breathed lest they might
dlspel or injure the charm OF his wonder
iul creation. He spoke for three hours.
and wound up with peroration SO mag
niiicent that not a whisper impeded its
course as its rich volume streamed away
over the crowded benches, and up among
the galleries, where men sat 10 dumb adj
miration, and not conscious that hours had
passed since he had risen to his feet. He
resumed his seat. there was moment or
more OF profound silence, as If the men
We're slowly dragging themselves back to
the dull realities of the present. and then
from the opposition benches there rose
storm of applause that broke in waveke
succession against the distant galleries and
lofty rooi-applause thunderous in volume
and seemingly endless in its continuation.
Thus ended what has been thus far the
great speech OF the session. Ii is one
which is perhaps second to no other de-
livered by the leader OF the Opposition.
1t was an effort full of vehemence without
gush one sustained from exordium to
peroration without break or waver; one
that from source to termination flowed on
smoothly yet impetuously. always musical.
always full OF unlimited power. AS
speaker, there is more warmth in Glad
stone than in Dlsrael. The latter is AN
intellectual product. the former more al
emotional one. Each in his role has no
superior. They are rivals in politics, but
not in mental qualities. any more than .
great astronomer and a great geologist.
| The Rocklsnd Free Press says: Facts and
circumstances have been discovered concentrating
suspicious as to The murder of Mrs. Merservey. in
St. George. Investigation has not been abandon
| ed, though If the town authorities should offer g
reward for the apprehension Of the cnlprit, the