Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1882-05-19
VIM. EWART GLADSTONE.
THE PRIME MINISTER OF ENGLAND.

Mr.. Gladstone was born December 90,
1909, ct Liverpool, an Englishman by birth,
but Scotch In blood. His father was mer-
chant OF considerable eminence and wealth.
Before attaining the ageof % the future states
man graduated at the University of Oxford, a
double frst-class ms2. This was in the year
! 1881, preceding by twelyemon.h only his
entrance upon public life as as a member Of
! Parliament for Newaik.on. Trent. Gladstor G
was an ardent Conservative at that time and
| his first book was o defense of the union of
| Church and Stste-a remarkable work, which
! Macaulay reviewed in the Edinburgh Revieac
with appreciation of its spirit and scholarly
| style, but condemned its conclusion. Newark
continued Mr.. Gladstone as her representa-
| tive until 1915. He was only % when Sir
Robert Peel made him Junior Lord of the
! Treasury. Three months later he was pro-
NOTED TO be an Under Secretary for the Colo
| MES, which position he held until april. 1885.
when Peel went out of office. Upon the re-
/ turn of Sir Robert to power, in 1S41, Mr.
| Gladstone was made Vice President Of The
| Council and Master of the Mint In 1S43 he
relinquished the frst-uamed Of these offices,
in order to assume that of President of the
/ Board of Trade. Two years afterwards he
was made Secretary for the Colonies, soon
| after which he resigned Office and his seat in
Parliament. The University Of Oxford re-
Commons in lS47, connection which was
maintained for many years. He was mem
Der Of the coalition Ministry of Lord Aber-
deem, formed in 1852 His Office was that of
Chancellor Of the Exchequer. for which he
showed a marvellous aptitude. handling the
national accounts with an easy mastery. and
presenting them before the House of Com.
mons and the country with degree Of elo-
guence which had never before adorned ma
tionsl finance. The Aberdeen Ministry
resigned in 1855, in consequences Of the clamor
raised against its management of the war, and
RECONSTRUCTED Ministrywith Lord Palmerston
at the head, and in which Mr.. Gladstone had
plsce, proved to be short.lived. In 1858 and
1859 the subject Of this sketch was sent on
special mission to the Ionian Islands, and in
June, 1852 again served as Chancellor of the
Exchequer under Lord Palmerston, the pre-.
mier, upon whose death and the succeeding
premiership of Earl Russell he continued to
hold the same position. and also acted as
leader OF the House of Commons. His rejec-
ton SIS representative of the University Of OK
ford. in 1865, was succeeded By his election
for South Lancashire. In 1866 the Russell
Gladstone ministry. as it was called, resigned
in consequence of an adverse vote on the
question OF reform in parliamentary represen-
ta.iop, ard a Conservative Government as.
sumed Cfice. When, in the election of 1868.
South Lancashire rejected her representative.
he vas triumphantly returned by the borough
Of Greenwich, and Mr.. Disraelf's Government
retiring because OF the election of Liberal
majority to the Commons, Mr.. Gladstone as
sumed the premiership for the first time. His
great measures, the disestablishment and dis
endowment Of the Irish Church and the Irish
Land Bill were passed in the year 1870 In
1873 his government was defeated on the
Irish University Education bill, and he re-
signed, but ne was persuaded by his Sovereign
to resume office. He served until after the
general election Of 1874, which resulted in the
triumph of the Conservatives. Mr.. Gladstone
now retired from the leadership of his party
in the House OF Commons, which was as
sumed by the Marquis of Harrington. and de.
voted bimself to literary labor In 1874 and
1875 he produced certain pamphlets on the
question Of the Roman Catholic Church in its
relations to the civil power, which created
great sensation, and vera read throughout the
Christian world. His pamphlet entitled
Bulgarian Horrors and the Question Of the
East" published in 1876 was of remarkable
force, and gave moral support to Russia in
the war between that power and Turkey,
which broke out two years afterwards, a
learned work on Homer, which saw the light
in 1876, indicated the directi IN of one of his
recreative studies-one of a large number, BY
buc WY, loE MI OihusIOu6s powers are ey
ercised in great variety of ways, and his
attainments in languages, literature and
other subjects exemplify his astonishing in
dustry and mental forca The magnificent
triumph of the Liberals in the election of
1880, when Mr.. Gladstone was elected by
Midlothian aud the borough of Leeds, viz.
tuAlly compelled his assumption of power as
the First Lord Of the Treasury, to which he
added the functions of Chancellor of the Elk.
chtquer. He is member for Mid Lothian or
Edinburgshire, preferring this to the repre-
sentstion of Leeds, for which borough one of
bis sons, Herbert, promising young states
man, Is sitting. Another of his sous has
a seat in the House Of Commons, one is
clergyman of the Established Church, and
one of his daughters is married to minister
of the Church of England. The wife of Mr..
Gladstone's youth is still living. She is an
excellent helpmeet, the eldest daughter of Sir
Stephen Glynne Bart, TO whom he was mar
risd in the year 1889. The Irish land bill is
the last great accomplishment of perhaps the
ablest minister England ever produced, and
questions arising out of the Irish difficulty
are now taxing his wisdom and endurance to
degree which, however great, he bids fair to
master. When his work shall have been
done, Ireland will be the greatest gamer by
his craftsmanship, which is that of a veteran,
man of extraordinary learning and vast
natural capacity, Of indefatigable applica.
tor, wonderful executive fcrce and unsur-
passed eloquenee, of progressive convictions
and high, conscientious courage.