The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-01-12
TWO GREAT LEADERS OF MEN
Something About the English Liberals,
Gladstone and Chamberlain.
Lord LyttOn's Prediction as to the Future of
the FOrmer-A Man Who Is Thoroughly
Great in All Directions.
Correspondence of tie Indianapolis Journal.

figures in the English political world of to-day
are the two great Liberals, Gladstone and Cham
berlain. On the Conservative side there are
none to match them, for, since Beaconsields
death, the opposition leadership has been double
headed, Salisbury and Northcote dividing this
honor between them, with Lord Churchill at
tached to the body as a tail, and acting fire.
u, quently as though he thought himself at the
other end. But Gladstoneis a chief whose claim
to dictatorship is not disputed either within his
party or outside of it; and after him, as a good
second, comes the President of the Board of
Trade. The former is an old favorite; the latter
has shot into popularity within a few years.
Gladstone was a member Of the House of Com
mons forty-six years ago, when the Queen as
cended the throne. His brilliant talents soon
won him a place in the Cabinet, and, in 1860,
when he had already shown himself the ablest
Chancellor Of the Exchequer the country ever
had, the late Lord Lytton wrote of him.: HE
will be to the last largely before the public eye
much feared by his opponents, but greatly be-
loved, not only by those about him, but by num-
bers to whom he was personally unknown. He
viii die, either in or out of office, in an excep-
tionally high position. He will bequeath a repu-
tation out of all proportion to the opin-
SOA " tALtIbttAlltu " Ills UllGlltCl. Gwen
by those who think most highly of
it, and greater honors far than he has
yet acquired are i'll store for him" This was ut
tered twenty-three years ago, but so remarkably
has it been fulfilled in its salient features that
the prophecy reads like history. His position
to-day is the very highest to which a public man
could aspire for-the virtual ruler of a great en-
pire-and, in consequence, respected and feared
for his greatness; he is also enthroned in the
hearts of those he governs-admired and beloved
for his true goodness. Gladstone is a great man
of the all-round kind. His faculties would have
raised him to pre-eminence in any sphere. Oliver
Wendell Holmes has spoken of him as one
whose intervals Of rest are paroxysms of
learned labor and the products of his genius in
these periods of relaxation prove beyond a doubt
that had he adopted literature he would have
been a worldfamed man of letters, and that had
he conseerated himself to the church, as one of
his sons has done, he would as surely have risen to
the chair Of the Primate as he now fills the Office
Of Premier. His private life is without a stain,
and'wholly above suspicion. Than Gladstones
domicile at Hawarden castle, no purer or happier
home exists in all England. He has no petty
yices-none of those little flaws which are so
CANNO 49, NNNNg 49, Al 6ANhp . dAl
no eccentricities, except it be his strong pen
chant for telling trees, The crown of his lofty
character is its marked righteousness. No more
strongly have his printed essays spokenin defense
of the v~erities of the Christian faith than his daily
conduct is doing all the time. To have its lead
ing statesman sitting deVotedly in a house of
worship every morning during the Parliament
AIRY recess, going there from conviction and not
to make a show, is worth more to England than
one can easily estimate. The best legacy he will
b~equeath his countrymen will be his example
illustrating how personal worth may keep pace
with public usefulness, and how the qualities of
simplicity and sincerity are perfectly compatible
with high place in the world of politics. 1t
would be rash to say that this great Liberal
leader has no detractors, but to say that he has
fewer of these and that he affords them less
ground to stand upon than any other living
statesman is only to speak the truth. COnserva-
tive newspapers rarely attack his motives, and if
an 1nconsiderate Tory politician ventures into
this forbidden circle the press of his own party
are usually the first to take the intruder to task.
That the degraded elements in the community
do not like Gladstone is entirely natural. Vice
never could endure virtue, nor darkness tolerate
light When told that his name was always
Missed by Music Hall audiences the honorable
gentleman modestly expressed gratitude. His
considerate treatment at the hands of political
adversaries is due in a large measure to his own
mild and conciliatory methods
GLADsToNE's NEvER-FAILING COURTESY.
He never uses harsh language toward an an
tagonist, nor imputes unworthy designs. Cour-
tesy never forsakes him, even under the great
est provocation. Sir Richard Cross ae-
eused the government of making terms
with rebels and assassins. and some friend called
Mr.. Gladstone's attention to the remarks, asking
him to reply, which he did, the characteristic re-
Spouse being: ''These violent charges are usu-I
ally made when there is no ground for rational
ohiao4ioD 70 tho conduct of +ba novouo,,..4 81
in this view they may be considered not other
wise than satisfactory" A master in the use of
language, Gladstone is at the same time an adeDt
in keeping silent. His proficiency in reticence
is quite equal to his skill in rhetoric, and the two
things together, experimenting his other quail
ties, make him a model Prime Minister. The
adviser of Her Majesty must not let out secrets,
and MIR. Gladstone never does. If ANYTHING. he
errs on the other side, seeming to take delight
rather in tantalizing public curiosity than in
gratifying ii. When it is universally under
stood that the approaching session will produce
a franchise bill, and when his subordinates in
office have all expressed themselves freely as to
what its provisions and limitations should be,
and with a universal feeling abroad that some
definite announcement ought to be made by the
premier, Mr.. Gladstone, within a month of the
opening of Parliament, simply says: ''rhe time
is coming, and is close at hand, when il viii be
the duty of the Cabinet to consider their deci-
sion, and to request the sanction of Her Majesty
in respect to its consideration-as to the great
and important measure which il will be their
duty TO lay before Parliament under the auspices
of the Queen during the coming session. But do
not suppose | mean that the decision should
be taken in a hurry. 1t ought to be done before
it is too late, but it ought not to be done too
soon, because arrangements made too soon are
necessarially liable to be disturbed by unforeseen
circumstances"
Mr.. Gladstone has passed successfully the Sc
verest ordeal to which a great statesman can be
subjected. He has had his reverse, and has tri-
umphed over it. He reached the pinnacle of
power once before, and was hurled from it by
Beaconsield. His star waned for a while, but it
soon began to rise again. Gradually the hearts
of the people went back to their first love, and
from a Comparative retirement, occupied in
tFanslating Greek and Latin odes. and in writing