Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1884-12-30
GLADSTONE.


Lfvee- BcmoWeese Ws"s
m A. rerbsps. impossible ioP the. people
a ons nation g. understand the genius ana
merits AZ even an illustFtosis lcader who -
~ outgrowth 81 the civic institutions ana
she climate coaaisioas Of another nation.
Tbc iobo,ance II Engiishmcn concerning
Amcrjccu afYsirs. politics, aud pubic men
= slsanlv stnpendous, aud Il hard TO ac-
cc,,pt Tor. Germany understands rs better,
and France understands us not OF all. IL
, ~ hoveycr. true thai our conventional
rstimate Of European politics, diplomacy.
md public men IL often, II not commonly
vide Of the mark.
M. Gladstone Il Que Of Americas Idols.
lie n surrounded by a baio TO the average
American mind. lie Ills out the ideal OF
Dure. capable, scholarly, achieving s'atcs-
mar, TO begin with. II Is true that Mr
Gladstone Is one OF the remarkable men OF
iris century, His il the most conspicuous
poljijcal figures to-day In Europe. Bis
marck Ia waning as O factor In European
politics and diplomacy. Bismarck Is sun
berculesn In will and force, and In impe-
r;ous dictsiion; but he has ceased 70 De
that osiensibIe almightiness thai ne
obviously wss decade ago. Giad-
atone has lost no element OF nus
power In England. HIS control and IN
6uepce always had their edstinct liinitt-
lions. lie has never held the hearts OF the
whole people In allegiance 10 his leader
ship AZ Bcacons6eld, the Tory, did, or as
John Bright, the Radical, Goes. Beacons-
Geld wss suprt me genius. Gladstone Is q
genius, but his genus has no supreme
dominance over his theories and admins
tr,tion OF affairs. In practical matters ne
has very usually been on the wrong side.
Political consistency has never been
iewe In his crown. lie was wrong on the
question OF the Crimean war; ne was
wrong on the question OF our civil war.
Hewent into office and power In 1850 upon
the cry Of "no iingo'sm.' and MS ad'
min,stration has been conducted upon the
worst forms OF that "blood-and-glory
principle.
MIR. Gladstone has an intense mind. but
II Is singularly nsular and, indeed, paro-
ebial. Theoretically he believes In human
progress and In the cspscity OF Enghsh,hen
Tor seif-govcrnmept. But In practieai pom.
flies his course has been far from direct ana
consistent; indeed. IL has been eccehtiic
and zig.zag. In many ways and theories
he Il conservative, In others ne Is very
,rooressiye and radical. Neither m0derates
nor fNtrfrllisiS Iff fNti Nuit w ui' 'NFP'.''
Rceenily his conduct of affairs in Parha-
ment has illustrated the untru,tworthlness
OF his judgment aud guidance. Tue couh'
try was enthusiastically Win nun on Tue
franchise bill. The Radicals had no intcn.
ton 10 concedo 10 The Tories an aVo"ai OF
their scheme n redistribution OF seats IN
Parliament. Gladstone had been supposed
10 be stsuuch. unyielding, intlexibie. The
4. him AlI Ct
sudden-indeed IN gitiy-he conceded
pretty much all the Opposition had con-
tended for, and SO he leaves bis party,
espeeialiv the radical section OF II. gazing
and gaping IN bewldermeut. lie began
as a Tory. He has been radical and mode.
rate I'm turn. and his Somersaults nave been
Whimsical and sometimes petulent.
However. this man has enormous grip
mon English domestic affairs and upon tue
liberal politicians and voters, and here are
some Of The reasons Of this tight ana strong
hold upon the people. He il magnetic
orator. lie is gifted with glowing vo-
cahnlary. lie has an eaSr way 10 the peo-
pies Imagination ana heart. His eloquence
is classic. lie ranges over all fields OF
learning and INTO ell realms Of H.
lustIaion. lie is scholarly. He reads,
he writes. he speaks with Il
prodigunty Of VIII and vim perfectly
astounding. Then he has the supreme viz
tue Of public life. His integrity Is above
suspicion. He is transparently hone.t.
His political opponents know this. His
mind nay lie cratic. but his conscience Is
conceniric. His conscience has never Lad
n by-play. His conscience has known none
of the charms and delights OF coquetry and
stolen kisses. And il has known none OF
thor paIDs and penalties.
Mr.. Gladstone Is an imposing figure
ply sically. H. stands six feet in as boots,
and, although be will be seventy-fve years
Of age the 18th Of the current December.
be Is straight and alert. He is broad-s1oul-
dered. well made. and has all The signs
about him Of welLpreseryed constitution.
He is ID man " no would attract notice any
where. He Is distinguished and unusual
In appearace and bearing. Mr.. Gladstone
has an ucommonD large head and high,
broad forehead. His eyes are MYSTERIOUS.
They are SGT for back in his head, and yet
they are great orbS, rolling rcsilessly ana
with intense piercing outgO at tunes,
saw him in the House Of Commons one
night, listening TO Lord Randolph Church
IN on the vote Oi censure when he was phi
Ing up accusations and damaging facts
against Gladstone for his conduct OF affairs
In Egypt. He was on high horse aud was
pouring hot shot into the Prime Minister,
and Gladstone, eyes had the fire OF hell IN
them. His ewes were IN frenzy Of indigna-
ton ana anger. never say such eyes as are
in this mans head. At times they are the
eyes Of a devil. have often wondered
why Mr.. Gladstone is so difficult man TO
converse with. He Is always pre6ccupied,
and vet he is aflble. He Is seldom with
you when ne is talking to you. His mind
l. of elsewhere. l have noticed hlm IN
conversation With important. land perhap,
illusirious people, aud still his mind seemed
absent. But his eyes are a terror. They
are so uneariny thst they give one some
times The impression Of being preternatural.
Mr.. Gladsione's face Is large, bony, swarthy,
and full OF crows feet. But head. ana lace,
and features, are all massive and majestic.
lie dresses like gentleman. In the
commons he Is frequently In full evening
dress. and when he u intending to speak
be is ,erv nattily gotten-up. and always
wears on such occasions button-hoie bou-
quet. On the streets and before the dinner
hour In the Commons he wears-as do
most elderly English gentlemen-a double
breasted, high-cut frock coat and hghtlsh
trousers. OF course he always wears a
stoye-pipe silk hat, and Is one OF the hfSt
In the spring 10 don a white nat ana
white waistcoat. There are Two wei
known gentlemen IN England VINO are
very noted for the monstroas sans or
acres of white linen they wear aOou!
their neeks-yiz.. Mr.. Gladstone ana
Mr.. Henry Irving. | saw Mr.. Gild-
stone in the Commons one ntght, NJ the
opeuing OF the session. when he wa ON
lining the policy and programme Of the
ministry. lie was IN full evening dress
aud had huge buttou-hole Of lilies, which
stuck up under his ear aud was no end oil
ANNOYANCE 10 him. IL IL said--in WINS
.per-that Gladstone hates this big bunch OF
0owcrs In his button-hole when he L
speaking, but that his adoriug and conside-
rate wife insists upon It. Added 10 the mis-
chief.making noseesy was-what seemed IL
ne--the further bother Of an immense col
lar. This collar stands high up and IS rigidly
stiff, touching the lower points OF bis cars.
Mr.. Gladstone speaSs like most men oil
genius. In conversation he Is moody. AT
one time he IL brilliant and rapid in his
sIsscl. at another he Is commonplace and
besItaiing. Now be glowingly diseourses.
and again his FIRE is all out, and there is
nothing but dul! ashes remaining.
In public discourse he Is equally uncer-
tain Of himself. and his audiences never
know quite what 10 expect. He has g.
gantie. oyermastering will, and this Is
brought TO his aid ON all great occasions
when be il always great. lie whips up
n. ~