The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-07-05
MIR. GLADSTONE.
The Study of the English Premier his Re
markable Genius.

L
markable Genius.
! George William Curtis, in July Harper.
! Mr. Gladstone, at the age of seventy three,
| Prime Minister of England, and the chief of
English statesmen--no less eminent for weight
of personal character and accomplished scholar
! ship than for his extraordinary mastery of pub
| lie affairs and his parliamentary eloquence-
is fine illustration of the English genius in its
most characteristic FORM There is a certain
sturdiness in Mr. Gladstones nature showing
itself in every way, except his reputed sensitive
ness to personal criticism, which is in singular
contrast with the Oriental character of Lord
Beaconsfeld so long his chief opponent 1t was
the want of this quality quite as much as an
alien genius which made the late minister so
apparently un- English. No one, indeed, cult
waited English ways more assiduously cele-
brated with more guSto the distinctive English
life than Lord Beaconsfeld, and he identified
himself with the bueolic party-the squire, the
country gentleman-and he seemed in every
manner resolved, if resolution would accomplish
it, to be an Englishman.
But the contrast between him and Mr.. Glad
stone was as apparent in every aspect it is in
the remarkable caricatures of Punch, in which,
if Gladstone has sometimes the air of a prig,
Disraeli has always the air of Cagliostro. When
DisraeG was at the head of the ministry, the
feeling was unavoidable that it was an accom-
plished foreign talent that was governing
England. But with Gladstone it is England gov
erning herself. Much more than in any chief
minister the English conscience is felt in Glad
stone. In Lord Sidmouth and Mr.. Perciyal the
two most ordinary and commonplace of prime
ministers there was the conventional English
responsibility and morality. But in Gladstone
it is the power of reettude which is remarkable.
He believes in honest dealing, and in subordinat-
ing public policy to the moral law, He may not
like to be personally criticised, but he is not
ashamed to be called sentimental in his regard
for the moral honor as well as for the interest
| of England.
Nothing could be more distasteful to Mr. Glad
i cto than he iaa
could have been more delightful to Lord Beacons
| field. The vagueness of the object to be obtain
| ed by warlike operations the difficulty of a pos
sible protectorate of the country, the desire to
respect the rights of people so remote from
| English sympathy and habits naturally Cypress
| Mr.. Gladstone thus necessarily engaged in
| transactions in which his country should never
have been involved. But they would have been
exciting chapters of romance. Lord Beaeons-
| field, and he would have endeavored to turn the
| situation to the most dazzling account
! Coping at once with the elusive situation in
| Egypt, with the franchise in England and with
| the discomfort of Ireland, and goaded by Tory
party not generally led. but Differed by bril-
| liant cynic, worthy squire, and nondescript
madcap, only chief of the sturdiest moral and
mental quality could hold at seventy three
| position which nobody else could fill 1T is as
| we said. his earnest character no less than his
genius, which will give him great place in
| English history. With the conquering Chat
ham and the accomplished Canning, with Will
lam Fit and Sir Robert Peel, Gladstone must al
| ways be mentioned as an English statesman and
minister. who showed in his public
and private life, in his mastery
grip Of affairs, in his ascendency over a
| great, intelligent and progressive party, in his
| high moral tone and his immense accomplish
ment, the power which any intelligent country
would wish to see conducting its affairs.
This is the year in which the other great Eng
disappearing nation calls one of its citizens to
the chief executive magstracy. Happy that
ntrv M HAITI cfof
so commanding conscientious and courageous
and a man so spotless as the English prime min
lister. Looking at Gladstone and then across
the sea at our presidential contest. the English
man may be pardoned if he is not quite ready
| to abandon a political system which brings SO
| great man as Gladstone into the direction of
the government, and even the American may
| wonder whether his system of selecting the
| chief magistrate is surer than the English
method to bring the real chief of party to the ex-
| ecutiYe chair.