The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-12-20
PRIME MINISTER GLADSTONE.
Impressions of England's Great Statesman
How lie Looks, Dresses and Lives.
Robert Laird Collier.

even an lluStriouS leader who is the outgrowth
of the civic institutions and the climatic condi-
tons of another nation. The ignorance of En-
glishmen concerning American affairs, politics
and public men is simply stupendous, and is
hard to account for. Germany understands US
better, and France understands us not at all.
1t is, however, true that our conventional esti-
mate of European politics, diplomacy and public
men is often, if not commonly, wide of the
mark.
Mr.. Gladstone is one of Americas idols. He
is surrounded by a halo to the average American
mind. He fills out the ideal of a pure, capable,
scholarly, achieving statesman. To begin with, it
is true that Mr.. Gladstone is one of the
remarkable men of his country. His
is the most conspicuous political
figure to-day in Europe. Bismarck is
waning as a factor in European politics and
diplomacy. Bismarck is still hurculean in will
and force, and in imperious dictation. But he
has ceased to be that ostensible almichtiness
that he obviously was a decade ago. Gladstone
has lost no element of his power in England.
His control and influence always had their dis
tinct limitations. He has never held the hearts
Of the whole people in allegiance to his leader
ship as Beaconsfield, the Tory, did, or as John
Bright, the Radical, does. Beacons1ield was a
supreme genius. Gladstone is q genius, but his
genius has no supreme dominance over his the
cries and administration of affairs. In practical
matters he has very usually been on the wrong
side. Political consistency has never been a
jewel in his crown. He was wrong on the ques-
ton of the Crimean war; he was wrong on the
question of our civil war. He went into Office
and power in 1880 upon the cry of no "jingoism."
and his administration has been conducted upon
the worst forms of that blood and glory" prin-
ciple.
Mr.. Gladstone has an intense mind, but it is
singularly insular, and, indeed, parochial. The
oretically, he believes in human progress and in
the capacity of Englishmen for self government.
But in practical politics his course has been far
from direct and consistent; indeed, it has been
eccentric and zig-zag. In many ways and theo-
ries he is conservative. in others he is very pro-
gressive and radical. Neither moderates nor ex-
tremists are ever sure of his support.
Recently his conduct of affairs in Parliament
has illustrated the untrustworthiness of his
Judgment and guidance. The country was en-
Enthusiastically with him on the franchise bill.
The Radicals had no intention to concede to the
Tories an avowal of their scheme of redistribu-
ton of seats in Parliament. Gladstone had been
supposed to be stanch, unyielding, mfexible.
The Tories stole a march upon him. All of a
sudden-indeed in a jiffy-he conceded pretty
much all the opposition had commended for, and
so he leaves his party, especially the Radical
section Of 1T, gazing and gaping in bewlderment.
He began as a Tory. He has been Radical and
moderate in turn, and his somersaults have been
whimsical and sometimes petulant.
However, this man has enormous grip upon
English domestic affairs, and upon the Liberal
politicians and voters, and here are some of the
reasons of his tight and strong hold upon the
people. He is a magnetic orator. He is gifted
with a glowing vocabulary. He has an easy way
to the peoples imagination and heart His eo-
quence is classic. He ranges over all fields of
learning and into all realms of illustration. He
is scholarly. He reads, he writes, he speaks
with a prodigality of will and vim perfectly as
founding. Then he has the supreme virtue of
public life. His integrity is above suspicion.
He is t~ransparently honest. His political CD
ponents know this. His mind may be erratic,
but his conscience is concentric. His conscience
has never had a by-play. His conscience has
known none of the charms and delights of CO.
quetry and stolen kisses. And it has known
none of their pains and penalties.
Mr.. Gladstone is an imposing figure physic-
ally. He Stands six feet in his boots, and. al
though he will be seventy-fve years of age the
Doth of the current December, he is straight and
alert. He is broad-shouldered, well made and
has all the signs about him of a ell-preserved con
s%titution. He is a man who would attract
notice anywhere. He is distinguished and unusual
in appearance and bearing. MI. Gladstone has
an uncommonly large head and high, broad
forehead. His eyes are mysterious. They are
set far back in his head, and yet they are great
orbs, rolling restlessly and with intense pierre
ing outgo at times. l saw him In the House of
Commons. one night, listening to Lord Ran
dolph Churchill on the vote of censure when he
was piling up accusations and damaging facts
Egypt He was on the high horse and
was pouring hot shot into the Prime
Minister, and Gladstones eyes had the fire
of hell III them. His eyes were in a frenzy of in
dignation and anger. l never saw such eyes as
are in this mans head. At times they are the
eyes of a devil. l have often wondered why Mr..
Gladstone is so difficult a man to converse with.
He is always pre-occupied, and yet he is affable.
He is seldom with you when he is talking to you.
His mind is off elsewhere. l have noticed him
in conversation with important and perhaps il
~lustrious people, and still his mind seemed alb
sent. But his eyes are a terror. They are so
unearthly that they give one sometimes the i'm
preston of being preternatural. Mr.. Gladstone's
face is large, bony, swarthy, and full of crows
feet. But head and face and features are all
massive and majestic.
He dresses like a gentleman. In the com
mons he is frequently in full evening dress. and
when he is intending to speak he is very nattily
gotten up, and always wears on such occasions q
button-hole bouquet. On the streets and before
the dinner hour in the Commons he wears-as do
most elderly English gentIemen-a double
breasted, high-eut frock coat, and lghtish trous-
ers. OF course he always wears a stovepipe silk
hat, and is one of the first in the spring to don a
white hat and white waistcoat. There are two
well known gentlemen in England who are very
noted for the monstrous sails or acres of white
linen they wear about their necks-namely. Mr..
Glanstone and Mr.. Henry Irving. lsaw Mr.. Glad
stone in the Commons one night, at the opening
of the season, when he was quitting the policy
and programme of the ministry. He was in full
evening dress and had a huge bottom hole of
lilies, which stuck up under his ear and was no
end of annoyance to him, 1t is said-in a whis-
per-that Gladstone hates this big bunch of
flowers in his button hole when he is speaking.
but that his adoring and eonsiderate wife insists
upon it. Added to the misunderstanding nosegay
was-what seemed to me-the further bother of
an immense collar. This collar stands high up
and is rigidly stiff, touching the lower points Of
his ears.
Mr.. Gladstone speaks like most men of genius.
In conversation he is moody. AT one time he is
brilliant and rapid in his speech, at another he
is common place and hesitating. Now he glow
ingly discourses, and again his fire is all out and
there is nothing but dull ashes remaining.
In public discourse he is equally uncertain of
himself, and his audiences never know quite
what to expect He has a gigantic,