New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-04-13
MIR. GLADSTONE.
THE TRUTH ABOUT HIS ILLNESS AND TIL.
EFFECT OF HIS ABSENCE.

EFFECT OF HIS ABSENCE.
J. LONDON, March y.
MI Herbert Gladstone is reported as saying that
his father will be in his place in Parliament next
Monday. 1t is possible he may be, but that IS not
the belief outside of Mr. Gladstoncs family. Those
who know vhat is going on at Coombe Warren DO
not take 50 saucuinc view of the case as that eX-
pressed above. At the beginning OF MI GladNtones
retirement most people were extremely lncIcdulouS
as to the fact of his alleged illness. Ii was sup
posed that Worry had more do with his seclusion
than any specific malady; vcxation about Egypt
and irritation, if such word may be used, at seeing
events escape from his control and his colleagues
establishing their own policy in the Cabinet. No
doubt this theory had something TO go on. heard
# stated and asserted by men who had every reason
TO know. and believed in it for while - suii-
cient explanation of Mr.. Giadstones absence.
Bnt the theory is one which cannot be maintained
in its full extent any longer. II Is now nearly n
fortnight since Mr.. Gladstone has been seen III the
House and more than week since he lett LONDON
to bury himself in Coombc Warren, where great
care is taken to prevent any sort of intrusion on
him. II has TO be said that Nj. Gladstone has been
seriously i'll during this time So far from being cX
arccrated, his illness has been understated in the
papers. whose rather mcagre accounts rs published
day by dav have given the public no real notion OF
Mr. GialStOne'S condition. visitor yesterday
found him in he'd at noon; itself 4 serious sign III q
man of Mr.. Gladstones extreme activity. lie got
I'm and came into the room His voice audible
hut nothing more-would not have reached from
bench to bench in the House Ills face was the face
Of q man who has gone through both bodily and
mental distress Hagsard is hardly too strong
word to describe it. To the family who see him
every day the change may not he very marked. 10
one who had not seen him for two or three weeks 1t
was almost startling. The usual alert yignr of his
step was gone His hand shook. He began talking
with some of his old animation, but the energy did
not last He fell into short sentences and then INTO
pauscs. But Ire still spoke with perfect confidence
of returning TO the House in few days. He had
resumed the dispatch of official business which for
a while had been mostly given up and one OF has
private secretaries with him. No one ab0nt
him seemed 10 have the least apprehension that his
;nd1sposition would last much longer. Yet it will
be surprising if he appears in the House before
Easter. Should he appear it will be still more sur
prising # he takes any active part in public bust
ness and most surprising of all shorld hc do 50
without bringing on another relapse. Relapse is
perhsps too serious word. There is nothing il the
affection of the throat from which Mr. Gladstone -
suffering to occasion alarm. II Is his prolonged ah
sence which is disquictlng 20 his friends Just rs lt
is the evidence of anxiety which seems to those who
baye been allowed 10 see him still the most import
ant of his symptoms.
His physcian Sir Andrew Clark, is watching for
q change of the wind, which, being no reSpecter OF
persons remains set in the east or even northeast.
If the wind shifts, Mr. Gladstone Is encouraged to
believe that he NAV drive ont. or move to another
country house, or come to London. Favorable news
from Egypt aud from tho House OF Commons, and
from Downng-st.. would perhaps have an equally
good influence on the patient. Meantime the notion
tof another Journey TO the South OF France Is not
wholly abandoned. Last years experience is not
forgotten. Tho effect Of such journey on Mr.
Gladstone's physical health would almost certainly
be beneficial What the effect might be on his dis
positon to remain at the head OF the Government IL
a wholly different question.
The rumors of Mr.. GladstOne'S resignation which
were current in London for some days have not
lately been revived. Opponents who want to get
rid of him are taking q different line. They now IT.
new their former suggestions that he should retire
TO the House OF Lords They politely remind him
Of the example Of Lord john Russell and of the
service which that statesman continued for some
wears 10 render to his party with an Earrs cOrOnct
| on his head. Acceptance Of Peerage. they beg
! him to believe. would by 10 means be regarded as
| equivalent 10 withdrawal from public life. 1t only
| would remove him from the harassng and irritating
| atmosphere Of the House of Commons. Lord
Beaconscld's cxatati0n is pressed upon him as an
even more apt instance than Lord John RuSselPs.
Planness of speech j. carried 10 the point of re-
marking that work wearing as the Leadership of
the House Of Commons IN the pre- sent condition of
politics is little suited 20 ms age OF constitution
| He is promised a revival of tho general respect
| which il suits lis Tory monitor to assume he has
/ forfeited 1t is thought lie would. at any rate cs
| cape in the screner air of the Upper House the
sultng personalities from men young enough 10 be
| his grandsons which have of late prrtuacOusv as
| sailed him IN the Commons. The allusion cannot
| be palataLc to Lord Randolph Churchill
All this and much more is urged On Mr.. Gladstone
by the extremely candid critics of the Conservative
party Ii is breath wasted fancy, so far ms II may
be intended to coax or drive the Prime Minister Ia
abandon the leadership Of his party III the House.
where all real political authority centres. 30 not
I know nor believe that the question OF promoting
himself to a PeeTago has occupied Mr. GladSi"Acs
attention since his present illness began. doabt
! whether lac ever gave it much serious thought,-
whether il at any time presented itself to h!Iu
as matter for practical consideration. Ii rs I'M
prohabe that he ever looked upon himself is q man
within a measurable distance of PeeTagc and q
seat in the chamber devoted to the pursuit of
hereditary legislation. think he felt when 1t was
first suggested that the honor if il be an honor, was
not suited to him, aud that he would not be suited
to the discharge Of such duties rs might fall to his
| lot in that new and singuarly homogeneous station
| which iusidiOus adyeTsarIes and a few well mean
ing but not overwise friends were agreed III wishing
| him 10 accept. Unless some marked change IN Mr..
Gladstoues opinion and feeling this subject &C.
| ours the whole project oil Pcerage for EEsand's
greatest Commoner may be treated as a chimora'
kis far more to the purpose TO ask how W. Glad