The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1885-04-01

profound eernestness Of MORAL convicfion and that
inexhaus.ihle afiiueuce OF language which have
stamped him rs the creates; Parliamentary orator
OF this generation. IL no; OF this century.
=, His immediate antagonist on this occasion
Mr. Dsraeii. who having tasted the sweets Of ofict
Tor ten too brief months. compelled 70 deliver
us portfolio TO his successor, Mr.. Glsdstoue-for
the result OF this defeat Ministerial defeat.
And thus commenced. to quote from a recent
historian that long Parliamentary duel which
only Knew truce when at the close OF the session
OF 1870, MI Disraeli crossed the threshold Of the
House Of Commons for the last time, thenccfor-
Beaconsfeld-
During this time-almcsi quarter of a century
Mr.. Gladstone held Office as Chancellor of the
Exchequer. or prime Minister for nearly seven
teen years. What is the record Of his adrinistrs-
ton of public affairs during this periodg What
account can he render Of his stewardship
Let us glance hastily at some of the leading acts
Of legislation which he hns a right to claim as ow-
ing their success to his efforts; will preserve in
the main the chronological order. emitting dates
all lime the importan, nrinciple tha, the frrps
cannot refuse their assent TO bill RENTING any
form OF taxation.
The Commercial Treaty between France and
England which has added greatly to the wealth of
both countries and to the promotion of mutual
GOOD understandings
Dis-establishmeni Of the Irish Church, measure
which addressed itself most powerfully 20 his
sense Of justice and which he pressed with force
OF argument and an intense energy of impsssioued
appeal which bore down all opposition and carried
II triumrhsntly through both Houses. although the
Peers, II they had dared TO defy public sentiment
would undoubtedly have torn the bill 10 shreds.
The National Education Bill. In the utter
absence Of any general system Of popular educa-
ton. England was far behind every other civilized
nation. Win great universities, which had no
rivals IN the realm OF higher learning. the intel
lectual advancement cf the poorer classes had
been shamefully neglected. Aud yet any ccnceiv-
able scheme for remcdying this discrsceful con-
dition OF affairs was attended with difficulties
almost insurmountsble-bitter denominatiousl
preIudccs the eager autagonism OF social factions
the deep seated conviction, strengthened by the
practice of centuries, that education must be pro-
Vided BY private enterprise and not by govern
mental support, the demand IN some quarters that
education should be compulsory and in uthe -
that It should be parely voluntSry--snd finally the
perhaps not unnatural reluctance of the Establish
ed church to surrender iota of its oyershatowiny
influence Against these and many more not less
embarrassing obstacles the Government fought its
way. But here, as heretofore, conspicuous among
all and dominating all was the rtSistle>s energy
Of Mt. Gladstone. lie would brook neither denial
nor delay. lie was willing to concede something
IN one direction and TO acceptR slight compromise
m another, but the essential features OF the bill
must stand. 1t was certainly far from being a
perfect piece Of legislation but the new order Of
things which he intrcduced was 50 vastly superior
20 the former regime that 1t must be pronounced n
most valuable educational reform.
The Irish Land Bill of lS7O-the introduction
ana crening wedge to his more comprehensive
bull OF lSci-which by securing the tenant against
eviction SO long Ms he paid his rent and giving
HIM tar compensation tor any substantial i'm
provements which he might have made during his
tenancy, revOlutioniEed the former relations be
tween landlord and tenant and introduced into
their transactions the novel element Of iustics to
the lessee.
The abolition of the purchase OF Army Commits
sions, removed by the ingenious device Of Royal
Marant-a method conceded 10 be constitutional
an abuse which was tnpairine tue effectiveness
OF the army, but was defended by the conserva
tivos and an orsaniEed military aristoctacy with
pertinacity which might have caused serious an
noyance II reliance had been placed on the orii-
nary course ol legislation.
The BALLOT Bull by substituting order and deco.
rum AZ elections in place of the disraceful scenes
OF confusion and riot previously witnessed at the
husnes and by enabling the elector to cast an in.
dependent because uninspceted vote has done
more to parity the politics OF England than any
n easurc recorded in her legislative annals.
by the University Tests Bill radical change
was introdoccd into the administration of the
great Universities Of Oxford aud Cambridge BY
securing 10 AZ students without regard 10 their re-
lieious belief admission on equal terms a. 10
study and honor This reform ~ long cnn,.
mendcd by every principle Of justice and tar play
had been waiting since its first introduction into
tatiament nearly forty years for its final accom-
phshment
Without dwelling upon the Trades Union Bill,
which removed some 6ardships OF which workmen
bad complained with much reason, or the estab.
WITH lNre sanitary discretion and greatly needed
jurisdiction OF the Poor Law system, aud omittinr
several otheF useful measures, but OF less general
interest close the recital with the Treaty OF
Washington and the Alobaml Arbitration.
With the material facts concerning this pcsce-
abN adjustment OF most serious International
controversy YOU are doubtless familiar II only
remains for me TO call your attention to the rare
sense OF equity, and the high quality of moral
courage which aSsonted to the terms OF the treaty.
and accepted the results the acknowledgements
IN every way so humiliating to the pride OF the
English people,
Now bear,in mind that Mir, Gladstone is deficient
10 almost all the qualifications Of successful party
leader that he Is too intensely In earnest 10 be
personally popular, aud that his political following
Is made up OF such apparently irreconcilabe ele.
ments as old wings, moderate liberals, liberals,
high ehurehmen, non-conformists, radicals. repnb-
licans-io say nothing Of that person who detes
elassiacatioa-the Irish patriot And then weigh
u you can tho moral greatness of the man who hy
the power of his upright life the manifest purity
OF his motives, the breadth OF his humanity and
the irresistible force OF his CONVICTIONS enforced
by Gennine, because nnselhsh eloquence, has
been able TO fuse suc1 heterogeneous mass into
COMPACT political organization and by its steady
support enbody in completed legislation measures
OF such cardinal Importance rs those have inii.
Gated.
4 statesman with such a record, and have only
included the period during which he aud Dsraeii
were rivals in the House of Commons Il not 10 he
discredi,ed by the disasters of a Campaign which
has only lust commenced, or condemned because
the lrish Home Rule faction desert him in his hour
OF need, or blamed because he prefers 10 reform
social wrongs in England rather than promote |.
oriliant foreign polioy-well knowing that such a
pohcy, TO achieve even a barren success, means a
and paralysis of the arts and enterprises OF peece