New-York tribune., 1885-02-01
MR.. GLADSTONES LETTER.

Mr. Gladstone labOrs under one disadvantage
in making a comparative estimate of the great
men in the history of the English-speaking race.
He cannot take account of himself. He singles
out Cob lens as one of the nOblest and most ad-
mirable careers of the century. Yet there are
few Englishmen not blinded by political pre-
iudice who would hesitate to give Mr. Gladstone
himself higher place than the apostle OF free
trade. Certainly there has been no Englishman
since Pitt who has exercised so great an influ-
ence over his Nation and his age as MIR. Glad
stone and if that influence has been less potent
than Pitts in shaping the destiny of Europe or
has not borne so distinct an impress of the
natural supremacy .ot genius, it, has been ex-
erted for the highest moral ends It's this fact
that enhances the value of his Judgment of the
noblest figures in history that he Is not only
giant without rival in the intellectual strug-
giles of the Commons Ebut pre-eminently
leader of men in craftsmanship OF distinctly
ethical quality. And what Is his highest ideal
of the civic virtues and true nobility of charac-
ter of the English-speaking racel 1t is defined
with simplicity and vigOr in the letter pub
lished on another page. IF among all the
apedestals supplied by history for public char
acters of extraordinary nobility and purity
saw one higher than all the rest, and If were
Greouired at a moments notice to name the
fittest occupant for it. think my choice, at
@any time during the last forty five years, would
shave lighted, and it would now light, upon
Washington"
That noble sentence ought .to rivet the atten-
ton of Americans. 1t may do something to re-
new in a fppant and irreverent Nation habits
of veneration for the memory of the purest ana
greatest leader in its history. Certainly 1T Will
do much to promote that good understanding
among English-speakng peoples which seems
to be one of the aspirations OF MIR. Gladstones
declining years. gsThroughOut his career he has
kept pace with the dominant ideas OF his time'
passing by an orderly and logical development
of his political convictions from somewhat
narrow and bigoted Toryism to an enlightened
and progressive Liberalism. The perspective
which more than fifty years of active public
service afford has educated his practised eye to
the largest historical effects and tendencies.
In his old age, while still leading his party in
the Commons with the fire of youth and the wari-
ness of a veteran, he derives inspiration from
conceptions that are not bounded by the limita-
tions of National pride and prejudice. lie
thinks of the destiny of English-speaking Ma
does not hesitate to say that if they can only
understand one another and unite in a career of
pacific conquest and commercial development,
the world belongs to them.
Mr. Smalley is quite right in thinking that the
letter in which this appeal for international
comfy is made on behalf of civilization and en-
lightened self-interest will interest Americans
profoundly few years ago Mr.. Gladstone
wrote with sympathetic feeling and cordial ap-
probation of his kin beyond the seas" Again
the master hand strikes the same chord ana
there is nothing in his eloquent appeal that VIII
offend the ears even of sensitive Americans.
For the international comfy for which he pleadn
requires only that Englishmen shall be loyal to
their traditions and ideas, and Americans to
theirs and to the genius of their institutions.
II will be the natural growth of the tendencies
of Anglo-Saxon civilization; the orderly de-
velopment of what is best in Englandiand
in America.