Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-06-10
The Fallen English Premier

AN OUTLINE OF THE CAREER WILLIAM
EWART GLADSTONE.
Mr.. Gladstone, who, the cable tells us has
forever retired from political life. became pre-
mier of England for the first time in December.
1S6S. He continued in office for five years.
He succeeded Benjamin Dsraeli, afterwards
Earl Beaconsfeld Mr. Gladstone resumed
office on Mr. DiSraeli' refusal to form a cabi-
net. Finding his majority steadily decreasing.
however, Mr.. Gladstone in January, 1874, dis
solved parliament and appealed to the people.
Finding himself in II minority of at least forty
nine in the new house of commons he resigned
on February =, and Mr.. D>Taeli became pre-
mier The latter retired under similar circum-
stances on April % 1850. and was in turn
again succeeded by Mr.. Gladstone
Lord BeaconSlield had dissolved parliament
on March n, 1850, when ii was very near the
legal limitation of its existence. the ostensible
cause being the aw kward position of the gov
eminent with regard to its bill to supply Lon
don with water The canvass that followed
was an exceedingly earnest one. "Jingoism,"
In one word, was the tory battiecry. and on
that issue Beaconsfield was overwhelmingly
defeated. The liberals poled 1.SS3 $40 votes
and the conservatives 1,41S,911. The new
house of commons contained 353 liberals TO
23a conservatives and 81 home ruers-a clear
liberal majority of 81 over all possible opposi-
ton. On April 23 the queen accepted Lord
Beaconsfield's resignation. Lord Harrington
was summoned to Windsor by the queen but
he refused to accept the premiership, and told
the queen to recall Mr.. Gladstone to office.
This her majesty reluctantly consented to do,
and the second Gladstone minis try was finally
installed on April -, 1850.
The new parliament met at the end of April,
and Mr.. Gladstone began his second admfnis-
tration by attempting TO quiet the dissatisfac-
ton in Ireland. The most important of the
Irish bills introduced was the compensation
for disturbances" bill Of Mr. Forster, the chief
secretary for Ireland. motion to reject which
was negatived, towards the close of July, by a
vote OF .l;I. To BOB. 1t was afterwards PASSED
by a smaller margin than this. but was rejected
by the house of lords by the Overwhelming
vote OF 81 TO 2S2. The result was to start an
agitation against the house OF lords and TO in
tensify the distress and disorder in Ireland.
The Irish question continued TO be the leading
issue before parliament and the people during
the year 1881, and four months of the time of
parliament We're taken up in the discussion
and passage of an Irish land bill The Duke of
Argyle LETT the ministry rather than assent 10
the radical changes effected by this complicated
measure, and it was only aSSented TO by the
house of lords after Mr.. Gladstone had accepted
every one OF their amendments which he did
not feel constrained to pronounce fatal TO the
elementary principles OF the measure. The
death of Lord BeacOnsffeld this year deprived
the conservative party of the only leader that
enjoyed its full confidence, and could at that
time hold 1t firmly together in systematic an
tagonsm to the ministry.
During the following year, 1882, the attention
of the government was seriously diverted from
home affairs by the Egyptian inbroglio, brought
about by the so-called rebellion OF Arab Bey,
the bombardment of Alexandra, and the
British campaign, which resulted in the victory
OF Tel-el-kebir.
The year 1884 was one of the busiest and
most notable in Mr.. Gladstone's remarkable
career. He had his hands full, both at home
and abroad, and despite his weight of years he
rose equal to every emergency. BY bill eX-
tending the franchise he increased the number
of electors in the United Kingdom by fully
100000.
While this peaceful revolution was progress
ing at home Mr.. Gladstone was involved deeper
than ever in the Egyptian troubles. In the
house of lords, on February IL, 1854, the Mar
quiS of Salisbury moved a resolution declaring
that ''the recent lamentable events in the
Soudan are due in great measure to the raci-
lating and Inconsistent policy pursued by her
majesty'S government, which was carried by
Isl votes against S1-majority against the gov
ernment of 100. a similar resolution proposed
in the house of commons by Sir 5. Northcote
was rejected by 81 to 262, the same month,
the majority for the government being 40.
The dissatisfaction and antagOniSm resulting
from the Egyptian failure meanwhile have
been intensified by the dispute with Russia
concerning the Afghan frontier, which has
been of too recent date to need a recital in de-
tail. On the night of May IL the enemies OF
the government finally mustered in force, de-
fall. Lord George Hamilton moved in the
house of commons an amendment TO q pend
ing motion which called for fresh censure of
the government, and concluded as follows:
''The house. having shown their readiness TO
vote supplies, refuse their assent until informed
the money to be granted is to be applied"
After a protracted and bitter debate, this
amendment was rejected by vote of 29O TO
go, the government being thus sustained by
sion voted with the tories, the majority being
made up exclusively of liberals. With this
majority of 80 at his back, Mr.. Gladstone APP
parently believed that he could hold on to
power until the budget and other essential leg
islation were completed, and then there would
doubtless have been an appeal to the new
voters and the new constituencies But the
whole program has been changed.