The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-11-16
THE GRAND OLD MAN.
DR.. Aubrey Tells of His Political and Personal
Characteristics.

DIR. Aubrey Tells of His Political and Personal
Characteristics.
Chicago News.
The characteristics, habits and career of Will
lam E. Gladstone were the subjects of an address
by DIR. Aubrey before the Union League Club,
Saturday evening The speaker, an English
Journalist of note, stood as a Gladstone candi
date for Parliament at the last election, and
spoke from long personal acquaintance with the
great Premier. He said that there was no man
in the world so well known and so highly re-
specred the ilustrious Liberal leader and
hat it was to be expected that in a country like
America his general policy would find full sym
pathy. The feeling of Americans toward Mr..
Gladstone was the more interesting and beauti-
fed in view of the fact that less than twenty
five years ago he mad asserted that the Southern
States had earned their right to- separation. On
this subject Mr.. Gladstone had changed his opiu-
ion and acknowledged his error There were two
men IN England, the speaker said of whom the
Liberals were very proud-William E. Gladstone
and John Bright The two men were now divid-
ed the Irish question: but their personal
friendship was warm and sincere.
The grand old man" was Indifferent to per
sonal appearance. and his wife had much to do
to secure proper observance of the amenities of
social life. Gladstone was born in 1909 and
literally educated. passing through Oxford with
extraordinary honors. All through his life he
had found his chief rest in classic studies. One
of the most noticeable and beautiful traits of
Gladstones character was the readiness with
which he welcomed fresh information on any
subject, and another was the vigor and youthful
ness of his sympathies He was the youngest
old man the speaker had ever seen. Macaulay's
description rising M of stern, unbending
Toryism"-was true. He was Graded in at
mosphere of densest Toryism, and came first to
Parliament under the auspices of Tory leader.
Gradually he emancipated himself from the
ideas and associations with which he thus
grew up. In following the new political light
which dawned upon him he shrank from no
sacrifice.
Gladstone came to Parliament first when bare
ly twenty-three years DID, and from that time
had been making English history. His chief re-
nown rested upon mis- indisputable claim to be
the greatest financier In Europe, if not in the
the world. He set out to create system of di-
rect taxes and to destroy the indirect taxes
which SO heavily burdened the people His
success was such that, as John Bright said,
gland had virtually free breakfast ia
BILE, free dinner table, and free supper table,"
No insinuation of nepotsm had ever been
dared against Mr.. Gladstone He was unques-
rionably the ablest debater that the House oe
Commons had seen, at any rate, since the days
of William Pitt. He was also good and con
siderate listener. When his turn came in de-
bate he sprang to his feet with all the vivacity
of youth, and. throwing himself into the
subject, dealt with it in all it's
length and breadth with mastery
no point in the situation escaped him. At din
ner he was just eager. just as spontaneous
and just comprehensive in the legislative
chamber. Intensity and earnestness we're
marked in every action of his life. Though
Numerically opposite in convictions and policy,
Gladstone and Disraeli profoundly admired each
other
Mr.. Gladstone was most agreeable and amia-
BILE man socially. He had not much of what is
called wit or humor but could indulge in good
natured satire. He never lost himself in speak
ing. and his sentences expressed his exact mean
ing. His generosity to colleagues and his en-
couragement of young men features that
endeared him to them and explained their 10y
atty to him. He cherished no petty animosities
toward those who disagreed with him. A secret
large. He was regular, abstemious, temperate,
and was now as strong as ordinary men of forty.
and might yet live to see the triumph of his
Irish polcY.