The Cecil Whig., 1886-01-02

rily performed in the open eye OF day
and thereby he became target for the
adverse or sympathetic arrows OF every
capable mind in the land. The good
Queen may thank her stars that he has
sustained as we'll as he has, which has
really been more than well the pecu
liar dignity and honor Of her kingdom.
He has fallen, but only from an enyia-
bic public position that while it brought
his country advantages and consequent
Improvements, into his own private be
ing came bitterness and suffering, for
still lives in an animated degree the
old maNm-uneasy lies the head that
wears 4 crown. Gladstone, now that
| his visible greatness before the world
is cloaked and hidden, is no less rare
and noble genius in the invisible re-
gions of his private life and character.
Like the stole hero of mythology, who
is represented bearing the world upon
his shoulders, Gladstone has born
through the changing years the burdens
of little world, by the cares OF such
high office made heavy as the whole
vast universe. Now is not the time to
trace backward over the vanished years
of his public life and from this one and
from that one resurreCt a deed of ques
tionable policy to open out in his face,
as the flowers of the disease-emitting
upas are opened II the CountenanCe of
health. The hair of his grand old head
is gray, not alone with the numbered
years of his life but with the labOrS of
the mind beneath it that has struggled
to sustain the creeds of duty, honor,
and integrity to the interests of an I'M
p0rtant office and invincible nation. 1t
is evident that there have been greater
men than Gladstone, even in this
!
country and his own Parliament and
Council, but 1t is the nature of each
charitable heart to exalt the individual
alone when sunken from an high estate
and honor the lights of talent and in
telleCt that still burn on. The polty
OF Gladstone's governmental CatechlSm
| had made it an estimable one TO adopt
in ali the schools of national institutions
the world contains. 1t IS not that he
was quick and sudden in action when
the cause demanded it, it is not that
his decisions and judgments were al
ways Just in matters that depended
upon entire justice and correctness,
but that, slow to perform, he sought
satisfaction for his own soul before he
launched the frail bark OF his own crit
icisms upon the sursing sea of opinion.
He assumed the ministration of Eng
lands affairs with his large, observant
mind, stored to the very summit of
thought 5 sublime dome with knowl-
edge of her historical and political aC-
tions from the time that Hengist and
Horsa touched her soil until the young
Victoria donned the imperial vestments.
Added to this knowledge, however,
which was not exceptional with him but
possessed by many contemporaries, was
the Individual character of the man,
under the sturdy principle of which he
grew, rather evolved, from student to
professor, to councillor, to parlimenta-
rian and thence to sage and Premier Of
the English nation. But it Is not the
time to eulogize the virtues of a man
when he still lives and bears them,
| evolving, Concenterlng to the verge ant
brink Of an existence soon to end, but
adding wisdom to the eloquent tongue
and fearless pen as the developments
| of nature bring near the swectnesses Of
age. In the modern years the modern
nations have evidently absorbed into
their systems the biaplasm of a more
sensible and practical quality than ever
before, else the affairs of England as
they stand today would not be viewed
by the subjects to her throne with such
hopeful hearts and assured feelings.
But it is through such conslmmat on
alone that the nation revivcS from the
shocks she has lately received, for by
the systematic and sympathetic actions
OF the masses in times of calamity is
again revived ard lifted to sublime
heights their nation, kingdom i, d
country. Ii is not the patriotism Of
the masses alone that will save England
this time, however. Looking from the
sanctum of village journal over the
three thousand miles of blue and peace
full wafer that stretches on before, it is
difficult to fathom in their entirety the
intricate mesheS that surround the Eng
Iish government. The loyalty and in
tegrity of its general subjects united
with the wisdom and discretion of its
special helpers and officials, without
harshness, hatred and enmity towards
a rival, will make the retirement of
Gladstone keenly felt loss to all who
love him rather than prophetic tear
ing apart of the nations connection
with the benefits and greatness Of ad-
vancing time.
Mr. GLADSTONE'S BIRTHDAY.
The Great isx-PIomicr Reaches His 10Th