The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1886-08-21
Special Contributors.
GLADSTONE.
BY REV. JAMES GORTON.
Charlotte, Mich.)

The Right Hon. William Ewart Glad
stone, is undoubtedly the most cOnspic-
uous and illustrious figure in the worlds
history to-day. In the English Parlia-
ment he has recently been engaged as
leader in great battle for Home rule
and Justice for Ireland. Here he failed
for the time being to carry his ends.
Parliament was dissolved, and an ap-
peal was made to the people in new
election. All America has looked on
in deep concern, and in prOfoundest
sympathy with the "Grand Old Man"
and with downtrodden and suffering
Ireland. At this election, contrary
perhaps to all reasonable expectation,
the ''people Of England have refused to
sustain the Premier in his bill for Irish
autonomy. One fact however remains;
Irish Home rule is not dead, nor is it
in the power of English conservatism
to kill it.'' Mr.. Gladstone is retired
from the administration of the govern
ment, and age may prevent his ever
again fighting so grand battle, "but
the cause for which he has so nObly
fought cannot be relegated to oblivion.
The mills of God grind slowly, but they
grind Ireland will yetreceiveher dues,
and at the bands of tory England"
Gladstone was born at Liverpool, in
1909. His father and mother were
Scotch, and Gladstone, though born On
English soil, is a full blooded Scotch
man. He was educated at the two
famous schools, Eton and Oxford Uni
yersity. His educational opportunities
were of the very best, and grandly did
he improve them. His native mental
powers were of a high order. He had
superior natural endowments both of
body and mind. He graduated at Ok
ford in 1881, with the rare hOnOrs of a
'sdouble first class man." which means
that he was first class in the classics,
and also in mathematics. He is to-day
one of the most profound and illustri-
Gus scholars in England, as well as a
great orator and statesman. He enter
cd Parliament III 1882 as member for
Newark, when he was but tWenty-three
years of age. Thus it may be seen that
he began his public career very early,
and has been in the service of his coun-
try most of the time for more than fifty
wears. And still he is hale old man,
full of physical energy and mental pow
er. with virile force that would shame
most men of forty.
He was made junior lord of the
treasury, under Robert Peel, in 1884,
and secretary for the colonies in 1885.
AS early as 1929, seven years after
Gladstone entered Parliament, Macau-
lay wrote of him in the Edinburgh
RerieD, as " the rising hope of the
stern and unbending tories,-a young
man of unblemished character and of
distinguished parliamentary talents"
Forty seven years have since elapsed,
and for forty years ''the hope of the
stern and unbending tories'' has been a
liberal, and for many years the unques-
toned leader of the Liberal party in
English politics. 1t is true there was
triumyirate OF distinguished English
liberaia, Gladstone, Bright and Mill.
Bright may have been the broader,
sweeter spirit; Mill was unquestionably
the ablest writer, and the most profound
thinker and philosopher: but, in all the
qualities that make great and illustri-
GUS leader, Gladstone was the bright
particular star in this Liberal galaxy.
He was made vice-presdent of the
Board of Trade i'll 1871, and president
in 1913, and held place in tue cabinet.
In 1915 he was made secretary for col
onial affairs. Up to this time he was a
moderate sometimes called an
"Oxford big0t." Ills conservatism and
tory procliyities, up to this date, were
evidenced by advocating compensation
to slave owners, opposing the reform
of the Irish church, the reduction Of
the number Of Irish bishops, the dis
senters' chapel bill, the endowment of
Maynooth, and the emancipation Of the
Jews.
In 1916, just forty years ago, Mr..
Gladstone began his career as a liberal
by becoming an ardent supporter of the
free trade bill, introduced by Sir Rob