National Republican., 1886-10-29
Gind.tnne and His Frlends.


The portion of Sir Francis Doylo's "Rem-
iniscences," just published, which is likely
to attract most general attention is the re-
corded change In the relations between Mr..
Gladstone and some Of his friends from the
devotion Of early days to the hostility at
present existing, Doyle writes almost
pathetically Of his former friendship for the
great liberal minister, but in the final refer
ence shows only too clearly that the two
are now In opposite camps; "For one
thing, It is extremely painful TO me that |
have to struggle with a continually increas-
ing dislike to Mr. Gladstone as II statesman
aud continually deepening distrust OF his
character as a man. Old associations and
old recolections fight hard against my pres
ent instinct, so that my heart is filed with
mixed feelings Of angry amazement aud Of
genuine sorrow. II, indeed, Mr.. Glad
stone should turn out to be what
many think him-a really great states
mar-and not what l now con-
slider him, parliamentary rhetoricIan,
liable to be tossed about from one side to
the other by every gust Of impulse; II, here
after he is able TO say trlumphantly, Look
round and judge me by the result l will
read my recantation not only with readiness
but with real pleasure. The renewal OF our
old affection tefore die will be as welcome
to me as the freshness of some unexpected
fountain to solitary traveller toiling
through the desert, but such q fountain |
10 not now hope to light upon.n
In order to appreciate the position Of Sir
Francis, position occupied by great
number OF fair and Just, but, We would sub.
nit, narrow. minded men, it is well to know
something Of his intellectual attitude to.
ward the great questions Of the day. He is
quite candid on the subject;
AS to my views, am pessimist, and think
every one who NEEDLES with statcsmanship
would do well to begin by admitting that all
the forms and varieties ofgOvcrnment are bad,
because they all represent, and must represent,
human mature, q combination full Of weak
Gesses, folles. and faults. If you pull down q
monarchy, the evils that cling to monarchy
may cease to exist; il You obliterate an nris'
tocrGcy, oppressive and insolent habits Of life
may perish with 1t; If you coniiscato property
and trample down ancient rights, the harsh
contrasts between wealth and property may
trouble us no more; but do you suppose that
the new society," rs 1t replaces the old, will not
also represent human nature? represent 1t,
indeed, by more uneducatcd and mo-e ig-
nOrant subdivision of the whole, and bring
along with 1t fresh devilries- -devilrles, If we
may trust history, or, in the absence OF history,
common sense-seveu times worse than those
which you have just cast out. You cannoi
have perfect government till we men are
perfection, and whenever that happens
whether there Is government or no govern
ment will not signify Il button.
This lucid statement Of the laisScs fdir,
and pesslmistic doctrines explains all the
troubles and difficulties which have arisen
about Mr.. Gladstone's character, even in
the minds Of men calculated to recognize
and reverence true greatness In any form,
The gentlemen of Doyles manner Of
thought say "Thls world is bad anyhow,
however you look at It, There are a few
moderately sane and decent people, hui
they are as nothing in the multitude OF
fools ana knaves who mainly constitute
society. There is no such thing as raising
The bulk OF mankind effectually, hence the
Acknowledged wisdom, approved by the
ages, of autocracy, despotism, and mon
WIN VuVIl hSSSDooiy e'NShN"h'Si ''->
soldier and policeman. 'The Northern
Farmer is right about 'the poor, In the
bulk, are bad and his opinions are sup
ported by all reason and experience"
Mr.. Gladstone, like Mr.. Lincoln and MAJ
2ini, has confidence In the future, and like
those great men he trusts the people and
"keeps close to them.n Heis perfectly aware
that "we have not wings, we may not soar,
lat he knows that
We have feet to scale and climb,
BY slow degrees, 10y more and more,
The cloudy SUBMITS of our time.
When Mr. Matthew Arnold compared
Emerson and Carlyle he found that the
formers gospel was that of hope, the lat
tcr's sheer despair, and pointed out that
the message Of the American writer was oi
infinite moment, while that of his English
friend formed merely fitting counterpart
for French reyolutionist, dynamite, AMI
lihilism.
1t is pity, Of course, that people whC
wear life so gaily as Sir Francis Doyl,
seems TO carry It should not add share o
their joyousness TO mitigate the rlgors 0
such a journey as that upon which mel
like Gladstone have advanced, but the grea
Heart Of the world has long since realized
the glory Of that stern path and Is pro
fouudly conscious Of its being the onl
read for heroes.