New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-10-07
DAY WITH The GRAND OLD MAN.
VISITING MR.. GLADSTONE AT HAwARDEN.
" THE TEMPLE OF PEACE "-TuE OLD CAsTLE-rBE
Ex-pREMIER's STRONGEST AMBITION.
fBY CABLE TO THE TRIBUSE.1

1BY TO THE TRIBUSE.1
Copyright 1867 North American cGo1' HeH' Co.
DUBLIN Oct 6.-I had the honor on Tuesday OF
spending day at Hswarden Castle on the occasion
presenting to Mr.. Gladstone the freedom OF four
Irish cities You have had cabled already through
the ordinary channels the substance OF the great
speech in which Mr.. Gladstone replied to the deputa
tions aud | therefore will make no reference 10 u.
The other experiences of the day were such a. snail
not readily forget To have enjoyed IN private ior
several hours the conversation of the greatest states
man OF the age. to have been entertained oy nun ~
host and seen him in the bosom OF his family, to have
fallen under the charm Of that remarkable family
themselves; we're experiences which should make
n red letter day in any mans calender Nothing i'm
pressed me more than the minute and active sympa-
thy which every member of Mr. Gladstones family
seemed to fee in every project in which he was in
terested and especially in the Irish question. am
grievously disappointed " said Mrs. Gladstone al
luncheon that my daughter, Mrs. Drew, ls not wch
enough to be with to-day. She is the most ardent
Homo Ruler in the house"
This young lady is the wife OF one OF the craes Oh
Hawarden and she is just convaescent from an attack
of illness She sent down a request by her sister,
Miss Helen Gladstone, that all should be sure 10
take away flower from the table AS memento OF our
visit Mrs Gladstone Is certainly her husbands most
effective helper. Her vigor and vivacty for woman
of seventy four something amazing When she was
lightly tripping about seeing after the wants Oh
her guests or watching her husband with wifcy
sohcitude she was pouring out stream OF animated
and brilliant conversation. "They say" she said,
that nv husbands absorbed interest in the Irish
question is only of date that he has raised this
great controversy in his closing years through the
vanity of old age How cruelty little they know.
From the very outset OF his political career Mr. Glad
stones most ardent wish. his strongest AMBITION mas
been redress the grievances of Ireland and undertake
the settlement of the Irish difficulty upon drastic
lines. | remember very we'll the day he received MS
first Cabinet appointment under Sir Robert reel. IL
was the same day that my niece Lady Frederick
Cavendish, was born. Coming home he threw himself
into q chair looking quite depressed. What did you
get asked The Board of Trade he said. under
stood his disappointment. I had hoped to get the
Irish Chief Secretaryshp, though it was looked on
then rs far less important post
After luncheon Mr.. Gladstone, putting on a low
crowned hat and seizing {, stout walking stick led
few of his guests exploration OF some OF the beau
ties of Hawarden Park On way we passed again
through his private study The Temple of Peace as
he calls it, There are three writing desks in this
beautiful room At one he does his political writing.
at another far peasanter nook, clearly the favorte.
looking out upon a circle of noble lines which go by
the name OF Sir Johns dressing his literary work
is done The third desk ia Mrs. Gladstones Books
were everywhere about this room, not only on the
walls, but in cases standing at right angles from the
regular shelves.
81 am very vain said our host. of my paten: for
stacking books | think can get books into
given space than any man know, but let take al
vantage of the sunshine and get into the park
We made for the ruins of the old baronal castle of
Hawarden standing lofty eminence to the west OF
the modern castle Mr. Gladstone walked eagerly
and briskIy up hill that he outdisancea our
small party some of whom although young enough to
ne his children found the climb pretty still trial Of
their wind.
"That old fortress " he said. pointing to the ruin
with his stick is OF the embems OF the difficulty
the English had in railing the Welsh In former times
they had to erect thcir strongholds all along the
Welsh border; now the Welsh are the most easily
governed people in the world Why Because they
govern themselves Like the Scotch, they have
practical autonomy. All. the Welsh are splendid
people their enthusiasm in cause is magnificent
81 have heard OF that " remarked, from some OF
nv colleagues who we're in Wales during the late
election. They SAID that the warmth OF Welsh
sympathy with the Irish cause WAS astonishing
revelation
ayes" said Mr. Gladstone, pausing moment IN his
relying too much upon it, neglected organization but it
! is a tremendous growing for,e From what know |
am certain if there were an election tomorrow the
five last Tories who represent Welsh constituencies
would be thrown out"
Later on IL referring to the Irish question again.
spoke of the interest and sympathy Mr.. Gladstone
action IN introducing the Home Rule bill had aroused
all ver the world and Mr. Gladstone mentioned as an
instance the abbot of an Austrian monastery he had
visited during his recent Continental tour who was
strong Home Ruler able to discuss with him details OF
his scheme and wanting to know when the second
reading of Mr. Parnell's bill was coming of.
| BY this time we had viewed the castle and while
returning by another path to the house the lady
Mayoress Of Dublin had been urging Mr.. Gladstone TO
V sit Ireland.
at my time OF lite" he said. smilingy, in answer.
does not do to play tricks with what God has lef
u.s. should delight to visit Ireland, but tear unless
there we're practical object in Wow that IT would
not be wise to attempt the undertaking.
"Then you would hardly think of visiting America
I said though If you went the American people
would give you such a reception as they never gave
| any stranger since Lafayette"
"Ahl America he said, " America has given us
| noble moral help With the exception of the South
there us been absolute unanmity in support OF ouI
| measure but in the Southern States | think-don
you There has been some difference of opinion
Count Munster recently told me that th" Americans in
| Paris not by any mclns unanimous upon the
matter and SAID you will find the dissentients are
| chiefly Southerners."
| Mr. Gladstones view In this matter, hastened tc
assure him unjust to the South as far as all that
was reputable in the press went. The South, said
was as strongly with him the North. This
assurance pleased bm greatly and he then mentioned
that he under, stood that Mr. Lowell the late American
Minister was in favor OF his bill, while he had heard
that Mr.. Phelps was against it.
would like to appeal to you as an Irish National
st," Mr. Gladstone said at another period OF the day
" to consider the position OF an English Minister
before Ireland sent majority OF her representatives
into Parliament pledged demand Home Rule. iiac