New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-05-30
THO YETERANS.

There are two wonderful old men, each with
Scotch blood in his VEINS who are the central
figures in British politics MIR. Gladstone and
Sir John Macdonald are statesmen alike power
full in effecting great results, but utterly unlike
in character except in their singular tenaclty
of purpose and their power of exciting the en-
thusiasm of their political followers. At the
first glance Comparison of the two veterans of
British public life seems to be forced because
Sir John Macdonald is only Colonial Premier,
whereas Mr. Gladstone has been for half a
century one of the giants of Parliamentary de-
bate at Westminster. 1t is only necessary to
remember that the Canadian statesman is the
one official in colonial service who in the course
of the same period has powerfully affected the
relations of Great Britain to the United States
in order to Justify the coupling of their names
Ii Canada is the only dependency of the En-
pire that has succeeded in making itself felt
in London, and in directing to very large ex-
tent British relations with the United States
and with the colonial possessions in general,
the result is largely the work of the political
capacity and genius OF her Premier, the end of
whose long and brilliant career Is apparently
close at hand.
If Sir John Macdonald has established a wide
circle of influence in the Empire, Mr. Gladstone
has made British craftsmanship the pride and
glory of the English speaking world. If Canada
would be less important and almost nsi2nili-
can't portion of Greater Britain without her
Premier England without Mr.. Gladstone would
have far less force in determining the moral
progress of the world. In their old age one has
been securely intrenched in office without
rival in public life to contest his ascendancy
and with well-disciplined majority behind
him always willing to follow him, whereas the
other has been condemned to lead an incon-
gruous Opposition and to make a seemingly
hopeless fight for principles which the nation
had repudiated. In these contrasting conditions
of success and failure the same staying power
of good old Scotch persistence and infexible
purpose has been disclosed. Sir John Macdon-
aid through sheer force of character has kept
himself in power, saved the Confederation from
dissolution, bound the Provinces together by a
railway and fiscal policy, brought Canadian in
huence to bear upon British diplomacy, devel-
oped the political resources of his party, and
done more than any other colonial statesman
TO render Federation possibility of the future
of the Empire. MIR. Gladstone, abandoned by
the most influential associates of his career as
Liberal Prime Minister and defeated and
thrust aside by the nation on the Home Rule
issue, has remained loyal to his principles and
full of courage and hopefulness even when
haraSsed by the difficulties of continued asso-
citation with such self-willed ally as Mr.. Par
nell, Rich in achievements and Astounding in
successes as his career has been, there has been
nothing in it more inspiring or better calculated
to raise the standards of public morality
throughout the world than his unHinching de-
yOtion to the Home Rule cause.
The most severe test of moral stability in
craftsmanship is that Of failure and public neg