New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-08-07
NOTES FROM OVER THE SEA.
Mp GLADSTONE'S RETURN TO TOWN-HIS
NAJORITY-HIS CRITICS-HIS HEALTH.
Westminster, July 81.

cassace southwark from lldWdrOen DelnG Hldrkcu
he those signs of popular favor ever quickened by
smccess II is four weeks this very day since he
80, forth OH his Midlothian campaign with all the
world of chance before him. In obedience to the
instincts of his nature he was buoyed up with
conGdcnce which the actual numerical state of
osrties to-day barely justiiies. fancy he had con
vipced himself that his majority would be much
nearer 100 than 40. IL is, to-day, actually AZ,
with the shadow Of the Greenock scrutiny hanging
oyer it threatening to reduce 1t 10 40 But
Mr. Gladstone, to all appearance, observed by those
in close companonship 70 him has convinced HIM
self that, taking all things into consideration, AZ
10 model majority for the task he has in hand.
This is one of the secrets of his amazing vitality
Heaven has richly endowed him with an inassall-
Ably sanguine disposition. Had fortune led HIM
70 engage in business on the Stock Exchange he
would inevitably have been bull. OF course
he is not insensible feelings of disappointment
These prevailed with remarkable force and un-
usual persistence when, defeated at the poll IN
1874. he accepted the declaration as an injunction
finally TO retire from political life. How long the
fl Of depression lasted is recorded in the public
chronicles though lis wearing away was noted by
his ancient colleagues, perhaps not with unquali-
fed pleasure long before he took the field on be-
half of battered Bulgaria
In the matter of his ma jority in the elections
which would not he finally closed till Orkney ana
Shetland have spoken from the far North, this If
repressiblc buoyancy of spirit Is displayed. "hiie
the battle was still going forward ana the issue
undecided, one of the guests at Dameny observed
10 him at a time things were looking their worst
that the Conservative prophets did not venture
10 give majority of less than 40. loo small
too small" he said in his most trasically deep
tones. shaking his head solemnly as IL ne heard
the dirse Of all his hopes and lrelands IL seemed
too small then because he had been expecting al
at least twice as much. But since twice az much
is not forthcoming, Az must needs serve anu
already he has fallen into the habit oil JUL
lantly contrasting his majority with that by
which the Reform bill was carried, ana other
cpochs in English history made
Coming up from Hawarden on this sultry July
day after short fortnight's modified rest, fol-
lowing on the fierce fight in Midlothian the
average Young gentleman Of eightythree would
he inclined TO take nights rest as preliminary
70 the new campaign, that might conveniently
Re deferred till the morrow But that Is not
Mr. Gladstones way of looking at things, either
from the point Of view of preference or duty
Before he left Hawarden, where he has been over
whelmed with correspondence. he arranged Tor
meeting at Carlton Gardens this evening with
some of his old colleagues. Indeed, there were
two gatherings, one Immediately on his arrival
end another was smaller muster at the dinner
table The names of the guests Will be carefully
scanned, as afrording some desirably fresh food
for the speculations going forward with respect
10 the constitution Of the new Ministry. These.
Of which, doubtless, interesting variety has
reached your side, are necessarily nothing but
speculations based upon material open to all
GENERATORS The list of the new Ministry cannot
Vet he set forth for reason analogous to that
nv which, on a famous occasion, the Spanish
feet could be seen. just IA al the time
alluded 10 the feet was not yet in scht. 81 To-
day Mr.. Gladsiones Ministry is not created.
There are plenty of materials for forming 1t. ana
some Of the particular appointments are lneVl-
table Apart from the question whether Sir
William Harcourt will return to his briefly held
post as Chancellor of the Exche1uer, or whether
going further back for precedent he will be the
new Home Secretary: whether Mr.. Campbell Ban
herman will he Secretary for War; who will be
Lord Chancellor. and what will b. done for Sir
Charles Ruseell-thesc are questions the I'M
portance and urgency Of which sink into moth
ingncss beside the one absorbing question: 10
what extent will Mr. Gladstone, with his four
score years and three, be able 10 meet the I'M
perative and incessant demands on his strength
and capacity made by his accession 10 ONCE az
n critical time The question, while absent
from no mind is, it should he said. chiefly pro-
pounded in Ministerial circles. Not only ~ the
query put from that side, but it is also answered
It has been settled inter ALA, that Mr. Gladstone
will accept a peerage, and retiring 10 easy
quarters in the House Of Lords, VIII hld 'he
rest in the Commons keep fighting.
To THE Times" this retreat from the forefront
~ hattie aprcars inevitable, unless Mr. Gladstones
friends are prepared to soc him hope'essly break
fo,y ks of
Of labor in the Commons.
II is pointed out with frankness and mlnhte
ncss OF detail which, IL not kindly meant, might
be described as brutal that the labor lmpoSo On
tho leader OF the House of Commons, who' III oddl-
ton 10 the cares OF that position has Ill personal
charge delicate and difficult piece OF legislation,
is more than could he safely borne by an octo-
renarian endowed by an inscrntabe PROVIDENCE
with whatsoever Of exceptional energy and vitality.
Every day in this journal and in others MT
Gladstone is solemnly threatened with breakdown
physical or mental, both, IL he persists IN en-
deavoring personally to carry the liome-Ruh Dill
through all its stages in the Commons
Mr. Gladstone has however had time 10 grow
accustomed to these manifestations of strong per
sonal interest in his health and welfare. On this
narticular tonic THE Times" he's long lost that
attribute OF uncxpectcdncss which is one OF the
charms of criticism. When a man takes up MS
newspaper and noting the topic of particular
article knows beforehand the inevitable drlft oi
the commentary, he does not particularly care III
what precise variety Of phrase the old thihg III
said over again A bull would be as useful an
authority in criticism the aesthetic qualities
of n red rag as il The Times" Mr.. Gladstone.
But the drift Of daily cogitoton in thesc quarters
is noteworthy as indicating the fact that the
key Of the situation still rests in the hands Of Mr..
Gadstone II is his personal influence and untir
ing effort that have turned majority Of IA into
a minority Of AZ. In has taken him six years 70 do