New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-07-03
moral LEADERSHIP.

Whatever NAV be the result of the Engllsh
elections Mr.. Gladstones figure towers IN
epical dignity above associates and rivals ana
anpeals with commanding force to the sympa-
thies of the English speaking world. His 1udg-
ment on the Irish question may be rlsh' or
wrong, but he has made it matter OF con-
science to settle it in his way, and the purity
of his motives and the moral elevation OF MS
purposes cannot be seriously questioned except
by partsans. Poor in spirit and warped ana
strained by prejudice must be the man whose
imagination is not touched by the spectacle OF
the great Commoner fighting his last battle Tor
the control of the English constituencies. All
the legislative reforms which are landmarks OF
sixty wears of progress among his own people
bear witness to his nobility of character ana
10 his enlightened mind If there had been no
William Ewart Gladstone the England OF TO-
day would have been something essentially
different from what it is. 1t would have been
less democratic less progressive and more
backward and reactionary in all the tendencies
of its social and political life. For sixty years
his energy has been like a consuming flame
Always terribly in earnest in everything which
he has undertaken, he has done more than any
other Englshman of this century to quicken
the moral sensibilities of his countrymen and
to induce them to put conscience in their poll
tics. That is the secret Of his mrivailed IN
Huence over the English constituencies to-day
Mr. Gladstone has described himself with
grim humor as can old Parliamentary hand.'
AS an experienced leader and veteran in
public life he may claim rightfully the prestige
of a master workman in the trade of politics;
but his whole career is protest against what
is low and debasing in the science of govern
ment and the art of party management. foii-
tics has been more to him than trade. 1t
has been a moral cause in which he has sought
to serve his country and to promote the ends
of Justice and the means of social progress.
The Irish question, to which he has devoted the
failing energies of his old age. is more to him
than matter or party policy. Home Rule IN
his Judgment, is supreme act OF justice TO
the Irish people after four hundred years OF
misgoyernment and miscalculated statesman
shin. Ii is because he believes that it will
make for righteousness, reconcile the English
and Irish races, and promote the permanent
welfare of the United Kingdom that he is
pleading his cause with all the resources Of his
strength, courage and patience.
Leadership so hgh-minded as Mr.. Glad
stones is great gain for civilization, whether
it be crowned with final success or be over
whelmed with failure. Partisan rancor may
cavil at it and forecast every manner OF evil
as the ultimate result of victory for the Lib
eral party but canvass conducted by
statesman of distinctively ethical qualities and
elevation of purpose digntes the response
bilities of citizenship and converts the casting
of ballot into function Of political progress.
The English speaking world to-day may not
be unanimous in its judgment of the utility and
efficiency of Home Rule as regenerative meas
ure for Ireland but it is impressed, as perhaps
it has never been in any previous electoral
crisis of the United Kingdom, with Mr. Glad
stones unique personality, with the command
ing qualities of his character, and with the
solemn earnestness of his last appeal to his