New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-02-14
THE GREATEST ENGLISHMAN.


Mr.. GladStOnes temperance in the Com
mons with his amended IIomc-Rule scheme Is
q characteristic exhibition of the best and
sturdiost English traits. 1t reveals invlnclblc
co,na &c. tenarty of purpose and an immutable
conviction that his policy is not merely .prac-
ticable. but absolutely right and lust Those
are the qualities which have made England
truly great and It's Empire mighty power III
directing the energies of modern clvilHa1on.
Seven wears ago Mr.. Gladstone needed all the
resources of courage and moral convection whch
he introduced the original bill and undertook
TO carry it through Parliament. During the
LONG interval of IInCnSt obstruction when op-
Moments. counting his yeais with cynical de-
I;obt wore striving with one accord to wear
him ont and to bury Home Rule with him. he
has disnlayed that other and most character
istic English quality in1eXible persistence OF
purpose. The detection of lifelong associates
like Bright and harrington did not disheaItch
him defeat in the general elections ala not
deaden his faith in ultimate success; the pro-
tracted delay and haraSsing tactics OF mon
ist Parliament could only draw from him the
G, nfdent declaration Coming slowly or
canning quickly. surely Home Rule is coming ;
and ven youl selves many Of YOU must in your
own hearts be aware that already you see in
tbe handwriting OH the wall the signs OF coming
DOOM"
If was q consciousness that they were about
to witness one of the great spcctacles OF Eng
lish history that broodcd over benches and
galleries Yesterday and filled with electrical
sympathy the most brilliant asscmblagc ever
gathered within the walls Of Westminster. IT
as nothing less than unique spectacle. There
was the greatest Englishman of his time, with
eve undimmed and little abatement of natural
force, renewing his youth before Their eyes
II was not the supc animated Pliam lNStlng out
his closing years and giving prudent counsel
at the door of his tent to younger chiefs VINO
had the strength for battle. 1t was Achilles
himself, fighting as only he could fight, and
earning the IIomcric line Not ten valiant
mon the mighty shield could raise The seven
wears which had interviewed since the Home
Rule measure was originally introduced seemed
70 have passed as watch in the night. There
was the veteran statesman reproducing the Old
situation with the same scenic Surroundings
taking up the IIome-Rulc question where he
had then left it, pointing anew 10 the parting
of the ways and crying aloud for rcparliion
for hundred years Of injustice and broken
| promises Courageous and immovable in pur-
nose. unapprcachablc in argumentatvc power
and elevation of STYLE he lowered there
in cpical dignity above Engishmcn of the
Victorian reign grand and impressive figure
| Illuminated even in cid age with the radiance
| of Youthful aldOr.
That remarkable spectacle touches the imagi-
nation and appeals to human pride in the in
| eectual capacity OF the race The scene
enacted in Parliament and the main features
Of the great speech will be found in our
| London DISPATCHES Formal comments upon
the qualifications of the lionel Rule
| scheme we shall reserve for another day
and this can he done more readily since
these changes have already been anticipated
and discussed in these columns As conpr1-
misses which are rendered necessary by Eng
ish opinion, although they impair the logical
unity of the original draft. What seems 10
us most impressive in this historic scene is
| the rre-emincnco of Mr. Glad>tone's intellectual
victory. Neither time, nor physical iniirmIty,
nor the antagonism Of political forces nor the
manifold and constantly increasing difficulties
of his work have prevailed against him. The
moral greatness OF the champion is the assnr-
| ance Of the ultimate triumph Of tho cause.
Embodying. az he does. in his career the noblost
and most inspiring traits OF English character,
he NAV fall from power before Home Rule is
| consummated but the work will go and il
cannot fail.