The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1893-05-25
THE INSULT TO GLADSTONE.
just What Occurred at the Imperial In
stitute.
TN. Y. SUMS London Cable letter

The procession was striking specta-
Gle, and men who had paid their guineas
to qualify as fellows of the institute, felt
more than compensated for the outlay.
The Prince of Wales, the Duke of York,
and other princes were in evening dress,
but they wore the sashes and stars of
their order, The princesses, among
them the betrothed Princess May, were
also in evening dress and sparkling with
jewels, and Immediately behind the Eng
fish royalties walked three Indian
princes in state costumes inexpressibly
gorgeous.
Mr.. Gladstone, looking very pale and
weary, walked about twenty yards in the
rear on the arm of Earl Spencer. He was
undeniably bored, and perhaps the syco-
plant who constituted three-fourths of
the vast mob detected and resented the
fact. When, by dint of much showing
and shouting on the part of the police
men, the procession had reached one of
the beautiful galleries along which are
ranging glass cases containing specimens
OF colonial products, bejeweled officer,
whose name unfortunately could not be
ascertained, called out loudly, pointing
to the premier. ''There's the traitor
That was the cue, and whether pre-
arranged or accidental, it was eagerly
followed. The cheering which had
marked the princes progress became va
ried with groans and Kisses, and in an
other moment Mr.. Gladstone was in the
midst Of bowling mob. The royal party
by this time was too far aheal to notice
what was going on behind them, and, as
a matter of fact, the Prince of Wales did
not learn until half hour later how
vilely his hospitality had been disgraced.
Mr.. Gladstone's eyes flashed fire, but
otherwise he RENAME perfectly I'M
moved. Earl Spencer looked as though
he would like to lay about him with a
sharp stick, but managed to control him
self. Near the end of the gallery pack
of snarling ours surged upon the prime
minister as though to subject him to per-
sonal violence, and in the fearful crush
which occurred at this point several of
the glass cases were smashed and the
contents damaged. The demonstration
was not marked by that browning dis
grace, however. thanks to the efforts of
some gentlemen, properly so called, who,
although as likely enough Tories them
selves, showed their deep disgust at the
behavior of the unmannerly brutes
around them by loudly and alternately
protesting and cheering, and finally by
helping get Mr.. Gladstone into a less
crowded corridor, along which he walked
without further molestation to his car
riage outside. The foregoing are the
facts as vouched for by the Sun reporter.
who was witness of the disgraceful
scene from beginning to end.
The Prince of Wales has written Mr..
Gladstone letter which, if it could be
published, would make the faces of the
demonstrators and tleir apologists tingle
with shame, and would raise the princes
popularity among the people so per cent.
but without the royal condemnation the
conduct Of the well-dressed, beiewelled
crowd, than which, as The Daily Chroni-
Gle truthfully remarks, ga Whitechape1
mob could not have been more ill-bred''
has disguised all moderate men irrespec-
tive of politics. and has acted like tonic
upon the liberals and radicals all over the
country.
The people are raging against the in
suit offered to their leader, and there is
a great yearning for some opportunity to
demonstrate their sympathy and devo-
ton. Mr.. Gladstone, however, is at
Hawarden, whittier he proceeded quietly
and unexpectedly on Thursday afternoon
for the Whitsun recess. But 1T is not
improbable that he may be the object of
great popular demonstration on his re-
turn to London on Monday week, Cor
respondence in the newspapers yester-
day and today suggests the theory that
drink, as much as political spite, was
responsible for Wednesdays demon
stration. The theory is not flattering to
the Prince of Wales's aristocratic guests,
but it will bear examination; for there
was buffet 900 feet long, at which over
400 girls served food and drink all night
long free to all corners, and the refresh
ment contractor boasts OF the prodigious
quantity of champagne and other liquor
which was actually consumed. Certain
II some of the men must have been the
worse for drink, otherwise they would
scarcely have flirted with the mattresses
and strolled about the gardens with them
with their arms around the girls waists
The Sun reporter did not witness this
but according to some witnesses who
have testified in print, that is the way in
which number of gentlemen passed
Wednesday evening at the Imperial In
stitutp