St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-09-03
THE GRAND OLD MAN.

The GLOBE desires to direct the at
tention of those statesmen who make it
their boast that they are interchangeable
in their devotion to the theories Of the
fathers OF the republlc-that they are
rock-rooted and Observation-Disclosures
adherents of the governmental theories
of JEFFERSON and of JACKsoN-to the
career of the greatest of modern states
men, WILLIAM EwART GLADSTONE.
For more than half of his public life
Mr.. GLADSTONE was an uncomprOmiS-
ing opponent of Irish liberties. 1heo-
reticaIly. perhaps, he believed that the
Irish formed part OF the great family
of humanity. and were entitled to a
share in the privileges of government;
but practically he held that they had
only the right of being governed with.
out the privilege Of deciding by whom
or in what manner that government
should be administered. Today he
stands before the world as the peerless
champion and defender of Irish home
rule, and the successful originator and
promoter of measure that gives to the
Irish people greater measure Of self
=
since the union with Great Britain more
than thousand years ago.
The times have changed, and so has
Mr.. GLADSTONE. He freely admits the
fact, and juStifies his change of opinions
10y pointing to the worlds progress.
The errors of his youth and early man.
hood were largely the result Of educa-
ton and association. But he had the
bravery to think for himself; and, hav-
ing reached a conviction of right, he has
been infleXible in his devotion to the
cause. The guiding star OF his career
has been justice. He was, perhaps.
slow to act. The element of caution and
conservatism is inherent in the Scottish
race from which he sprang. But once
convinced that he was on the right
course. he pursued all undertaking line
OF conduct. Obstacles Of every nature
were swept away: precedent was cast
aside; his purpose alone stood before
him, and towards its accomplishment he
bent his every energy. At an age when
men of affairs usually seek retirement
and ease, he rushed into the arena of
political contention, where he fought
battle after battle with the picked men
of Britain'S aristocracy. His standard
was ever at the front: his voice gavethe
command to the hosts of progress: his
was the genius that planned campaigns;
his the undaunted bravery that won
battles. He would permit OF no halting
or parleying. He demanded the uncon-
ditional surrender of his enemies-a
complete submission to his terms-and
he has won the conflict.
Mr.. GLADsToNE'S last victory is his
greatest. lie has triumphed over the
deep-seated prejudices of the British
people. and has wrung from them a re-
iuctant acknowledgment that Ireland
has the right to rule herself. The
measure just passed by the house of
commons is not, it is true, perfect or
complete in all its details. 1t will re-
quire amendment; the rights of the peo-
pie guaranteed by it will require en-
iargement; but it is none the less a
gigantic stride of advancement. 1t is,
in measure, a declaration of independ-
ence-a bill Of rights-from which
there can be no appeal. 1t is step for
ward from which there can be no re-
| treat, and advancement is inevitable. 1t
will be the fault of the Irish people if it
shall not be long start towards COM
plete separation and independence, if
| these shall seem best for the welfare of
| the ever faithful isle.
Mr.. GLADSTONE is truly grand old
man. Towering far above all his con-
temporarles, he will pass into history as
the greatest of his race-a man who
| could see his own errors and seek to
1 remedy them - a man who had the
bravery to change his mind-a man who
held that to be just was greater honor
than to be consistent in wrong-doing.