New-York tribune., 1894-04-22
they would be worse off were Mr.. Gladstone

they would be worse off were Mr. Gladstone
once more 10 take command.
But his physical disa abilities? Well they are
great but the friend TO whom l referred above
insists that they are exaggerated. Mt. NettIe-
ship the ocust. has published statement That
both eyes are affected bv cataract. That is the
testimony Of a specialist in whose hands Mr.
Gladstone has put himself. and that. at any rate
cannot be exaggerated lie still writes and reads
with ease but It is not disputed that an opera
tion has been resolved or. Of which even certain
details have been settled. SAL. II Mr.. Gladstone
could emancipa;e himself from the Blue Book.
or conceive of the art OF government as one
which does not depend wholly on the mastery
Of details. the eyes need not keep him perma-
nently in secusion 1t is his deafness which
more than his imperfect vision incapaciates him
from leading the House Of Commons He does
not hear the whole Of any debate or of any
speech But the quert4On for the party Is
whether Mr. Gladstone with all these disa 1van-
tages has not more authority and more chance
Of cxtrcating them frOrl ever-thickening diff
culties than anybody else In the House of Com
mons He has plenty Of physical energy, and
might have been seen the other day in Downing
Street experimenting preparations for removal
and packing his books with his own hands. To
use the vivid phrase of one who beheld him:
lie was dancing about like a boy" still, he
certainly was packing All his goods and
chattels have BEEN or soon will be. moved 10
Hawarden as If to their permanent resting-plac,.
Mr. Gladstone. himself meantime. remains in
Brighton; partly it may lie feared on account OF
Mrs. Gladsone's health, which is none too strong.
And presently they 60 10 DOLLS Hill. the XII
burn villa which Lord Aberdeen has put az tnelr
disposal.
bot. a
has heard of these evidences OF exuberant vital
ity. and that he is therefore hurryng on with
the political tombstone which he calls a memo
rial? Nothing need be inferred. I; is only the
fact which concerns us. and the fact Is that there
are at this moment two streams running in oppo-
site directions in the Radical kingdom. one
would bear Mr.. Gladstone back 10 power. Tho
other would speed him on his way to where, in
Lord Roseberys fine phrase. the stream might
breast the eternal
These latter are pre-cminen'ly the Socalsuc
Radicals and there Is no mistaking their mean
ing Their chief organ speaks Of the proposed
memorial "as a means Of signalizing his retire
ment from public life" Il considers the various
suggestions for the memorial Gladstone Hail.
or Gladstone statue. for example, and genially
condemns both on the ground that either is likely
10 be bad. third suggestion is a popular cleo
ton fund for the purpose Of bringing Mr.. Glad-
stones darling project Of Home Rule to sue
cessful issue" one may suspect that Mr.. Glad
stone himself would prefer this to all others. hu
the Socialist Radical will not allow II. II" gives
a characteristic reason: "A direct election iuni
carries with II an almost unpleasant naNo: ~
American rc-pulling"; and things American
are as We sadly have 10 note 50 often. dlste''e-
ful 70 the English Radical But the Radical
organ Is not without a suggestion ~ its own
namely a great central. educa tiona fund 10 Ice
ture Hodge from Red Vans on the proper method
Of organizing and conducting Parish Councils
That to the Sociastic Radical mind. Is tho
right monument to build 20 the great English
man who all his life long has been concerned
whether for good OF for evil with Tho affairs Of
a great Kingdom and has four times governed an
Empire. If It IS meant - caricature the Very
idea Of a memorial. +; IS not badly conceived
II IT IS meant seriously. the limits of gro'esGne
inaputude have been reached. g. W. =