New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-03-04
tBY CABLE TO THE TRIBUSEJ
fCopyrfqht 1894: By The Tribune Assoetdtton)

tcopyrfgst 1894: By The Tribune Assoetafton)
London. March 3-The long uncertainty is over,
and Mr. Gladstone resigns office to-day he mas
twice this week had audience Of the Queen, once
on Wednesday at Buckingham Palace, and again
Yesterday at Windsor where he dined and slept
last night. A council will be held to-day at
which the royal message on the prorogauon OK
Parliament will be settled. That done, Mr.. Glad
stone will formally place his resignation as Prime
Minister in Her Majesty's hands.
90 ends one OF the longest and one Of the great
est political careers which modern England mas
known The affectionate admiration OF irienos
and opponents follows him In his retreat II Is
likely to grow stronger and NOT weaker Win
time Never again will English public lie be
what II has been under this stately leadership.
nor is there anybody to exert in the House OF
Commons that influence which he has welded so
benedcently. or to impress upon its deliberations
thar authority which comes from long servicS
and Ioftv character and intellectual supremacy
all combined The oldest and best traditions OF
tho oldest great legislature in the world depart
with Mr.. Gladstone.
The mystery in which he has for some time
past chosen to envelop the question OF MS re-
tirenent has not quite cleared away and may
never be fully disclosed. Some part OF the truth
is known, and a good deal more Is guessed. lie
took this resolution it is alleged, before gong 10
piar5,z He told two or three Of his colleagues
and left the rest to learn what they might from
the newspapers. This may or may not be true.
II IS not contradcted and II Is characteristic
Mr. Gladstone has often preferred 10 act alone
IN great emergencies. He resolved on the ever
memorable dissolution Of 1874 without consulting
his Cabinet He resolved on Home Rule IN Iooo'
or perhaps in 1885, without consulting his Caoi-
ri q N
without consulting his Cabinet. or not till after
some members Of II had heard OF MS PURPOSE
from other sources.
Tho no,,ticol world has been in ferment all
the week and where Mr.. Gladstone is concerned
the politcal world includes all England. Dur
ing all this time there has not been until yester-
day one authorized or authentic statement or
fact The lobby of the House Of Commons has
been a seethng caldron OF rumOrs. of gossip, or
guesses OF agitated comment, OF serious CONFER
ences OF factiOus cabas, of plot and counterpiot'
Of intrigue eliminating in an open attempt by
one small wing Of the Radical party to controi
the action OF the party. the action or Mr. Glad
stone. and the constitutional prerogative OF the
Queen That is but OF the results OF policy
OF concealment. Time was when the reuremen.
OF a Prime Minister and the formation or new
Government were settled by a political clique
such high matters are transacted in the presence
Of the nation. Publicity is inevitable. II the
truth is not made public. something which is not
the truth will become public instead. 1t IS for
those in authority and FOR those who know the
facts they withhold II say which they prefer
They have, however. some excuse for silence.
Il is natural that Mr.. Gladstone. before an
nouncng his own retirement, should wish the
question Of his successor settled. If he can no
longer govern the Empire nor lead his party. he
must desire to know u whose hands these great
tasks are to be ntrusted. He could not Well
resign offhand and leave everything at SKIES and
seyens But there are great difficulties in choos-
ing successor. 1t does not rest wholly nor
mainly with Mr.. Gladstone nor with the Queen.
Il rests in the first instance, and in fact though
not in theory with the Gladstonian party in the.
aouse Of Commons and in the country. That
party consists Of 50 many sections and 50 many
antagonsms that it may well be doubted whether
any lesser authority than Mr. Gladstones can
unite or control them all. or whether they will
all follow any other leader But the attempt
has To De made
So tangled is the web of Gadstonan policy,
so conflicting are the claims Of the various ele-
ments which r'qke up the party whole; so self
ish. SO pertinactous. SO dctatora, are some OF
the heads of these various factions, 50 rreconcil
able are their aims and their views Of party
policy that no ran need envy him who accepts
the post from which Mr. Gladstone steps down.
But II he fails. and If the present majority Will
follow no other leader, and If there is no dis
solution. the Queen must ultimately ask the Un-
ionists TO form a Government, and they OF course
would dissolve at once.
The reasons alleged for Mr.. Glaistsne's resig-
nation are physical infirmties. and especially
his imperfect sight and hearing. These are un-
happily true reasons. 1t is not certain they are
the only reasons. Rumors Of dissensions in the
Cabinet rife. There are almost always dis
sensons in all Cabinets The question Is how
serious they are and whether they relate 10
matters Of policy which be called VITAL
Naval defence is the point most often mentioned.
which certainly is vital Mr. Gladstone is said
to be unconvinced OF the necessity Of that large
shIpbuilding programme which the Admiralty
are resolved
II that be not true other things are true.
What has made Office and life burden TO the
old statesman has been the necessity OF holding
the scales even between all those warrng claims
and wrangling politicians Of his own party just
referred TO- He has held them even, or nearly
So for nearly two years He has performed the
impossible He has kept the party together. He
has enforced some sort of discipline the jeal-
Gus chiefs OF quarrelsOme clans. save at inter-
vas when they enforced their discipline on him.
1t could not go forever and his last act or
what is supposed to be his last act. as leader.
is to surrender to the most violent OF his follow
ers. He stood out to the last against the camor
for an attack the House Of Lords. At the
last he yielded. and his capituation makes the
scene in the House Of Commons on Thursday
doubly pathetic. 1t can hardly be said that the
decencies OF public life have been observed.
Think what may OF his later policy. Mr..
Gladstone is incomparably the most illustrious
Of living Englishmen concerned In the conduct
of affairs For weeks past he has been told by
the mouthpece of the extreme Radicals that he
must obey their behest or resign. III you Will
cot laod ne against the Lords give way 10 some