The evening world., 1894-02-27
SPENCER FOR
PREMIER.
Gladstone Is to Be Succeeded
by The Earl at Easter,
It Is Said.
LORD ROSEBERY DECLINED.
1t Is Stated that the Grand Old
Man" May Stay in the
Cabinet
HIS EYE IS IN BAD CONDITION.
Operation for Cataract VIII Keep
Him in a Dark Room
Six Weeks.
HIS EYE IS IN BAD CONDITION.
Ny Associated press.)

LONDON. Feb. 27.-rhe political world
Is once more greatly agltated by re-
ncwcd 'rurnors 10 the effect that Mr.. Glad
stone intends to retire from Office.
The latest scare news is furnished by
the Edinburgh Evening News, which an
nounces upon what it classes as reliable
authority that Mr.. Gladstone has re-
signed the Premiership; but. the Evening
News adds. he will retain his seat in h
Cabinc: and will also continue to repre-
sent Midlothian in The House Of COM
mons.
TIE Evening News says that the Earl
OF Rosebery has been offered the Prem
~Irrship, and that he has declined 1t.
The same paper says that the Premier
ship was, later, offered to Earl Spencer,
First Lord OF the Admiralty, and that
he has accepted it.
In conclusion, the Evening News says
that Mr.. Gladstone's resignation goes
into effect at Easter.
Strange to say, after so many denials.
and after such a number of canards
have been put in circulation in
ton with the Grand Old Man. the pres
ert report that he has actually rendered
his resignation, or that he intends to
take .u.h action during the present week,
IL obtaining general credence.
y. i. O'Connor, NJ. p. writing to The
sun to-day, says, in connection with the
rurnor that Mr.. Gladstone has resigned.
and apparently tending to confirm the
report.
''Fur some time something like a panic
has existed among Mr.. Gladstone's sup
porters In the Hobbies. Yesterday even
ing the rumor was current that his res
iGnation was to be expected during the
curse Of the week. Competent author
ity gives his eyesight as the actual rea-
son for his resignation, but the situa-
ton is further aggravated by the posi-
ton Of certain members of the Cabinet
with reference to the naval programme.
THE Premier had to face the pos
s!bIlIty of Earl Spencer's (the First Lord
Of the Admiralty resigning.
THE cataract IN the Premier's eye In
no. yet ripe for operation: but when II
occurs he must spend six weeks In dark
ness.
Nobody has the least idea what any
day may bring forth. though mi own
opinion Is that Mr.. Gladstone viii refuse
to leave the ship
The secretary of the Premier in
formed the Associated Press that the
statements made by the Edinburgh
Evening News were entirely unauthor-
ICED. When questioned as to their ao-
curaCy, Mr.. Gladstone's secretary re-
fused to give a direct answer. simply
re!terating his former statement that
the Evening News had 10 authorization
to make the statements which have
caused so much excitement In political
circles.
1t Is now recalled that some astonish-
ment was caused on Saturday last by
The fac, that the Earl of Rosebery. Sec
retary of State for Foreign Affairs. while
on his way to visit the Prince and
Princess Of Wales at Sandrlngham, was
hurricdly called back TO the Foreign
ONCE by a despatch which was handed
to him at Newmarket.
The Earl of Rosebery returned to Lon
don by a special train, and went imme-
diately to the Foreign Office. The excuse
given OUT for this sudden change of In
tentions was that a Cabinet consulta-
ton was necessary in view of the de-
irats sustained by the sailors OF h
British warships, Raleigh n Widgeon
On the Gambia Coast OF Africa.
it is now stated, however. that ths
return OF the Earl OF Rosebery was due
10 an important announcement made BY
Mir. Gladstone to one of the Cabinet
Minister'S, and 1t is said that this an
nouncement practically amounted to .
statement that he had decided to for
ward his resignation to Her Majesty.
People are reminding each other OF Mr..
Gladstone's great age. of his falling eye-
sight and OF the bitter attacks made
upon him by newspapers which had pre-
vlously warmly supported him. as a re-
suit OF his failure to appeal to the sym-
pathles Of those who were elamoring Tor
the abolition Of the House OF Lords w
making a determined attack upon that
venerable and rusty institution when tht