The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-01-02
HIS EIGHTY-ro BIRTHDAY.

Gladstone celebrated his eighty
fourth birthday by fulfilling his duties
as head of the British government and
leader Of the commons, taking more or
less part in the debate in that mouse,
and doing what he could to advance
the parish councils bill toward its pass
age. These duties he is performing
daily, in addition to mass of other
work, with practically the sans vigor,
mental and physical. that has charac
terized his work for years. If he has
lost anything Of strength in body or
mind during the year, the loss is so
slight as not TO diminish his capacity
for leadership and effective work.
There have been periods Of illness AMI
exhaustion during the year when rest
and careful nursing have been neces
sary, but Sir Andrew Clark was spared
long enough to carry his friend through
the worst of these, which was by NO
means a serious matter, and since the
physicians death. Gladstone has had
only slight need Of doctor.
Yet those who watch the great
Euglishman daily in the Commons
note that his step is not quite so firm,
his eyesight not so clear, nor his voice
so strong as it was year ago. The
fatigue of long sitting tells on him
more and the occasional maps into
which he has been accustomed to drop
for years in his seat in the Commons
are now moro frequent and prolonged.
Nevertheless the capacity for severe
and prolonged labor remain, with the
ability to rally rapidly from fatigue.
while the mighty intellect is AS clear
and acute and as mastery in its grasp
as ever. Some Of the hardest parlia-
mentary work of his life has been per-
formed by Gladstone since his last
birthday. He probably has never
certainly only few times before-bee n
under more severe strain than that
put upon him during the home rule
debate in the Commons. II the last
has been busy year with the Grand
Old Man, it has also been fairly sue
cessful one from the politician and the
statesman. He has had no forei p
matters of moment to deal with, unless
it be in connection with the Siamese
invasion by France, which was a
matter with which Lord Rossbsry
showed himself entirely competent to
deal England's attitude in presence
of the uneasines5 and sign Of storm in
continental Europe has b9sn a waiting
one, requiring 40 action and calling
for no especial declaration Of policy.
The naval scars which has grown
out of the Franco-Russian friendship
worked to Gladstone's advantage rather
than otherwise, and the troubles in
Matabeleland have done him no harm
so far, although they may come later
to bother him. 1t has been great good
fortune for Gladstone that he has had
no foreign questions demanding i'm.
mediate attention to distract him from
the course OF domestic reform he has
worked out. Along this lue Of domss
tic reform, he has made decided prog
rses during the year. in spite of the
obstructive policy of the lords. He
has passed the hons rule bill through
the commons, got it before the people
and received their verdict upon it in
several by-eleCtions, Gladstone begins
his eighty-6fth year full of plans for
the next session of parliament, and as
determined as ever to carry out his
programme Of reform Legislation to the
end in spite of Tories, Unionists and
the Lords, separately or combined, and
the outlook for his success is practic-
ally better than it was year ago--save
that he is year older.