The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-03-25
THE PASSING OF GLADSTONE.
FLNIsHTNo mrs PUBLIC CAREER, BE
ROUNDS OUr a POLI1ICAB ERA.

His lire ereatns.s IAns Hiir ASove =
resrsee-Lsst Acts ef Fsis Premiership
Hi- vsst Popularity A-o-e the Enuiish
Psspie-Au Etc. sehooiasys' Esi-sss-
Systematic Methods or Cerrsrpsndsses.
LONDON. March 15.-To an alien observer the
passing Of Gladstone has been a spectacle pre-
sentInR aome strange features The grestest
man OF his age In the proudest nation Of the
earth suddenly finishes his public career and
closes with It a political era. At such mo-
ment one naturally looks for due appreciation
Of the i'm bortance OF the event and recognition
OF the services OF the illustrious servant OF the
people on the part OF those most concerned.
As matter OF fact. there never was presented
a more striking demonstration OF how COM
pietely the close proximity Of time and place
destroys the true historical perspective. For
Americans. for all the world EXCEPT English
men, the retirement OF Mr.. Gladstone COM
plet.s a chapter in history which makes little
account ofthe flag ends oithe political tasks In
which he happened to be engaged when the
moment OF abdication came.
IL seems harsh thing to accuse the English
people OF ingratitude. Two or three splendid
euloaies Of the greatest Englishman OF his
time have appeared In tho press within few
days. aud tho private tributes which have
poured in upon him have been NUM- ered By
hundreds But the burden OF the praise and
acknowledge snt OF his talents has been more
Of the sort that Is bestowed upon wonderful
piece Of mechanism or upon the skill Of
PaderewskL 1t has been admiration more
than gratitude. even on the part Of his friends.
And there has been too ready tendency to
turn in the same breath to the discussion Of
his successor and the political exigencies
which are raised by the resignation. Every
one OF the Liberal organs In London has been
guilty OF this. Long editorials upon the re-
tirement Of the Premier have been more than
half devoted to the prospects OF continued
partisan supremacy.
II we look further for evidence Of national
iugratitude the inquiry must be pressed
against the sovereign herself One does not
look for sentiment In an Official Court Cir
cular. So It seems at first thought proper
enough that tho bare announcement which Il
contained Of tho Prime Minister'S resignation
should have been coupled with the formal
phrase that IL was graciously accepted by
her Majesty" II Is well known that the Court
Circular passes under the Qusen's own hand
and that she carefully revises II before IL Is Is
sued. The last time q Prime Minister re-
signed. only eighteen months ago and by the
direct mandate OF the people. the Queen
notified the country that she accepted
Lord salisbury's resignation with much
regret" In the case OF Mr.. Gladstone. after
a career antedating even her own. there is
not word OF regret. OF thanks. still less OF
personal sorrow 1t was week ago to-day
that Mr.. Gladstone Informally made known to
the Queen his intention to retire. He was In
audience with her for an hour 1t was report
cd that her Majesty in creditable emotion was
moved to tears by the Grand Old Mans an
nouncenen t OF his growing inflrmities and the
necessity for his relnIuishinG all public tasks
Much as one would like to accept the incident.
the circumstances hardly admit 1t to credence
That q renewed offer OF peerage was made to
the great commo ner il undoubtedly true. All
alien admirers Of Mr.. Gladstone and most OF
his countrymen will rejoice that he declined It
Even EnGlishmen will soon DO proud OF .
countrymau so illustrious that the highest
honor his Sovereign could bestow would but
detract from his greatness and fame.
There has been an utter absence OF the dra-
matte and spectacular elem ent In the memoir
able event which still absorbs the worlds at
tsntion. Even In tAe sorild. rnatsrtaiistic
English mind. this sense Is not altogether
lacking. SO that the quiet. unannounced sur
render OF power without official leavetaking
has been q severe disappointment to many.
The manner OF his going was not as Mr.. Glad
stone himself would have planned 1t. 1t Is no
disparagement Of him to say what Is the truth.
homage OF his associates and the plaudits OF
the people. Even In his old age. while he has
not sought these popular tributes. he has not
despised them and they have often brought
him genuine pleasure. II is no secret that he
desired to conceal from the public and from all
but his closest associates his decision to retire
until the very eve OF his resig alton. The mo-
mentous news would have been announced In
Q farewell Grafton that would have thrilled all
Christendom with its eloauence. The prophet
ic finger OF the Grand Old Man would have
pointed out the path along which lay true
progress and victory for hls followers and for
his country. The House OF Commons would
have witnessed a scene unmatched In the long
history OF the Mother Of Parliaments. 1t would
master. for the pen OF an inspired bard. :.
But pathos and grandeur and dramatic eli
e.t .ab ali ' n this WORK dss world This
sssr WAS denIed NJ Il aa.tone@a snisd him
Prise s 81 an 1msTieaS. II was i@possibls after
the premature publication BY the Pal Nal Ga
Minlstsr to elsetriiy Psriiament and the eoun.
try with the nsgs that tis race race Was run: tie
last great, speech IN the House on Mon.
SSf' hi. s family Wsss and the ps%bsf
Sle qttsrsnee eentaInlng a least az allusion e
The s isss tPst they ysre the closing words Of
and others OF those nearest and dearest to him
sat- in .as g when On hs sRs not S sSs
sbls to learn, Mr.. Gladstons absndops ned
words at that sitting OF the House were not
important When his final philippe did come.
three days later. 1t was q thunderbolt from
Joye rather tnan the swan song Of a dying
the great campaign OF democracy. The old
man was splendid In his invective. electric In
his denuneiation. maRp lfeent in his prophecy
Of victory. He was the ideal eader still strong.
rssoureeful. inspiring. invulnerAble, The Pc
euliar. vibrating ring in his voice was never
more clear, never more resonant never more
thrilling. IL electrified his supporters. t. set
their very nerves tagging Ia unison. What
wonder they ehsered him again and again and
again inteITuptihg his principal DeriOdsl For
the first time he pronounced the doom Of the
take such advanced ground. none knew he
held such pronounced Views And when he
had finished none knew for some hours after
that it was his last speech as Prime Minister
OF England.
MT. GIadstone's devastating OF his Cabinet
the next day. before going to place his resig-
nation In the hands Of the Queen. Was OF a
more personal and affeetiOnate ehAraetsT. Age