Evening journal., 1894-02-01
is 1T WAR He SCIENTIST
Startling Rumor on the Heels oi
Gladstone's Letter.
MUCH EXCITEMENT II LONDON.

Mhie Denying lhat He Il 20 kcHtgn ~
Once, Englsnd's Peace Loving Premier
Hints That Ho May Retire at Any Time.
Belief That He secs Trouble Ahead.
LONDON. Feb l.-Sir Algenon West.
who Is with Nr Gladstone at Biarritz, has
been authorized Co declare that the state
ment that Mr. Gladstone had decided to re.
sign is untrue. He IS further authorized
20 say that il is true that many months
ago Mr Gladstone's age and the condition
of his sight and hearing made H. in his
Judgment, desirable to be relieved from
public cares.
His tenure Of Office, which has been liza
ble TO interruption from these causes, re
mains exactly as before. Mr. Gladstone
has not said or done anything to restrain
his freedom or that Of his colleagues re-
garding his future course.
Amazement In London.
Concerning this letter Mr.. White, the
corresponds at Of the New York Sun, cabled
his paper as follows; When this letter was
posted on the bulletin boards at the clubs,
it was read with amazement Il was re.
garded as a denial which amounted to con
firmation. The intimations which are con
veyed between the lines were considered of
tven more startling import than the fact
that Mr.. Gladstone might soon retire. II
is not too much to say that Sir Algernon
Vests message, with its vague but por.
tentous significance, will alarm Europe as
nothing else has done since the declaration
of war ia 1870.
Before the message was received the poll
ticians Of both parties eagerly discussed
the possible reasons for Gladstone's retire
ment just at the present moment. His
health by al accounts is as good as it has
been for years. His political measures
have taken the course expected by nearly
everybody. Why, then, should he sudden
ly withdraw The first aud most ominou.
answer which was suggested was that "a,
sees burdens and responsibilities ahead fai
greater than he can assume lin other
words, that The Daily Telegraph was right
when it declared three weeks ago, 9Th,
authorities have been warned through Oh,
most trustworthy sorces of information
that war might be thrust upon England a
any moment"
breads the Ordeal.
Even Gladstone's friends would be unun
imous that the Grand Old Man is unfit t.
undertake the fearful ordeal Of a wa
I tlA4lIleNlANlDus AAAhtMAoa 40 MUAlAu UN
grave error to put the country through III
crisis Of a change in the ministry on tn
eve Of hOstilities.
Vests dispatch. written of course b.
Gladstone himself, seemed TO confirm thi
view. On which side of the scale woul
Gladstone's resignation weight Inasmuc
as England is certain not to be the aggres
sor in the threatened conflict and the othe
powers fear Gladstone less than almos
any other probable British premier, th
change might make an intending belligei
ent hesitate.
Not the first sign Of hostile intentions
yet manifested in any quarter. What groa
power is deliberately planning war Will
protesting only peace; If Gladstone is S
thoroughly convinced that war is imm
nent that he is arranging to turn over th
government TO younger hands, the warlik
evidence before him must be strong. NJ
scrap of IL is yet known outside the il
nermost diplomatic circles.