The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-02-28
CLADSTONE'S RETIREMENT.
The RumOr That He Has Resigned
Revived.


Have Declined the Premiership and
Earl Spencer to Have Accepted It.
Ill Health, Weak Eyes and Suscepti-
bility to Criticism the Reasons Ad-
vanced for the Premier's Action-His
Secretary Refuses to Confirm or
Deny the Rumor.
London, Feb 27.-The subject of Pre-
mier Gladston's resignation was revived
to-day in a way suggesting that there
may be some foundation for the report.
The Pail Mall Gazette, St. James Ga
zette and Westminster Gazette publish
articles almost identical in substance, in
dicating that Mr.. Gladstone will resign
at an early day
The reason given in each case is that
the premier's eyesight is failing so fast
that his vision will become wholly OBJ
scured If he does not Immediately retire
from active political duty. 1t is also
stated that 1t was the intention of Mr..
Gladstone to allude to his approaching
resignation in the House of Commons
yesterday, but he was dissuaded by his
colleagues from doing so.
The Central News is authority for the
statement that the rumor that Mr.. Glad
stone will resign is officially denied.
CAN'T STAND CRITICISM NOW.
Though the condition of Mr.. Gladstone's
eyes is regarded as a sufficient reason for
his wishing to lay down the cares of
office, it is not believed TO be the real Fea-
son for his resignation, if the present re-
port that he has resigned is true. Owing
10 his great age and waning physical
power he is not as able to withstand the
shafts of criticism hurled at him as he
was few years, or even few
months ago Where then they would
glance from him as from an armor,
they now pierce him. 1t is also
true that he has recently been deeply
affected by the comments of his political
friends, and allies on his course in regard
to several party measures. These evil
dences of ingratitude have panied him
severely. His course in withdrawing the
employers liability bill when many of
his followers were clamoring for a parlia-
mentary fight against the House of Lords
with the ultimate view of compelling the
abolition cf the hereditary body, has
driven the more radical Of his adherents
to declare that his democracy has under
gone a change, and this accusation they
have taken great pains should reach his
ears. Ali these things, it is believed,
have made him simply tired.
HIS SECRETARY DECLINES TO TALK.
Inc pFlNhIS SECRETARY OI inc premier
will neither affirm nor deny the reports.
The most he will say is that the positive
statement of the Edinburk Evening News
that Mr.. Gladstone had resigned is zen
tirely unauthorized - Asked as to the
accuracy of the statements, the secre-
tary, instead of giving a direct answer,
merely reiterated his former statement
that the Evening News had made the
statement without receiving any authori-
zation.
The fact that the Earl of Rosebery,
while on his way to visit the Prince and
Princess of Wales at Sandringham last
Saturday, was handed dispatch at New
market and Immediately returned to the
foreign Office, while attracting no atten-
tion at the time, is now believed to have
had direct bearing on the question
which is now causing so much
agitation in political circles-Mr Glad
stones retirement in Lord Rosebery's
favor. The excuse given out at the
time for Lord Rosebery's sudden return
was that he was summoned back for a
consultation, made necessary by the de-
feat of the British sailors on the west
coast of Africa. 1t is now said, however
that the reason for the return of the sec
retary of state for foreign affairs was
that an important announcement had
been made by Mr.. Gladstone, the eject of
that he intended to resign.
Mr.. Gladstone was visited to-day by a
physician, who remained with him for
some time. The premier attended TO his
official duties during the morning, how
ever, and received several visitors, among
them the liberal whip, Edward Maori
banks.
THE EFFECT ON THE MARKETS
The general discussion of the matter on
the STOCK exchange connects the unusual
rise in consols and Egyptian unified fours,
with the persistent rumors, and, in many
cases, firm belief that Mr.. Gladstone will
resign the premiership. The Manches ter
Guardian, the Yorkshire Post and many
other provincial news papers, publish these
rumors and accompany them with articles
expressing a belief that they are we'll
founded.
The Chronicle and the Sun claim to
have information that Earl Rose
berry will be Mr. Gladstone's successor,
and Sir William Harcourt the govern
ment leader the House of Commons.
THE CATARACT IN his EYE.
Inquiries made tonight tend to confirm
the report that Gladstone's resignation is
inevitable within few weeks. Since
Mr. Gladstone's return from Biarritz the
cataract which has been forming in his
eye has ripened fast, and Dr. Bond, Dr.
Granger and other physicians, whom
he has consulted. consider an early
operation advisable. The treatment
viii necessarily involve seclusion in
darkened room for long time, probably
three months, with complete cessation of
all work attended by brain strain or
worry. Mr., Gladstone's colleagues wish
him TO postpone his resignation of the
premiership until the latest possible
moment and to keep a sinecured seat in
the cabinet, such as by taking the Office
Of lord privy seal
THE LIBERALS DIVIDED IN OPINION.
The liberals are divided in opinion as
to whether MIR. Gladstones retirement
will be temporary or permanent. MIR.
Gladstone himself freely tells his friends
that his hearing is going with his eye
sight. His health otherwise, however, is
still vigorous. His voice in last nights
debate in the House Of Commons was
full and clear, and his bearing was up
right and hrm. The radicals, who believe
hin an obstacle 10 reform of the House Of
Lords, hold that MIR. Gladstone's with
drawal from the ministry will be final.
RosEBERY A MAN OF DESTINY.
The Edinburgh Evening News, in COM
menting upon the report that Mr.. Glad
stone has resigned, and that he will re-
commend Lord Rosebery as bis sue
cessor, recalls a speech made by Mr.
Gladstone az Manchester in June, 1886, IN
which he said Lord Rosebery Is a man
Of sssfeor, tsort rrrfIf ha.v frov. fhou 800.