The evening world., 1894-02-27
EDITION.
GLADSTONE
MAY Be OUT.
Edinburgh Paper Declares
that he Has Resigned
the Premiership.
WILL STAY IN THE CABINET.
His Secretary Simply Says tho
Statements Are "Un-
authorized"
REPORT FINDS BELIEVERS.
EngIand's Grand Old Man Is Said
to Have a Cataract on
His Eye.
REPORT FINDS BELIEVERS.
Dy Associated Press.)

L"
LONDON. Feb. 2I.-The political world
Is once more greatly agitated by re-
newed rumors to 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 1t classes as reliable
authority that Mr.. Gladstone has re-
signed the Premiership: but. the Evening
News adds, he will retain his seat in the
Cabinet and will also continue to repre-
sent Midlothian In the House of COM
mons.
Naturally. thisr report, apparently based
on something more than political rumor
has caused the greatest excitement In
political circles and is causing a great
and hurried exchange of kilograms be-
tween the great leaders and their inti-
mate advisers.
Strange to say. after so many denials.
and after such a number of canards
have been put in circulation in onnec-
ton with the Grand Old Man. the pres
ent report that he has actually rendered
his resignation. or that he intends to
take such action during the present week,
In obtaining general credence.
T. +. O'Connor. NJ. p. writing to The
Sun to-day, says. in connection with the
rumor that Mr.. Gladstone has resigned.
and apparently tending to confirm the
report:
For some time something like a panic
has existed among Mr.. Gladstone's sup
porters in the Hobbies. Yesterday even
ing the rumor was current hat his res
ignation was to be expected during the
course of the week. Competent author
ity gives his eyesight as the actual rea-
son for his resignation. but the sltua-
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
sibility Of Earl Spencer's Cthe First Lord
Of the Admiralty resigning.
The cataract in the Premier's eye IN
not yet ripe for operation: but when 10
occurs he must spend six weeks In dark.
ness.
Nobody has the least idea what any
day may bring forth, though my own
opinion Is that Mr.. Gladstone will 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-
Lied. When questioned as to their ac-
curacy. Mr.. Gladstone's secretary re-
fused to give a direct answer, simply
reiterating his former statement that
the Evening News had 10 authorization
to make the statements which. nave
caused so much excitement in political
circles.
1t is now recalled that some astonish-
ment was caused on Saturday last by
the fact that the Earl of Rosebery. Sec
rotary of State for Foreign Affairs. while
on his way to visit the Prince and
Princess OF Wales at S~andringham. was
hurriedly called back to the Foreign
Office by a despatch which was handed
to him at Newmarket.
The Earl of Rosebery returned to Lon
don by a special train, n went imme-
diately to the Foreign Office. The excuse
given out for this sudden change OF I'M
tentions was that a Cabinet c~onsulta-
ton was necessary in view Of the de-
feats sustained by the sailors OF the
British w%arships Raleigh and Widgeon
on the Gambia Coast CT Africa.
1t Is now stated, however. that the
return OF the Earl of Rosebery was due
to an important announcement made BY
Mr.. Gladstone to one OF the Cabinet
Minister'S, and II Is said that this an-
nouncement practically amounted to q
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 failing eye
sight and OF the bitter attacks made
upon him by newspapers which had pre-
viously warmly supported him. as a re-
suit OF his failure to appeal to the SYM
pathies of those who were clamoring for
the abolition of the House OF Lords by
making a determined attack upon that
venerable and rusty institution when the
amendments OF the Peers to the popular
Employers Liability bill and to the
Parish Councils bill were taken up In tho
House OF Commons.
Former supporters Of Mr.. Gladston4
lCOnhnred on zhid Ruoel