Waterbury evening Democrat., 1894-03-03
REFUSED A PEERAGE.

The Queen Offered Him This Title and En-
pressed Her Regrets When He Told Her
OF His Intention to Resign-Llbouchere
Declares War on the Lords.
LONDON, March BY command of the
queen Mr.. and Mrs. Gladstone are at Wind
| sor castle to remain as her guests today.
| At noon a prfSy council will be held at
Windsor castle, when Mr. Gladstone will
| tender his resignation of the premiership.
The Earl of Kimberley, lord president of
the council; Earl Spencer, first lord of the
| admiralty, and the other ministers, with
| the exception of Lord Rosebery, will be
| present.
In his consultation with the queen Mr..
| Gladstone explained fully to her majesty
the reasons for his retirement.
The queen expressed her regrets that the
| country should lose bis services and offered
him peerage.
This Mr. Gladstone declined to accept.
Mr. Gladstone recommended that Lord
| Rosebery be appointed as his successor. A
| telegram was sent later to 3ord Rosebery,
who is at EPSON, summoning him to
Windsor for 8 O'Clock this afternoon.
1t is understood that he will accept the
premiership, but that there will be only
| two other changes in the cabinet.
Wants No Peer For Premier.
Mr.. Henry Labouchere, in an interview,
was asked what he would do if Lord Rose
berry became premier. In reply Mr.. Labou-
chere said that if the Conservatives moved
! a want of confidence in such Il government
he would not support the government, and
| he thought that at least 20 members were
in full sympathy with his view of the stu
| alton, and that if they were driven to ex-
trenes they would even overturn a govern
ment headed by peer.
1t is learned upon good authority that
Mr.. Gladstone will not accept any position
| in the soon to be reorganized administra-
ton. The general feeling in the Liberal
clubs is that if Mr. Gladstone was to re-
main a member of the cabinet it would
hamper his successors and take away their
freedom of action, though it is understood
that he has intinated his desire to give his
successors counsel and cooperation when
ever required.
In an editorial The Standard says: ''Nei-
Their dignity nor grace has been consulted
In the arrangement for the close of Mr..
Gladstone's career Up to the last moment
those persons possessing a primary claim
on his confidence were quite obviously I'M
der false impression as to his intentions.
The autocratic obstinacy which attempted
to cram into one year legislation that
| should have occupied two eliminates in a
pitable scene of confusion, recrimination
and frantic haste"
The Parnellite members regard the re-
tirement of Mr.. Gladstone as betrayal of
the Irish cause and are Inclined to oppose
any ministry of which MIR. Gladstone is
not a member.
Between Harcourt and Rosebery.
The Times says: ut is unusual for the
queen to seek advice from a retiring pre-
mier, but if, out of compliment to Mr..
Gladstone's long and faithful service, she
| should ask his opinion, it is likely that he
would name Lord Rosebery as the man
best able to hold the cabinet and party to-
gether Her majesty's choice appears to
lie between Sir William Harcourt, the
Earl of Kimberley and Lord Rosebery."
The Standard says: st is understood
that Mr.. Gladstone will retain his seat in
parliament. 1t is regarded as certain that
the Earl of Kimberley will have the foreign
office, while Mr.. John Morley will succeed
him as secretary for India"
All the minister's, with the possible ex-
ception of Sir William Harcourt, are will
ing to serve under Lord Rosebery. Most
of them feel strongly that this will be the
best arrangement. 1t is not certain that
they would all accept Sir William Har-
court as premier. The Earl of Kimberley
might conciliate every body.
A feeling exists that if the premier is to
be peer-which is undesirable, but prob.
ably inevitable-the choice should fall upon
Lord Rosebery. If it does. he will not hold
the foreign portfolio, and Mr.. John Morley
will leave the Irish Office for more digni-
fed position.