The Big Stone Gap post. [volume] (Big Stone Gap, Wise County, Va.) 1892-1928, 1894-03-08

Starting out as a Tory or advanced
Protectionist, then becoming sncces-
siyely Corn Law repeater, a Liber-
al Conservative, Liberal, an ad-
vanccd Liberal, Radical, Home
Ruler, and then on his very last par
ty votc,S going into the lobby with his
old friends, the Tories,-tlten, as it
were, completing the circle,-he is
present to our ideas as a man of un-
stable mind.
His mental qualities and accom-
plishments are of the most varied
character, and Of the very highest
order, for whether, as statesman, or
ator, financier, writer, Or scholar, he
shines with equal brilliancy, as a
star Of the first magnitude, and,
coupled with his untiring energy in
aSong and necessarily busy career,
he Justly obtains great admiration as
a man possessing call tie talents, .
and as being the unique figure of ON
day.
he has been credited by eminent
statesmen with having restless
ambition for power. lie has, on
more than one occasion, quickly and
radically changed his course Of ac-
ton, notably, his efforts to disestab-
lish his Irish Church, and his going
over to what is termed the Irish OF
Home Rule Party, after initiating
severe measures, including imprlson-
mcnt against several Of its most
prominent leaders During our late
civil war, his sympathic8 were with
The South, causing a loss Of such
friends as John Bright and Rich
ard Golden.
When we reflect that Mr.. Glad
stone was present as a member Of
Parliament not only at Queen Veto
ra's Convention in 1888, but also at
the world renowned celebration of hel
;nbiiee, as sovereign Of the British
lim p;rc, it will be evident that dur-
ing his leagthy Parliamentary career
mighty events aud changes have oc-
ca.qc'. Eos instance. lie Indian
Mating; Climcan Wa; our own Civ
!! (or rather uacivi!} War: tie Fran
CO. German War; destruction Of The
Second French Empire; the Subma
r;nc Telegraph; cheap and mighty
organization of Mail and Expressive
Telephone; Electricity in all It's many
appliances, although still in its IN
fancy; Astronomical research and dis
coYcry; cheap, well grounded and
highly efficient education for thc
people Of various nations; and The
wonderful travelling facilities Of the
present day. What an entertain
ment the Honorable Gentleman
could give us.
Possessing . musical voice. an al
tractive manner, and great and vali-
Ell knowledge, Nj. Gladstone has
always shone i'll conversation. Ent
he is. admittedly, ore Of the most
difficult Of men from whom TO obtain
q clear and explicit reply 20 an en-
quilv. It is notorious that when bis
long, and complex peiiods have
been rounded up" it has been usu-
ally seen that they have. failed 10
give the information sought TO be
o1taine|-thus illustrating, 10 some
extent, the truth Of. Che saving Of a
prominent French Statesman Of the
regime of Napoleon that "languaSe
was Given to conceal thought"
Although his religious views have
been considerably lihcralized by
time, yet Mr.. Gladstone remains
faithful in his attachment to the
Church Of EnSland-tbc Episcopal
Church. Wien at home at Harvard
en-. (of Which Parish, one Of his sons,
is Rector), he iava-ia bic reads
the Lessons Of Divine Service lie
has no sympathy with the views OF
Darwin, Huxley, Spencer, Harrison,
or others Of a Ike school.
IN all the relations Of private life
he has ever been most exemplary; 4
devoted husband, an cifectonatc
father, sincere friend. lie pre-
scnts to us, in his own experience, a
fine example of early rising, temper
ance, systematic outdoor exercises,
and Other regular habits Of lie.
As we said in former issue. Mr..
Gladstone is man Of whom any