The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-03-22
GLADSTONE'S FUTURE
Letter from the Ex-Premier to
His Midlothian Constituents.
Whether He Will Continue in Parlia-
ment Depends on His Eyesight-
Buda Pesth in Mourning.

LONDON, March N.-Mr. Gladstone re-
Gently received an address from his con-
stituents in Midlothian in which he was
requested to continue to represent that
Parliamentary borough in the House Of
Commons. Replying to this address, Mr..
Gladstone has written a letter declaring
that his chief desire will be TO follow the
wishes Of the constituents he represents.
He adds: There will naturally be change
in my attendance at Parliament / cannot
yet judge how far my sight and hearing
Will disable me from performing parlia-
mentary duties. Whatever the merits or
dement's Of my career, and certainly have
been chargeable with many errors of judg-
ment i hope al least, it has been governed
by uprightness and desire to learn
Proceeding to review his public life Of
sixty years, dating from Lord Derbys re-
form act, which he describes as the polit-
zeal birth of scotland, and the beginning Of
a duty which has been solemnly recognized,
Mr.. Gladstone says that his career has been
history of political, economical, social,
moral and intellectual emancipation. He
adds that in all the numberless causes that
had been brought forward in this time
Scotland has battled for the right Anoth-
er period has opened, possibly of greater
ordeal for those masses who are now be-
coming conscious of their power, and who
have never heretofore been subjected to
its deteriorating influences. Now is the
time for the true friends of the country TO
remind the masses that they owe their
political elevation to broad, noble princi-
ples love OF liberty for all without dis
tinction of class, creed or country, and
resolute preference for the interests of
the whole 10 any interest OF narrower
scope.
that Scotland will continue to cherish
lively and enlightened sense OF duty, and
that undoubtedly she will be able to obtain
without difficulty every satisfaction OF her
own special wants. For myself, I carry
out OF office the same political opinions
l professed while in 1t. 1t is indeed a salts
faction TO me, after more than sixty years
of highly contentious life, that / can
honorably be relieved from some active
participation In political conflicts but rec.
ognize the great and growing demands OF
these countries for the satisfaction OF their
legislative wants, and l lament that the
discrepancy of sentiment between the two
houses of Parliament has received during
the past year such development as to raise
question between the chamber in the
main responsible and the chamber totally
irresponsible TO the nation, in such form
as TO neccssitate a conclusive Judgment
tba int Re @ ae d rand er
satisfied, as the House Of Commons tried
to satisfy them, neither the legislative
dom 'S viii be a9equatey met nor DIV viii the
empire attain its maximum union or power
nor its dishonor be effectively cleared of
the deepest historic stain ever attached to
it."
Replying to-day to an address presented
TO him by the progressive members OF the
London County Council Prime Minister
Roseberry said there were signs Of a new
spirit passing from munlclpaI INTO imperial
politics which aimed more 10 improve the
lot Of workers than OF those great consti-
tutional changes Of the past. He was GER
tain there was party in the country not
connected with any political organization
which was inclined to demand that more be
done for the people. That spirit would
spread, and if Parliament was unable to do
something effective it would spread higher
and wider in the social scale. Lord Rose
berry asked the presenters of the address to
rob no class, but he declared that unless
effective means We're taken to deal with the
incalculable population which is growing
up half noticed and half ignored there
would be a danger for England such no
wa-r- had ever given her.
The political committee of the National
Liberal Club has formed a committee to
prepare memorial for presentation to Mr.
Gladstone, and has asked the other Liberal
bodies including the McCarthyites, to CO.
operate with it in this object