Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1894-02-01
GLADSTONE MAY RESIGN.
While Denying That He Is to Resign at
Once, ERgland's Peace Loving Premier
Hints That He May Retire nj, Any Time.
Belief That He Sees Trouble Ahead.

Hints That He May Retire Mt ANY Time
Belief That He Sees Trouble Ahead.
LONDON, Feb. 1.-Sir Algernon West,
who is with Mr.. Gladstone at Biarritz, has
been authorized to declare that the state
ment that Mr.. Gladstone had decided to re-
sign is untrue. He is further authorized
to say that it is true that many months
ago Mr.. Gladstone's age and the condition
of his sight and hearing made it, in his
Judgment, desirable to be relieved from
public cares.
His tenure of office, which has been liza
BILE to interruption from these causes, re-
mains exactly as before. Mr. Gladstone
has not said or dons anything to restrain
his freedom or that of his colleagues re-
garding his future course.
Amazement In London.
Concerning this letter Mr.. White, the
correspondent of the New York Sun, cabled
his paper as follows: When this letter was
posted on the bulletin boards at the clubs,
1t was read with amaZement. 1t was re-
garded as denial which amounted to con-
firmation. The intimations which are con-
veyed between the lines were considered of
even more startling import than the fact
that Mr.. Gladstone might soon retire. 1t
is not too much to say that SirgAlgernon
Vests message, with its vague but por-
tentous significance, will alarm Europe as
nothing else has done since the declaration
of war in 1870
Before the message was received the poll
ticians of both parties eagerly discussed
the possible reasons for Gladstone's retire
ment just at the present moment His
health by all accounts is as good as it has
been for years. His political measures
have taken the course expected by nearly
every body. Why, then, should he sudden
~ withdraw The first and most ominous
answer which was suggested was that he
sees burdens and responsibilities ahead far
greater than he can assume in other
words, that The DAILY. Telegraph WAS right
when it declared three weeks ago, The
authorities have been warned through the
most trustworthy sorces of information
that war might be thrust upon England at
any moment"
breads the Ordeal.
Even Gladstone's friends would be unan
imous that the Grand Old Man is unfit to
undertake the fearful ordeal of war
administration. Likewise it would be a
grave error to put the country through the
crisis of change in the ministry on the
eve of hostilities.
Vests dispatch, written of course by
Gladstone himself, seemed to confir m this
view. On which side of the scale would
Gladstone's resignation weight Inasmuch
as England is certain not to be the aggres-
sor in the threatened conflict and the other
powers fear Gladstone less than almost
any other probable British premier, the
change might make an intending belliger
ent hesitate.
Not the first sign of hostile intentions is
yet manifested in any quarter. What great
power is deliberately planning war while
protesting only peaees If Gladstone is so
thoroughly convinced that war is immi-
nent that he is arranging to turn over the
government to younger hands, the warlike
evidence before him must be strong. Not
a scrap of it is yet known outside the in
nermost diplomatic circles.