The Portland daily press., 1894-03-22
Times or GREAT EVENTS.
A Letter from Mr.. Gladstone to the
Electors Of Midlothian.
IRELAND'S JUST DUES MUST BE
GIVEN In THE COMING ERA.

The Great Accompaniment OF Gne Icriou
In Which Mr.. Gladstone Has Played
So Prominent Part = The Present
Parliament - The Ex-Premier's Health
He Has a Cataract On Each Eye
But Is Assured of Relief.
London, March 21.-In letter written
to John Cowan, chairman of the
Midlothian Liberals from Brighton last
Saturday, Mfr. Gladstone refers to the
affectionate address of the Edinburg
Liberals and says: "I thank you very
much for your generous desire that l
shall not cease to represent Midlothian
in the House of Commons, but am un-
able to judge to what extent the condi-
tion of my sight and hearing will disable
me from performing the duties. am
careful to distinguish the warm and gen
erous coloring you have given my merits
and demeriLs. My career has certainly
been cha-geable with many erorrs of
Judgment, but l hope it has been gov
erned by uprightness of intention and
desire for strict justice.
Mr.. Gladstone states that he considers
his career as beginning with the reform
act of 1882. He calls the succeeding
three-scors years perhaps the greatest
legislative and administrative period in
British annals, period of emancipa-
tion, political, social, moral and intel
lectual during which almost mum berless
causes were brought to an issue. Con-
tinuing he says: Another period opens,
a period with possibly yet greater moral
dangers. Certainly it is a great ordeal
for those classes which are now becom-
ing largely conscious of power, but have
never hitherto been subjected to its
deJeriorating Influences Now is the time
for every true friend of this country to
remind the masses that they owe their
present political elevation to principles
no less broad and noble than the love of
liberty for all, without distinction of
class, creed or country, and resolute
preference for the interests of the whole
people to any interest of narrower scope"
Mr. Gladstone expresses the hope that
Scotland will, in the future. cherish
sense of duty no less lofty and enligEt-
ened than in the past. He concludes the
letter: "For myself, / need say little
more than that I carry with me out of
office the political opinions I professed
while in it. 1t is indeed source OF
satisfaction to me that, after sixty years
OF highly contentious life, can be
honorably relieved of some of thats.active
participation in political conflicts of
which | have had so full share. /
recognize the great and growing de-
mands of these countries for satisfying
their legislative wants. | lament that
the discrepancy of sentiment between the
to Houses of Parliament has been re-
vived' to such an extent az to raise a
question between the cham ber response
BILE and the chamber totally irresponsi BILE
to the nation and raise it in such form
as will demand at no distant day con-
elusive Judgment form their constituent
cies. feel convinced ithatruntil the just
demands of Ireland are satisfied as the
House of Commons has tried to satisfy
them, neither will the legislative wants
of any portion of the United Kingdom be
adequately met nor will the Empire
attain the maximum of it's union and
power nor British honor be effectualiy
cleared of the deepest historic stain ever
attached to it,"
Mr.. Gladstone has had consultation
with DR.. Nethercliffe, celebrated
ophthalmist, who has informed the ex-
premier that the necessary operation
NAV be performed without the slightest
danger. DR.. Nethercliffe confirms the re-
port that Mr.. G Gladstone has cataract. on
each eye. The operation will be per.
formed in about there months.