The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1898-05-19
PASSING OF GLADSTONE

Like ships that pass in the night, Will
lam Ewart Gladstone has quietly crossed
the river into eternity The announce
ment of his death will produce no shock,
as 1t should provoke no regret, for 1t must
be conceded he well earned the peace that
Is found only beyond the grave, that he Is
fully entitled to the rest that comes only
with sleep eternal.
Few men of our times, If any, combined
so many elements of greatness. Few
men have been so eminently successful
IN impressing their individuality upon
the civilization, Of the era, in, which they
have lived. Emerson tells us that "he
is great who is what he is from Nature,
and who never reminds us of others
Surely such man was Gladstone-as
unique as are the mammoth trees of
California. Nature endowed him with
greatness; disposition, education and en-
vironment nurtured it, and events fur
nished opportunity for it's development
and manifestation.
Statesman, yet friend to truth; Of soul
sincere.
In action faithful, and in honor clear;
Who broke no promise, served no private
end,
Who gained no title and who lost no friend.
No title save that conferred by Chris
tendon and disputed by none, Grand
Old Man." He was grand. in that his
humanity o'erleaped the boundaries of
rnpfipeufo opd HE Iowa, uoo q q hrood q g
the ocean, confined to no class or COM
mune. He was old in years and in the
service Of mankind, finally falling down
near the ninetieth milestone, after quite
eixty-six years of almost continuous SER
vice. He ever
~. Dared do all that became man.
Who dares do more is none.
Once in public life, British laws con-
spired to keep him there. He was never
without an immediate constituency. Re-
ford; there turned down, he was taken up
by South Lancashire, and in turn by
Greenwich and Midlothian. When not in
the commons-albeit he ever declined to
sink his individuality In the house Of
lords-he was serving his country as
premier. first lord of the treasury, chan
cellor Of the exchequer, colonial secre-
tary, president of the board of trade, or
as under secretary of state for the COL
onies.
Long Tory, he eventually broadened
into Liberalism, and easily maintained
his position as the leader of the party
throughout all Of the years that have
since passed. Largely through his ram
flying influence the restrictive tariff laws
Of England were revised along free trade
lines, the odious corn tax was abolished
and the foundations were laid for com
merce that has become world encom-
passing. Mainly through his champion
ship the Irish church was disestablished
coercive legislation repealed, conciliatory
land acts were passed and a more liberal
and acceptable government was estab.
iished in Ireland.
But at no time during his long, useful
and Il1ustrious career did Mr.. Gladstone
conf1ne his efforts to the amelioration Of
the conditions OF mankind to England O,
her colonial possessions. The victims Of
misfortune. cruelty and oppression Ii
2 every land commanded his sympathy and
compassion. He set all Europe afIre will
his soulful portrayal Of the miseries o.
political prisoners in the two sicilies. H,
exerted potential influence in the lonr
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