The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-09-12
THE GRAND OLD TAN.


think IL will generally be found
that he looks at this country primarily
In It's relation 10 England; and at the
probable influence OF her kin beyond
the sea upon the fortunes OF England
lie anticipates great destiny for the
American people. and he looks To Us a.
the natural allies OF our cousins I'm the
Island from which we came. 1t is a
pious view. may call IL good Anglo
American view. In his letter 10 me.
dated I'm 1884. and published in January,
1885, In the New York Tribune, Mr..
Gladstone said:
Clearly. II the English-speakng peo-
pies shall then be anything like what
we have now been supposing. and II
there shall not be a good understand
ing among them, there will have been
base desertlon OF any easy duty, a
gran rihuto. such as might stir another
Dante TO denounce'it. a renunciation OF
the noblest, the most beneficial, the
most peaceful primacy ever presented
10 the heart and understanding of
man."
That opens a prospect grateful alike,
nope. 10 both branches of the English
speaking peoples, and we all rejoice that
Mr.. Gladstone's great authority should
be thrown on the side OF concord be-
tween English and Americans. We re-
Joice also in his tribute to Washington
as the purest figure in history" as
one who in moral elevation and in
greatness of character" deserves a
place on higher pedestal than any
body else. But that is a historical APP
probation which might well enough be
consistent with very moderate degree
or goodwill to the republic OF which
washington was the father. 1t must be
presumed that Mr.. Gladstone held the
same opinion OF Washington while he
was exalting the achievements OF the
southern leader who was endeavoring
to undo Washington's work.
Mr.. Gladstones essential conservat-
ism showed itself I'm great many curl
Gus little ways--among others, I'm his
respect for rank. Those OF his Ameri-
can idolaters who love TO think him i'm
peccable and infallible must reconcile
IL as 'best they may with their own
conceptions OF social democracy. At
best he was never much OF a democrat.
as we understand the word. lie never
accepted the American idea. Consid-
ering that he was an Englishman. that
is not. perhaps, reproach to him.
The notion that one man is as good as
another. socially speaking. was not hts:
he came much nearer agreeing with the
perfervid Irishman who added. Yes.
and a damned sight better" His lips
might not have shrunk even from the
intensity OF the oath, any more than did
Emerson's when he owned that he en-
We'd the blacksmith the freedom of his
profanity.
The breeze blew fresh late one after
noon from the North German Ocean up
the Firth as we paced this stone plat
form together. Mr.. Gladstone talking. as
his habit was. with immense energy on
the subject which occupied his mind for
the moment. The early autumn shad-
ows grew long. and presently Mr.. Glad
stone appeared with wrap. which she
put around her husbands neck, and we
walked on.
At the end of another half-hour she
came out of the castle. reminding her
husband that II was late. He answered
that he was almost ready to go. and
again we walked on. Mrs. Gladstone
waited and soon said. You know. Will
liam. you have to speak tomorrow, and
II is very damp: don't you think you
ought to go in?" Yes he replied.
quite time"-then, with one OF those
expressions OF humor not FREQUENT on
his face or In his voice, said TO me
softly: I'VE will take another turn to
vindicate our independence" and we
did Then Mrs. Gladstone had her way.
END we walked hack to the house.--Gco.
w. Smalley I'm Harper's Magazine.