The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-05-24

convention.
Early in the year 1879 he had been
invited to become the liberal candidate
for Midlothian, and the %crowning Incl
dent of the electoral campaign in the
ensuing parliamentary recess was his
visit to Scotland in connection with
his Of contesting that county
at the general election. He was elect
ed n again become prime minister.
His cabinet was constructed with a
view to conciliate and to represent the
different sections of the liberal major
ity. Mr.. Gladstone himself superadded
to his duties as First Lord of the treas
ury the functions of Chancellor of the
ExcheQuer, but he resigned the latter
office in 1883 into the hands of Mr.. Chill
ders.
The history of Mr.. G~ladstone's second
ministry may be summed up in three
Words-Ireland, Egypt, Franchise
though of course q large number of
other matters We're long under consid-
Grafton.
On June 9, 1855, Mr.. Gladstone was
overthrow by a vote on the budget
and the conservatives, under Lord Sal
isbury's leadership, came into power.
A general election took place in Nov
ember, just five months after Mr.. Glad
stones defeat, and the liberals were
successful. Their strength, numeri-
cally, was about equal to hat of the
Tories and Parnellites combined.
When Mr.. Gladstone returned to of
flee he announced his readiness to in
trOduce a home rule measure for Ire
land, and this created dissension in the
liberal ranks and practically broke up
the party. Lord Harrington and others
declined to accept offices, and Mr..
Chamberlain and Mr.. Trevelyan only
accepted on grounds which subse-
Quently proved untenable.
In a powerful and lengthy speech,
Mr.. Gladstone introduced his measure
of home rule on April s.. The day will
be long remembered by those who were
in the house and the tens of thousands
whO read of the scenes and stirring in
cidents which occurred before, during
and after the speech. The following
day, at the second reading, the bill
was rejected by a majority Of thirty.
Mr.. Gladstone then appealed to the
country, but was overwhelmed as a
result, and the conservative and union
list liberals won by a large majority.
Mr.. Gladstone resigned without meet
ing parliament, and Lord Salisbury
became prime minister for the second
time on August 3, 1886.
Mr.. and Mrs. Gladstone celebrated
their golden wedding on July %, 1888
following, and on the occasion of his
eightieth birthday, December 20, 1889,
the venerable statesman received con-
gr~atulatiOnS from all over the world.
Three months later, Mr.. Gladstone de-
livered a beautiful Grafton, his subject
being The Parnell Commission, and it
was said to be one of his finest and
most eloquent efforts
In the autumn of 1890 Mr.. Gladstone
demanded that Mr.. Parnell retire from
the leadership of the Irish party, and
based his deman on the grounds that
as Mr.. Parnell had been found guilty
of adultery with the wife of Captain
O'Shea, Ireland's interests would be
best served by his retirement. The
outcome of this was a serious split in
the ranks of the Irish nationalist mem
bers, the majority of whom sided with
the views of Mr.. Gladstone.
During 1892 Mr.. Gladstone carried
out yet another and most vigorous
campaign in Midlothian. He was
elected, but by a greatly reduced ma
jority, and for the fourth time he be-
came premier.
In April, 1898, Mr.. Gladstone moved
the second reading of another home
rule bill for Ireland in the house of
commons, but the bill was thrown out
by the lords.
During his stay at Biarritz, in Feb-
ruary, 1894, a London journal %annOunc-
ed MI. Gladstone's retirement, but the
report was contradicted in very guard
ed terms. After his return to England
the rumor was renewed, n in the
midst of the uncertainty Mr.. Glad
stone delivered his last speech as prime
minister in the house of on
the first of March-the occasion being
the Lords amendments to the parish
councils bill. The next day his resigna-
ton was made public, and the discovery
hat the premier was suffering from
cataract in both eyes was given as the
chief cause for such a decisive step.
On March 8, Mr.. Gladstone, in an au-
dience with the queen, gave up the
seals of office. A successful operation
was performed, two months later, by
which the cataract was removed, and
Mr.. Gladstone wonderfully
during the ensuing summer After a
visit to Cannes, in the early part of
1895, the o~ctogenarian statesman made
a stirring speech on the Armenian
question, at Chester, in August. His
long connection with the house of COM
mons terminated that yea as he did
not seek reelection at the general cleo
ton which took place at that time.
"In a minute one does of Harris Fs-