Evening star., 1898-05-19
HE LED A BUSY LIFE
Sketch of the Career of VIM. EWart
Gladstone.
STATESMAN. SCHOLAR And PATRIOT
Regarded as the Foremost English
man Of His Day.
GREAT CAPACITY FOR WORK

William Ewart Gladstone. who died this
morning. born December 20, 1899 He
was sent TO Eton when twelve years of age,
and graduated at Christ Church with the
highest honOrs that the college could be-
stow. After graduating at oxford, where
he took a double first class in 1881, in 1S52
he contested Newark for the conservatives,
Won and sat for that body until 1915. At the
age of twenty-five years Sir Robert Peel ap-
pointed him to Junior lordship of the
treasury. Three months later he became
III deT secretary for the colonies, which
pest he held until Sir Robert went out of
Office IN April, 1885.
When Sir Robert Peel returned to power
in 1871 he appointed Mr.. Gladstone to the
post of vice president of the council and
master of the mint. For two years he
held this position, when in 1913 he sue
ceeded the Earl of Ripon president of
the boarG of trade, giving up the former
office He took =Ee secretaryship for the
colonies in 1915, succeeding the Earl of
Derby. He did not hold this Office long,
however, but resigned and remained out
OF parliament until 1s47, when he was ce-
turned for the University of oxford.
Leaves the Conservative Party.
1t was in 1851 that Mr.. Gladstone realized
that he was opposed 10 his colleagues on
the subjects of removing Jewish disabil-
tiles and of university reform, SO he con-
Guided to separate himself from the con-
servative party. In the general election OF
the same year he came very near being
defeated on account of his change In
December. 1852, he Joined the coalition
ministry OF Lord Aberdeen as chancellor
OF the exchequer, ana resigned in 1850
when Lord Palmerston reconstructed the
cabinet, and went on special mission to
the ICI ian Islands. Returning in June
$50. he rejoined the cabinet under Lord
Pslmerston as chancellor of the exchequer
ana when Lord PalmerStOn died he re-
tanned the office under Earl Russell.
When the general elections of 1863 came
of Mr.. Gladstone was rejected by the chi
Nerstty Of oxford, but was chosen by
South Lancashire. When the government
was defeated on the reform bill in lSGG
Mir. Gladstone and his colleagues resigned.
He lost his seat from Lancashire in the
general elections of 1858. but was returned
foT Greenwich by large majority.
When Mr. Disraeis ministry resigned
Mr. Gladstone succeeded him premier.
IN 1915 tne government sustained a serious
Cefeat III the rejection of the Irish UniVer-
sity education bill, and Mr.. Gladstone ten
7-Glered his resignation. but as Mr.. Disraeli
declined 10 take the office he was COM
missioned by the queen to reconstruct the
cabinet. He undertook the chancellorship
OF the exchequer in addition to the office of
first lord OF the treasury retaining thasa
positions until the resignation OF the min
istry in 1874 Shortly after he retired from
office Mr.. Gladstone wrote letter to Earl
Granville. in which he formally announced
MS resignation as leacer of the conServa-
tive party. He was succeeded by the Mar
Quis of Harrington
Dcyotcs Himself to Literature
After his resignation he devoted much of
his time 10 literature and by a number of
controversial papers took an active part in
the Leading questions of the day. The
pamphlets published by him in 1874 and
1879 on the conflict between the states OF
Europe and the Roman Catholic Church
C'The Vatican DEGREES in Their Bearing On
Civil Allegiance Rome and the Newest
Fashion in ReligiOn'D were translated INTO
several foreign languages and found wide
Circulation In 1876 he published his famous
Iamphiet on Bulgarian Horrors and The
Question of the East" which exerted a de-
cisive interest on the public opinion in
Ergland- II was about this time that he
IT blished n large work on Homer. entitled
'Homeric SynchrcnisT'' and Inquiry into
time and place OF Homer.
In 1SSO he was returned from both the
borough Of Leeds and fol Edinburghshire
He resigned from Lee6s. however. and his
son Herbert was elected in his stead
Mr.. Gladstone served along in public life
holding first one position of honor and
trust and then another, until 1894, whom
his eyesight began to fail rapidly unIer
the strain of his Iabors. In addition to
this, the intirmites of age began to tell on
him, impair.ng his hearing and in other
ways making it necessary Tor him to alb
tnt him: elf frequently from sittings of
the house, so that he concluded il would
be best for him TO resign and give IN Iub-
lie life This he did on March 3, 1894.
His Last Public Effort.
Before retiring from the field. however,
Mr.. Gladstone made one last effort to carry
cut the great wish of his life and what
he considered 10 be the will of the peonla.
In the house of cOmmors he made a speech
that was temperate in lfction and not the
least defiant in manner. He posed as iIo
democratic aSitatO- against the champi Ons
Of ancient privilege. He was still the
statesmen. earnest Gnd dignified the prime
minister of q Srea, nation endeavoring to
save what was possible in the way of sub
stsntial legislation from the wreckage of
session OF uneXampled length and labor.
In this ne showed himself true to the last
70 that spirit OF conservatism which had
characterized every phase of his remark
able career. Mr.. Gadstone's retirement
created nearly as much excitement in this
country as II did abroad. With hardly an
exception the various countries Of the
world united in paying high tribute 20 the
statesman who had been considered "as
the most conspicuous and potential figure
In the public life OF the world"
Broke Down Last November.
Mr.. GladstOue's exceptionally strong con-
stitution prevented any serious illness or
any rumo- Of his failure or decay until the
close Of his eigh-y-eighth year. On No
vember u last rumor circulated In Lon
reminded the world of the possibility of
his removal. Insomnia was generally stat
ed TO be his chief trouble, but the conf
dent contradictions from the family al
layed the first dread fears. 1t was said al
this time that his mind was as keen as
ever. but that he more feeble on ac-
count Of his sedentary life.
He started for Cannes in company with
Mrs Gladstone, Miss Gladstone and Mr.
Henry Gladstone November 70 breaking
the journey at FoIkestone and Paris. The
aged statesman felt no I'll effects from the
journey. and II was announced that the
neuralgia with which he had been troubled
diminished,
His sojourn at Cannes for two months
was quiet, and varying reports from time
10 time left the general impression that
the former premier was benefiting. Great
was the surprise therefore. when on jan
uary 20 il was announced that Mr. Glad
stones condition causing grave ankle
ty. and that his sojourn had not had the
desired effect.
Walked to the Boat.