The Irish standard., 1898-06-04

the compromise between science and re-
ligion of the late Henry Drummond, as
an important contribution to human
thought, yet in his last years he was
to bring out valuable edition OF the
works of Bishop Butler. A distinguished
English churchman, his portrait was to
bo found in the home OF nearly every
dissenter in the land. Almost mar
tinet in insisting on tho propreties,
public and private, Gladstone shocked
London by appearing In the box at a
theater on the night of the day on which
the news Of the death Of Gen. Gordon
arrived from the Soudan. The most
persuasive of speakers, as Il writer he
was ineffective and at times almost
crude. The foremost Englishman of
his period, he was essentially a Scot in
appearance and mode OF thought.
1t is probable that future ages will be
puzzled at Gladstone's great effective
ness as a speaker. He will depend for
the continuance of Ills fame upon tradi-
ton, In the same way as the elder Fit
and the other great men who lived when
parliamentary debates were secret, and
only vague rumors and fragments
reached the outer wcrld. One could
set no idea of how q speech of Glad
stones sounded from reading a report
Of it in the newspapers. 1t was the
combination of voice, manner, gesture
and appearance that reused cheers and
counter cheers, rather than the sub
stance of the Grafton. Bacon said that
the essential of oratory was action"
using the word in the sencc of "nan-
ner.' OF the truth OF this, Gladstone
was fine example. Then, too, he had
mastered the art of using words to dark
en- counsel. Some Of his speeches left
his hearers in absolute doubt as to what
he had really said. One of his most
important addresses was delivered at
time when the country was waiting to
know the intentions OF the government.
The prime minister spoke for two
hours. The great gathering went villa
with enthusiasm many times. But when
the right honorable gentleman resumed
his seat there was not man in the hall
who had any clear idea as to what the
Liberal leader intended to do. Nor was
the outside public one whit more en-
lightened when the speech was report
ed verbatim In the great dailies tho
next morning. The charm lay in the
N n ha
than in the things he said.
But, on the other hand, il Gladstone's
set speeches were marked by the char
acteristics just noted, as a debater he
was concise, vigorous and powerful. In
a hasty reply to an opponent in the
| house he was mighty and crushing This
was most noticeable in the long success
sion Of duels that took place during the
years in which Disracli was his oppon-
| cnt on the floor. Gladstone lost nothing
by taking himself seriously at all times.
The humor Of the Tory leader was not
SO effective as the fiery Indignation Of
his Liberal opponent. With a British
audience 1t was only natural that the
tragedan should get the better of the
comedian. On one occasion, after an
attack by Gladstone, Disraeli raised his
hands and thanked heaven that the
| table was between him and his right
honorable friend opposite But in spite
of the felicity of the jest, it was wasted
on that assemblage.
! Our own Lowell onco described Glad
| stone as a man who could "extempo-
rize lifelong convictions" 1t is perfect
| ly true that in his case the enthusiasm
of the hour appealed to the statesman
| with all the power of something which
| he had never doubted and never could
doubt. This was typically SO in his
treatment Of the homo rule question.
Gladstone threw himself into the task
Of settling the Irish difficulty with he
roic thoughtfulness. He burned his
bridges behind him. There was no COM
promise in his attitude. He Joined hands
with Parnell in the work Yet only &.
short time before he had described the
Irish party as marching through rapne
| W Ilc uIoluIcSiutlOu Ol llG empire,
the man who had put large portion
OF the Irish members in jail, who had
administered a rigorous Crimes act,
who had suspended trial by jury, and
allied himself openly with those whom
he had attempted to crush.
A few months before his change of
policy a great gathering of Liberals
was held. Gladstone stopped his speech
to read telegram to the effect that the
Irish leader had been thrown into Jail
With dramatic gesture he threw the
telegram form on the table and the
cheering that burst out lasted for many
minutes. Yet short time after
through his own individual influence
his immense power over his party, his
personal magnetism, he had similar
audiences equally enthusiastic over the
policy of union of hearts" as he
termed it, 1t wasn't that the English
Liberals had changed their views as to
the people of Ireland. Not at all. But
Gladstone had, and that was enough
for the rank and file of his followers.
Nor can there be any doubt that the
statesman was perfectly sincere. The
fact that some of his most powerful