Pleasantville weekly press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1890-1911, 1898-05-25
MR.. GLADsToNE's CAREER.
Sixty-six Years In Politics and Fou
Times Premier.


Sixty-six Years In Politics and Four
Times Premier.
Gladstone Is name of power II all
the English speaking world. Not only
has the United Kingdom felt the i'm
press Of his genius in every part of her
government, but Canada and Australia,
the Cape Colony and other self govern.
ing dependencies have nodded their
new institutions largely according to
his ideas, while in the United States. he
has had-as many devoted admirers as
in his native island. Grand Old Man"
is his title here as well as in English
lands.
And yet the man presents q paradox.
No other politician Of modern times,
none probably Of any time, has changed
positions so often or 80 radically, and
it is scarcely possible to find any de-
fined principle lately advocated by him
that he had not at some time in the
past assailed with vituperative elo-
quence. Yet there Is certain consist.
ency even in his changes. Contrary td
an almost universal rule among stu.
dents Of society and government, he
steadily grew more radical as he grew
older, less cautious as he grew physi-
calIy weaker. and less tolerant of crit
icism as his course raised greater
armies Of critics.
Mr.. Gladstone entered parliament az
a Tory Of the Eighteenth century sort,
grew into a mild conservative, held of.
flee as an advanced Whfg, and then
led the opposition as a Liberal so very
radical that many English Radicals
abandoned him and even Irish Radicals
had to restrain him.
His father, John Gladstone, was
prominent merchant and his mother
was of Scotch royal descent. William
Ewart Gladstone was born in Liverpool
Dec. 29, 1909. He was educated at Eton
and at Christ's church, Oxford. In
1881 be was graduated, and the next
year was elected to parliament from
Newark.
He continued to represent that bor-
ough till 1S46. In 1884 Gladstone first
"took office" as under secretary for the
colonies, Sir Robert Peel being premier.
Being thrown out" by the defeat of
Peel in 1885, he employed his leisure
in literary work and published the once
celebrated Church and State"
In 1888 he married Miss Margaret
Glynne. of a Welsh family, and in 1S4a
put forth another peculiar work on
church affairs. In 1S41 he again took
a place in the cabinet and soon became
eminent as a financier. In 1S45 he re-
signed because the government favored
the Catholic college in Ireland, but soon
came in again. In 1847 he was chosen
to represent Oxford and then, for the
first time, began to advocate liberal
measures, the first being the bill for
removing the disabilities Of the Jews,
which he had opposed in 1S41. In 1851
81 ha became a leader Of the Liberals
and entered on that long contest with
Disraeli which continued without truce
till 1875, when Disraeli became Lord
Beaconsfleld and entered the house Of
lords.
In 1868 Mr.. Disraeli succeeded Lord
Derby as prime minister, but before the
year had run out Disraelis cabinet was
dissolved and Gladstone was called to
the premiership. In 1874, owing to the
defeat of his Irish university bill, Glad
stone rendered his resignation as pre-
mier, but on Disraeli refusing to form
a cabinet Gladstone consented to re-
main in office. Early in the following
year parliament was dissolved. and the
Liberals were overwhelmingly defeated
in the elections. This caused Glad.
stones retirement, but he returned to
the premiership in 1880. In 1885 he
again resigned, being succeeded by
Lord Salisbury. In 1885 he was restored
to power for the third time, but held
the premiership for only five months.
being again succeeded by Salisbury.
In 1892 he became premier for the
fourth time. but in the following year,
owing to the defeat of his Irish home
rule bill in the house Of lords, Mr..
Gladstone again retired, and Salisbury
once more became premier.
Gladstone was never a favorite with
Victoria. Indeed, Ghe queen has said
more than once with emphasis that she
detested him, and said It in wav to
imply that she also feared him. Their
personal discussions more than ones
terminated in angry words, but the pre-
mier never flinched from facing royalty
You must take this action" he once
said to her.
"Mustl Did you say must? 2" she
angrily retorted. And do you know,
sir, who I am?''
Madame" answered Gladstone cool
ly. you are the queen Of England, but
do you know who l am? / am the peo-
pie Of England, and in this emergency
the people say 'musti'"