New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-05-19


being Wing instead of Tory and ended by
being Liberal. His changes Of front on public
questions have never been capricous seldom
even abrupt There has been orderly. logical
oeFeiopment Of his political convictions. Com
pie'e as the transformation is at the close OF q
career which has passed from one extreme OF
politics to the other the process of transition
has been gradual one. He began It as a Tory
OF the Tories He entered upon the second
stage of political evolution when he became
Free Trader with Sir Robert Peel; but so slow
was the growth of his Liberal convictions that
IN lS.'S he was still considered Tory and with
diificuty evaded Lord Derby's efforts to draw
him into the Ministry with Mr.. Disrae. He
was still on debatabe ground between the two
parties. with a decided preference for the or
ganizat:on which he had eagerly joined in his
youth, but with a marked aversion for uniting
his fortunes with those who had hercely con-
demned Sir Rober; Peel. in 1861 began the
third period. when he finally abandoned the ira
dltons or Conservatism altogether and became
the leader of the advanced Liberals. The DOM
lnant IDEAS Of the time changed decade after
decade. and he kept pace with them, always
allowing his convictions 10 carry him where
they would and never alarmed by his departures
from earlier positions. His is record
or continuous progress from a conscientious but
narrow Toryism to equally conscientious but
enlightened and comprehensive Liberalism. Yet
all the great measures which he has advocated.
notably the Disestabshment. Land Franchise
that very conservatism which OF the
strongest characteristics Of his first election ad-
dress
AN EXTRAORDINARY TERN OF SERVICE
Mr. Gadstone's Parliamentary life began with
his election for Newark December H. 1882.
Fourteen years afterward. upon his conversion
to Free Trade. he was elected for the University
OF oxford and after serving n second term Of
eighteen years he defeated by the present
Lord CraDbroOk nd IN Call har
South Lancashire. In three years he again
OutvOted. and after representing Greenwich for
twelve years he appealed. as by birth and intel
lectual gifts he had right to do. TO the Scotch
constituency OF Midlothian. In this way he had
rounded out extraordinary term OF hfty-four
years Of active service in the Commons. the
only break being in the session OF 1876 when he
Secretary for the Colonies. but took no part
in the debates the repeal OF the Corn Laws.
1t is a happy augury for the Democratic ten
denotes Of modern society that he remained dur
=, ing this long career Of distinguished service
| plain untitled Mr.. Gladstone. During the
| greater part OF this period he in office lie
was Junior Lord of the Treasury IN 1894; Under
| Secretary for the Colonies In 1898; Vice Pres
| dent Of the Board Of Trade in 1871; President Of
| the same Board in 1913; Secretary for the Col
| onies in 1876: Chancellor Of the Exchequer in
| 1925 1896 and lS73-'74 and Prime Min
lister for four terms. beginning in 1865. 1880. 1883
| and 1892 He served in the Ministries OF Sir
| Robert Peel. the Earl Of Aberdeen. Viscount
| Palmerston and Earl Russell and was leader
either for the Government or for the Opposition
| for twenty-five years with the exception Of the
| interregnum when the Marquis OF Harrington
took his place. During this long period OF officia
| and Parliamentary service nearly all the great
| reform measures which serve as landmarks or
| English progress during the century have been
enacted.
Mr. Gladstone was recognized a brilliant
debater almost from his first appearance In the
| House Of Commons. His maiden speech was
| made in answer TO charges Of corruption against
! the electors Of Liverpool. and II was followed
| by two speeches in defence Of the management
| OF his fathers slave estates in Demerara AS
, he enjoyed the confidence and friendship or Sir
! Robert Peel. the opportunities FOR Distinguishing
| himself in debate multiplied. II was not. now
ever until after that statesmans untimely death
that nc obtained recognition as an orator or me
| first rank. II was In December, 49,. on the
| night whAn MI Disraeli as Chancellor OF the
| Excheduer made most brilliant speech In de-
| fence Of financial estimates which had been
sharply criticised by the Wings, the Peelites and
the Radicals. The Tory Government had appar-
| emily been rescued from defeat. when Mr.. Glad
| stone without preparation, replied to the wiliest
| and most impassoned dobater OF the day MS
| two-hours' speech swept the Government out Of
| office. 1t the first scene In the historic duel
| between these Parliamentary rivals
GREAT FINANCIER
In the coalition Ministry which was formed
under the Earl Of Aberdeen Mr. Gladstone was
| Chancellor Of the Exchequer He was then In
his forty fourth year and had been twenty years
| in Parliament His ability az a nnancier had
| been demonstrated in the Board OF Trade, and
had been fully appreciated by Sir Robert Peel;
| but to the House Of Commons his first budget
| sneech was a marvel Of lucid exposition. Mr.
| Mccarthy describes IL as IA performance that
| belonged to the department Of fine arts" The
- Ia hudp ereechee steadily Increased
| until he was credited with possessing the rare
| art "of making figures pictorial" When the
coalition Ministry resigned. IN 1900 he retained
the Chancellorship under Vscount Palmer
ston until Mr.. Roebucks motion for the
| appointment OF the Sebastopol Commission was
| adopted. His resignation was followed by his
| return 10 the same office in 1893. when again ne
| hrought forward a series Of measures remitting
| taxation simplifying customs schedules and dis
! closing marked originality in reducing to prac-
! lice the commercial policy which the nation
had sanctioned. Lord Palmcrston. In 1864. when
Mr. Dsraeli led what threatened to be a sue
cessful attack on the Governments foreign pol
| lev. grounded his defence on Mr. Gladstone's
! snIendid feats in the reduction OF taxation and
! thereby averted his own downfall. In the man
geuent and exposition OF complex questions OF
an.nco no other statesman since William Pitt
has displayed equal genius. AS financier OF
| the first rank Mr.. Gladstones position has never
| been challenged . , 49,, LIAM,
| /, - 90 ord John Russell to the peerage as Earl
Vussell left a vacancy in the Liberal leadership
dsthe Commons which only one man could MI
~ Gladstone had not ceased 10 consider nlnsell
.', ~ from the time Of Sir Robert PeePs con-
Version to Free Trade He had served under the
Earl Of Aberdeen and vscoun pa,merst tor ana
nau , L and Wings and he had declined to
assist Earl Derby in forming Con ,ss ,atn,
ass.s,ry. Int he had not renounced the tradi-
Mhlsus nartv of his youth and had continued
tlons s y, that centre Of Conservatism. the
University Of oxford The Tune %as mao to no% e1me
TOT Dr;ebt and Mr. Mill in Parliamentary