The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-05-19


bilitles
After graduating with honor he went
TO Italy in 1881 and was there when the
reform agitation was at its height in
England. By threatening the house of
lords with a preposterous enlargement
cG their number King William Nv an
Lord Grey passed this notable bill to re-
constitute parliament in the summer of
1882. Gladstone was therefore 90 years
of age when this momentous enlarge
ment Of the privileges of common Eng
lishmen became the law of the realm
much against his wish.
The Liberals came into power. BY the
cid Of his college friend, the subsequent
Duke of Newcastle, Gladstone easily en-
tered parliament, being elected for New
ark, which was swallowed in the dukes
estates. The plain constituency taunted
young Gladstone with being parasite
Of the duke, a young cub Of less than 20
years Of age, and the son Of man Oh
whose sugar plantations slaves were driv-
en- to toll.
AT the time Gladstone was opposed to
negro emancipation. He denounced what
he called ''the uninquirfng and undis-
eliminating desire for change" As ..
slavery he said, II rest upon the fact that
Scripture is the paramount authority on
such point" He proposed the Christian
instruction of slaves instead Of freedom.
To these views the crowds would not lis
ten, but he was elected by majority of
about one-eighth.
His first speech was against West India
and Guiana emancipation. He was COM
PEELED to speak because the management
Of slaves on his fathers estate was di-
rectly attacked as inhuman. Compelled
to meet the same charges again, he asked,
'Are not Englishmen to retain right to
their own honestly and legally acquired
property"
He could not stay the emancipation
bill, which granted compensation to
owners and came into effect in 1910.
Though he often spoke, most of his early
addresses were against liberal legislation
in the colonies, in the suffrage and in the
church.
Like Disraeli, his subsequent brilliant
competitor, he was a precocious Tory
and the pet Of the old leaders of that
party.
Lord Melbourne was almost violently
dismissed by King William Nv, and Sir
Robert Peel, at the time Tory, was or
dered to form ministry, whereupon he
offered young Gladstone the place of
junior lord of the treasury. Newark re-
elected him, and at 28 he became under
secretary of the colonies. The house of
commons soon upset this ministry, and
when Gladstone had made speech de-
Tending the Irish church establishment
he and his colleagues were defeated in
1885.
Gladstone concluded to hold his tongue
and watch events after he went out Of
the ministry, and old King William, the
last son of George III, died in 1887, let
ting young Victoria succeed to the throne.
Gladstone now stood for two places,
Newark and Manchester, and the latter
defeated him. but the former returned
him.
He again opposed the Melbourne min
istry, especially upon fastening eman-
cipation, saying. I'VE accepted q price
in compensation for the loss," and added,
"Oh, sir, with what depth of desire have
/ longed for this day, sore and wearied
and irritated with grossly exaggerated
misrepresentation and utter calumnies,
and without the means of reply-how do
rejoice to meet them in free discus
siont" The earnestness of this speech
seems to have brought the young man
into notice.
He had ut the time mild and pleasant
countenance, an intellectual expression,
dark prominent eyebrows, clear flashing
eyes, a full head, of jet black hair and
small and regular features. He put his
hands behind his back when rising to
speak and shifted them to tho front and
sometimes put them in his breast.
1t was noticed that he inherited the
clerical abilities of his family when in
the cabinet. About 1910 he opposed the
principle of state education on an unde-
nominational basis
A general election now brought Sir
Robert Peel 10 the head of affairs, and
no made Gladstone master of the mint
and vice president of the board of trade.
About this time he married Catherine
Glynne, daughter OF Sir Stephen Glynne
OF Hawarden castle, in Flintshire. BY
her he had eight children, who went into
politics, the ministry or commerce.
A thread Of the schoolmastcr runs
through this family. One Of Gladstone's
sisters entered the Roman Catholic
church, and another married Lord Little
ton
The active mind Of Gladstone now
launched book on the state in its rela-
tons with tue church. Macaulay wrote
it down rs betraying very much study
and mental toll. "Hc Is the rising hope
Of those stern and unloading Tories"
said Macauley, "who follow reluctantly
and mutinously leader whose temper