New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-04-08
AT HAWARDEN.
,osrxc SCENES OF A GREAT CAREER
,o,,r RULE A FAILURE. But THE
WORK OF RACE RECONCILIATION
TRIUMPHANT - COMPENSA-
TIONs FOR THE PAINS

TRIUMPHANT - COMPENSA-
TIoNs FOR THE PAINS
OF OLD AGE.
London March %.
e.,biutv IS not an English trait How can
. 49, hen an enervating climate. with dun
49,, humid atmosphere and depressing iniiu-
-. forces every one 10 withdraw within his
.,ou N protect himself against external eHe''s
- - become insensible to what is going on
-.,,ra him. An Englishman is preoccuped
Itch hts own interests and preJudlces' ou'
,r,ovbere within the shell Of cold reserve
,ba-e e 4 big heart pusatins with warm n!oou'
AZ England is touched by the pathos Of great
career ending in a hopeless struggle with phyS'-
cal suffering Mr. Gladstone Is no longer re-
o~dad merely as the leader Of an irish move
roart nrofoundlv distasteful to the majority OF
rrcushmen He commands sympathy and re-
s,ec. as a great Englishman approaching his
s,d and enduring the hardness" Ike veteran
o,d,e- % the state. The most obstinate Union
,s, could not read without emotion the account
~ the leave-taking at BOurnemOuth for the jour
nov 10 Hawarden. when the voice which had
sounded Ike a trumpet for generations was re-
duced 70 a whisper Of benediction. There Is not
= d,scordant note in the sympathetic chorus
with which the press OF all parties receives vi
,,o-,av.s moving sentence al Leicester All
with what stirring Of unalterable affection DO
ne all feel tonight as we think OF him. over
taken In the evening Of that long day OF so
many interests so many glories. so many tri-
umphs SO many grand pubic serVlces-oNer-
taken by suffering and pain
The seriousness Of NJ. Gladstone's condition
was not generally appreciated by the general
ruhl,c when he went TO the Riviera. He is sur
rounded by a large and afectionate family
group whose one thought is 10 protect him from
disQuetnG inquiries and anxeties. They are
optimists respecting his health. because In their
devotion 10 him they cannot find courage 70 face
the truth that his strength and powers OF en-
durance are gradually falling from sleeplessness
and acute neuralgia pain. This is the natural
expana ton Of the delusive reports which came
.or long season from the Riviera and Bourne
mouth Mr.. Gladstone's eager desire 10 return
- his own home at Hawarden conveys its own
pathetic import 10 every home-lovins English
man The details of his distressing ailments
are not published. but 1t is known that his SUI
,erings have been acute and unceasing. and that
two changes Of air have not availed 10 relieve
him from the burden OF severe neuralgia pain
nor 10 diminish the risks Of heart failure.
Small and mean-sririted must be the political
opponent whose compassion Is not excited by
the closing scenes OF Mr. Gladstone's he.
Pr!am's last battle was fought when he resigned
the office OF Prime Minister He did not at
tempt 10 give counsel TO younger warriors. who
were Jealous one OF another. rather than eager
and burning to take UP sword and shield in de-
fence Of his principles He remained aloof de-
voting his leisure to congenial literary occupa-
tons with serenity Of mind As the end now
draws near he bears with patience and meekness
the pains and infrmities Of old age with vital
energies spent and film before his eyes Par
tisanshp is .ilenced and justice is done What-
ever may have been the logic or expediency Of
Home Rule or OF Unonism. this is the greatest
Englishman since Chatham and PIT. and every
landmark OF progress during the Victorian reign
bears the impress O, his hand The bitterest
partisan is now ready 70 recognize IN him the
Grand Old Man OF English history. No cavilling
critic ventures to question Mr.. Morey's JudS-
ment that Mr.. Gladstone has aroused conscience.
elevated politics and deepened the sense Of
moral responsibility. individual and national.
In public life.
The one great failure @. Mr.. Gladstones
career has been Home Rule for Ireland on
which he staked his reputation, prestige and
popularity when old age was already warning
him that his effective work was done. II must
a
Lords vetoed a bill enacted by deliberative as
sernbly elected by seven millions Of men; and
because also that veto was overrdden by
the democratic electorate and since there is
no immediate prospect Of the successful revival
OF the demand for separate Parliament. With
the Liberal party in discredited minority and
dernoralized in leadership and policies. and with
the Nationalls,s divided into three irreconciable
groups Home Rule has passed at least tenn
porarily, out Of the range OF practical politics.
The great work TO which Mr.. Gladstone devoted
the closing years Of an eventful life Is not only
unfinished. but there are no signs that any
leader on the Liberal side, with the single ex-
ception OF Mr.. Morley is anxious 10 take II up
and carry II forward. Indeed, the conclusion
is justified by direct and circumstantial evil
dence that in the next general elections the LIB
erals Will have little 10 say about Home Rule.
but will appeal for popular support on broader
issues Of democratic reform. and that their chief
resource will be destructive criticism of Union
list foreign policy
POLICY MOI BARREN OF RESULTS.
Home Rule as embodied in Mr. Glads,ones
legislative scheme must be regarded as fall
ure but his policy OF reconciliation with Ire
land has not been barren OF results The Island.
which could be governed few years ago only
by force bills and garrison. is now quiet and
peaceabe. Lawlessness and political crime have
ceased agrarian outrage is at an end. The
CniOnst Government has introduced and carried
20 the second reading thoroughly radical a
measure Of local government as Mr.. Gladstones
own Dublin Parliament could have devised and
there is no organized opposition 10 It from any
quarter Of the House. Obstruction tactics have
disappeared. Irish debn,es are conducted with
81 to.,,
England and Ireland than there has been since
Mr.. ParneN. with his invincible viii and genius
for leadership, forced Parliament 10 consider
1rieh ho - IND