Iron County register., 1898-05-26

lore the reign OF N1cCOr1d IL COnG1nueQ
unbroken and there was not an event of
any Importance in her reign with which
he failed in some manner to be identified.
Sir Robert Peel appointed him in 1884
to a Junior lordship of the treasury, and
in the following year made him under
secretary for colonial affairs. Going
out with Peel in 1885 he returned with
him in 1841, as vice president of the
board of trade and master of the mint,
becoming at the same time a member
of the privy council. The revision of
the tariff of 1912 was the work of his
hands. In 1S43 he became president of
the board of trade, but resigned that Of
fee in the following year. Then he was
in 1916 for short time secretary of
state for the colonies. In the years
1s47-1S52 the discussions in parliament
upon university reforms and the re-
moval of Jewish disabilities sorely tried
his high church and tory principles.
His conviction that some concessions
ought to be made finally led, in Febru-
ary, 1851, to his separation from the con-
servative party.
Under the earl of Aberdeen Gladstone
was made chancellor of the exchequer
in December, 1852, an Office he resigned
under Palmerston in 1855. During the
second cabinet of Derby he was intrust-
ed with a special mission to the
Ionian islands IN the winter of 1850.
In June of the latter year he was again
named chancellor of the exchequer un-
der Palmerston, and upon the death of
the latter became leader of his party in
the house. He retained the chancellor
r
ministration, but upon the defeat of
his reform bill in 1868 he resigned. In
December of the same year he was
made first lord of the treasury, to sue
ceed Disraeh, and the principal events
of his administration were the disestab-
1ishment of the Irish church Qe69),
Irish land act QS70), abolition of pur-
chase in the army, negotiation of the
treaty of Washington QS71), ballot act
Q872) and the judicature act Q873). He
resigned in 1873, but resumed control
when Disraei refused to succeed him.
In the following year he suddenly dis
solved parliament, was badly defeated
before the people, and was succeeded
by Disraeli. In November, 1877, he
was elected lord rector of Glasgow
university to succeed Lord Beacons-
field, whom he succeeded as prime min
ister in 1880. Resigning in 1885 he was
succeeded by Salisbury, but in Novem-
Der of that year he returned to power.
He introduced his home-rule bill,
which was defeated on its second read
ing June o, 1856, and Salisbury again
became prime minister. Gladstone later
succeeded him, but in 1898 he retired on
account of failing health. Such in brief
is the political record of Gladstone.
Mr.. Gladstone was married to Gather
inc, sister of Sir Stephen Glynne, in
1889, by whom he had several children,
one of whom has attained eminence in
the ministry and another in politics.
His home life has been a signally happy
one, Mr.. Gladstone's conduct being
most exemplary in all things, while his
wife displayed the highest qualities of
her sex.
Notwithstanding his continuous pub
lie service, Mr. Gladstone found time
for study and the cultivation of his !
literary tastes, which were most COM
prehensive. He wrote a great deal,
covering a wide range of subjects, and
invaria bly, wrote in most excellent and
elegant English. Among his most mem
tions with the Church Q83S); ''Church
Principles Considered in Their Results
0S41); Studies on Homer and the Ho-
meric Age" QS5s); 'Ecce Homo" (1S6S);
''Juventus" QS69l; Pamphlets and
Papers on Ritualism" us74), and ''Bul-
garian Outragcs" (1S76-0.
Mr.. Gladstone has been charged with
inconsistency because of his change OF
views on the Irish question, and mod |
ifcation of his teachings on the estab- |
nshed church, to say nothing of his |
withdrawing from his party in 1851. |
His friends insist that he was never in |
consistent, but that he was progressive |
and prompt to accept what promised |
best for his country. His private vir- |
tues were admirable as his public serv- |
ices were brilliant, and he died as he |
hivcd, devout believer in the orthodox |
Christian faith.
WILLIAM RossER CoBDE. !