The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-05-19
THURSDAY. MAY 10. 1885.
THE DEATH OF MIR. GLADSTONE.

THE DEATH OF MIR GLADSTONE
The death Of Mr.. Gladstone removes
from earth the most remarkable Eng
Iishman who has played q part in public
affairs during the nineteenth century
and. If we except Napoleon Bonaparte,
the most remarkable European, who has
taken part in the government of men
during that century. We do not say he
was the greatest man of the century. BY
no means. II We were discussing the
greatness OF men, we should name
Charles Darwin. Prince Bismarck, Her
bert Spencer and some others, perhaps,
ahead Of him. But when his many
sided character IS taken into considera-
ton. We feel compelled to say that Mr..
Gladstone was the most remarkable
European public man Of the century ex-
cepting only Napoleon.
lie was well known as writer when
Macaulay and Thomas Carlyle were be-
ginning 10 fix the attention of the world
upon themselves and yet Macaulay has
been dead nigh on 20 half a century and
CARLYLE eied an old man nearly fifth
OF century ago. And. although the
writings Of both these men viii be read
so long as the English language survives,
there will be readers of Mr.. Gladstone's
writings for many many centuries 10
come. lie has been eminent as a safes
man for more than fifty years and,
when men now ranking as almost Old
men were yet unknown, he was exercis-
ing powerful influence upon the course
of thought that swayed the enormous
power and resources Of the British En-
pire.
II we should undertake to define the
sphere IN which he has performed his
most important work as public man
we should say it was I'm connection with
matters Of everyday life and Of practi-
cal utility. No difficult situation OF taxa
ton or administration has arisen during
Mr.. Gladstone's career but what he has
been ready with the most practical soiu-
ton OF 81 that the case admitted Of. An
Illustration OF this IS TO be found i'm his
treatment Of Englands public debt. When
ne began to have a share in public af-
fairs, England was burdened with am im-
mense public debt that the wars of the
end of the last and the beginning Of this
century had left upon her. Her states
men until then had been content to so on
from year TO year paying the interest
upon it. but the principal seemed hope
less load for all time. Mr. Gladstone took
hold Of the subject, however, and. by
the simplest Of expedients, he placed the
debt upon footing that will cause it to
be entirely wiped out in a reasonable
time. The English debt does not consist.
as ours does. OF government bonds, bear
ing coupons. 1t is all in the form Of an
nuities. Jones gives the government
$1,000 and the government promises TO
pay Jones $50 every year forever, but with
the right Of the government to return
the 81 000 whenever Il chooses and can
Gel the obligation.
looking over the situation Mr. Glad
stone saw that in an old and wealthy So
eieiy like Englands. there were many old
bachelors and others who cared little for
those 10 come after them, so that they
could enjoy a good income during their
lives. He accordingly proposed to Smith
that IL Smith would give the government
5000 it wauld pay him sixty dollars each
year until Smith died but at that period
the obligation for $1,000 should be con-
sidered extinguished Smith gave the
government the 81 900 with which It paid
Jones of, and when Smith dies that
much Of the public debt will be extin-
guished. Alr. Gladstone introduced this
principle for the treatment OF the debt
and now every year tells the tale of a
great reduction Of the public debt by the
falling in of the "terminable annuitles."
Successful as Mr.. Gladstone was in
dealing with all questions of administra-
ton Ike this, he was never a success
in matters Of high politics and govern
meat. The most signal instance Of his
failure In this line was his connection
with the Irish cause. A comprehensive
knowledge OF the English character
would have taught him from the begin
ming that Engllshmen viii never permit
any modification OF the relations between
England and Ireland that can. by any
possibility. give tho Irish power TO rule
Great Britain through an alliance with
the disanfected sections Of the country. II
he had had the instncive perceptions of
those statesmen who are the born rulers