The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1898-05-21
DEATH OF GLADSTONE.
Something About His Early Life
and Public Career.

William Ewart Gladstone, TIE record
of whose life may almost be said to be
the political history of England for hall
a century, first saw the light of day ON
December 29, 1907. in Rodney street,
Liverpool. He was the fourth son OF
Sir John Gladstone, lowland Scotch
man, whose dominant characteristics
were canniness, unbending will, imperi-
Gus spirit and nexhaustible energy.
each one of which was Inherited by the
boy and subsequently, displayed to a
marked degree. His mother came from
the highland clan Of Donachie and from
her the boy got the imagination and
poetry, and perhaps most of the deep
religious spirit which he afterward
showed.
He was educated at Eaton and Christ
Church, Oxford, where he graduated
double tirst-class IN 1881. He entered
parliament in 1899, as a Tory, repre-
senting the constituency of Newark.
In 1885 Sir Robert Peel made Glad
stone a junior lord of the treasury, and
year later he was appointed under
secretary for the colonies. In 1872 he
became master of the mint, and later
Oh president of the board of trade aud
secretary tor the colonies.
In 1915 Mr.. Gladstone first had his
serious attention drawn to Ireland. The
antl-corn law agitation was at it's height
aud Golden, Bright and O'Conuell had
almost Drough the ministry to the point
OF surrender. Gladstone was nearing
the turning point in his career. He
was in sympathy with the free-trade
movement. but was under obligations
to the Duke of Norfolk, who was pro-
tectionist Gladstone supported Peel
in the repeal of the corn laws, but re-
signed the Newark seat he owed to Nor
folk, and was out of parliament for a
time.
In 1916 Gladstone was elected for Ok
ford university. In 1880 he espoused the
cause of Irish home rule. He entered
the coalition ministry OF Lord Aberdeen
as chancellor of the exChequer in 1852,
and retained the post under the pre-
miership of Lord Pa!merston in 1855,
eone time. During his retirement lie
was sent by Lord Derby, who was pre-
mler, as commissioner to settle the
troubles IN the Ionian islands, aud he
81, e.
Greece
Mr.. Gladstone resumed Office in the
Palmerston administration in 1910, and
from that time began the practical lead
ership o. the Liberal party, which he
continued up TO the end. The statute
book is crowded With the fruits of his
handlwork, says a biographer, making
4 legislative record such as has rarely,
il ever, fallen to the lot of any one man.
beginning with the repeal of the paper
duty and the commercial treaty with
France, these parliamentary triumphs
included the reform of the universities.
the disestabllshment of the Irish Pro-
testant church, the Irish land acts Of
1870 and 1881, the abolition of the Dur-
chase system in the army, the judica
ture act, the ballot act, the household
suffrage and redistribution aCts-the
latter making each member represent
a separate diStrIct-and host of minor
enactments. But his strongest point in
Legislation was his management Of the
finances.
Bnt, although he was practically the
leader in 1859 he did not become the
titular leader of the Liberal party until
1868. After Palmerston's death he be-
came leader in the House Of Commons
under Lord John Russell's second ad-
minist-ation. On the defeat of the Re-
form bill in 1866 the ministry resigned
and Disraeli coming in, "dished the
Wings" 10y a reform bill of his own,
which Gladstone vainly opposed. While
in opposition he commenced the agita-
ton of the Irish church question, and
carried through the Commons a resolu-
ton which was the basis Of the measure
later on
At the general election in 1858 he
was defeated for Southwest Lancashire,
bnt was returned for Greenwich, and
succeeded Disraeli as prime minister.
In the course of the next few years.
amid great public excitement, he car
ried through the Irish legislation before
referred to and many other measures.
1t was during this administration that
settlement Of the Alabama claims was
effected by the treaty of Washington.
The most remarkable thing about his
course OF Irish affairs was the frankness
with which he avowed his conversion
to policy of reconciliation by the vigor
OF Irish resistance to the existing order
OF things.
The Gladstone ministry was defeated
in 1873 by a coalition of Tories and
Home rulers on the education question
and, having dissolved parliament in
1874, the Lib crals were defeated in the
first election held under the ballot act,
and Disracli again returned to power.
The first Independent Irish party, I'M
der Isaac Butt, was elected under this
act.
In 1880, after five years of Tory rule,
he resumed the reins of power having
a majority of 81 over Tories and Home
rulers combined. 1t was in this parlia-
ment that Parnell came to the front
as leader OF the Irish party and Glad
stone again found himself face to face
with the Irish question He tried a
mixed policy Of coercion and reconcile
alton. but failed, and began to feel bis
way for an arrangement by which
compromise Enight be effected, when
the Phoenix Park murders DELAYED
this for some Years and made break
that for time seemed final. Having
passed the household suffrage and re-