The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-05-19

ton" in which he not only discussed the
policy. but used arguments clearly SHOW
ing that he was advancing TO the position OF
free-trader. In December the Times made
known the startling news that in the fol-
lowing session the government would bring
forward a measure for the repeal of the
corn laws. The pressure OF public opinion.
the CONDITION of trade and the failure of the
potato crop in Ireland had convinced them
of the necessity for this STEP There was
ministerial interregnum for few days, IN
consequence of the detection of Lord STAN
ley ard the Duke OF Buccleuch from the
premier'S policy; but, Lord John Russell
being unable TO form government, Feel
returned TO office, supported by nearly all
his old colleagues. and reinforced by Mr.:
Gladstone. who had accepted the post OK
colonial secretary. The latter's acceptance
of Office. however, in a ministry pledged to
the repeal of the corn laws led to his re-
tirement from the representation OF New
ark. For short time he was without
seat in the House: but although he could
not speak for the great measure of 1864 from
his place on the treasury bench, he had q
very considerable part in its framing. On
the 9th of January, 1886 Peel introduced
the scheme for the abolition of the corn
laws. In the acrimonious debates which
followed Mr. Disraeli was especially bitter
against Sir Robert Peel. attacking him
again and again with great acerbity. The
premier after series of almost unparal-
leled discussions in both houses, had the
satisfaction of seeing his measure become
measure ever passed by the English iegis-
lature has had wider effects than this.
But by strange coincidence, the very
day which witnessed -Peel'so triumph also
witnessed his overthrow. The ministers were
defeated in the commons on the second
reading of their Irish coercion bill, by 292
to 2l9 votes AT the general election of 1S47
Mr.. Gladstone was returned for oxford Uni
versity, but soon shocked some of his con-
Stituents by speaking eloquently for Lord
John RuSSelFS proposal to admit Jews to
Parliament During this session Mr.. Glad
stone strongly defended Sir Robert Peel's
newly acquired free-trade policy which had
been attacked by Mr.. Disraeli and in an
other speech he admitted the necessity for
the repeal of the navigation laws. In this
year the poor law board was established,
and 1t is further interesting, from the par
liamentary point of view from the fact
that Mr.. Disraeli became the formal leader
of the opposition.
At this time it was apparent that changes
were taking place in Mr.. Gladstone's con-
victions upon ecclesiastical and other ques-
t1onS. In one speech he expressed his de-
iiberate conviction that the civil and polft-
ical claims of the sJew to the discharge of
civil and political duties ought not in JUS
tice to be barred and could not beneflcialy
be barred because of difference in religion.
Upon the question of church rates he said
ne felt as strongly as any one the desirable
ity of settling the subject. for the evils at
tending the existing system were enormous.
The repeal of the navigation laws was ac-
complished in 1S49 Mr.. Gladstone defending
the measure in an elaborate speech. After
Peel met with the accident that caused his
known as "Peelites'' disintegroted and each
went his way.
MIR. Gladstone was described at forty as
"a man who united cotton with culture,
Jews with Oxford, a deep classical joy over
the Italian resurrection and Greek indie
pendence with the teak interest and the
amount of duty on Zante raisins and Italian
rags" In 1850 Mr.. Gladstone made tour
| of Italy to assist in exposing the abuses of
| the courts and the prisons. particularly the
| political prisons He declared the Bourbon
| government of Naples an outrage upon re-
| ligion. civilization, humanity and decency,
| and calculated to foster the growth of re-
| publicanism. His letters exposing Bomba's
| government raised universal Indignation
| through Europe. but did not affect the cold
| English nation except sentimentally. and
| they took no action upon the discoveries.
| For some time he was undecided in politics,
| nOminally a Conservative, but looking at
| many things from Liberal standpoint and
| he declined to take office under Lord Derby
| in 1852, and assaledt Disraelis budget in one
| great speech, which overthrow the. Derby
| Ministry Disraeli was the man who had
| driven Mr. Gladstone away from the office
| he wanted. chancellor of the exchequer; at
| forty-rWo Lord Aberdeen. the prime minis
! ter, gave this place to Mr.. Gladstone and
| there he made reputation which has since
| attached to him.
MADE A NEW ERA IN FINANCE.
| He speedily inauaurated a new and brill
| liant era in finance He first brought for
ward scheme for the reduction of the ma
| tional debt, which was adopted and which
worked most successfully until the outbreak
of the Crimean war. He introduced his
| first. and one of the greatest, of his bud
| gets. 1t provided for the gradual reduc-
| ton of the income tax, to expire in 1860;
| the equalization of the spirit duties: the
| abolition of the soap duties; the introduce
| ton of the penny receipt-stamp; the reduce
| ton of the tax on cabs and hackney
! coaches, and the equalization of the as
| seSSed taxes. Altogether The duty 1913
| articles was abolished and the duty on 1873
! reduced-the relief amounting to $1,000. 900.
| This financial scheme met with unequivocaI
| md arflDT nc V71nC n 10
| far-sighted and practicable of financial
| measures since PeelS celebrated budget OF
| 1874. But the Crimean war now broke out,
| and Mr.. Gladstone saw with regret that
| he must abandon some of his cherished
| financial schemes-at least temporarily. He
| was called upon to prepare a war budget,
| and this he did with fair skill and sue
! cess. Like Robert j. Walker in the Next
! can war. Mr.. Gladstone advocated meeting
| the expenses of the Crimean war as they
| occurred. and paying for them out of the
| current revenue by an increase of taxation,
While Mr.. Disraeli wanted to borrow the
money. In three years Lord Aberdeens
! ministry failed and Palmerston was called
| to the head of the cabinet, and for a while
! continued Mr.. Gladstone in office, but he
resigned when it was proposed to investi-
| gate the condition of the British army and
| the responsibility of the head minister for
| its miseries towards the close of the
| Crimean war Mr.. Gladstone changed around
| to oppose its continuance When the Brit
| ish minister to the United States, Comp
| ton undertook to recruit Irishmen here for
| the Crimean war Mr. Gladstone defended
| him in Parliament.
During Palmerstons administration the
| Chinese trouble arose and Mr.. Gladstone
was one of the most powerful oppone nts of
the policy of forcing opium upon China, a
| policy which stands to-day a cryins. dis
| grace to Anglo-Saxon civilization. On d.
vision upon a minor question relating to
| this policy, the Ministry was defeated in
| Parliament, but Palmerston was over
whelmingly sustained in the consequent APP
| peal to the country. Only a year later.
| however, he was defeated upon another un-
| important question to international ex-
| tradition. and Lord Derby came into power.
| Mr.. Gladstone was called to the post of CO.
/ lonial secretary in the new Ministry, but de-
| clined. While still busy with affairs in Par
lament, he became deeply interested in the
| question of Greek unity. In November he
| accepted commission from Lord Derby as
| high commissioner extraordinary to the
| Ionian islands, and went to Corfu. A few
years after his mission the islands were
| formally Incorporated with Greece. Mr..
| Gladstone's industry and ability were fur
| ther testified at this time by the appearance
| of his important work-his magnum opus in
/ literature-St Studies on Homer, a work ex-
| hibting wide and Iaborious research.
| In 1859 the Derby Ministry failed ard
| Palmerston called Mr.. Gladstone back to his
| old place, chancellor of the exchequer. He
was then the best speaker in the House.
/ Palmerston or Bright. because he could con-
vince an audience better, his knowledge be-
| ing so much more extensive and accurate,
and his powers of debate and reasoning
| peculiarly suited to British Parliament.
| 1t is said he never was convicted of mis-
! statement, never lost the thread Of his ar
| gument. and never hesitated for a word,
! and Golden remarked that it was useless
| to speak after Mr. Gladstone If you were
on the same side, for he always exhausted