The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1898-05-26
THE GRAND OLD MAN.
GLADSTONE HAS PASSED AWAY.
Death Of the Great Commoner.
From the Press.

From the Press.
| Harwarden, May 19.-Mr. Gladston
died at O'Clock this morning. HI
had been unconscious practically .al
day, though at times he seemed to rec
ognize Tor a moment some of the watch
ers about him. Certainly he did recog
nize his wife, who was beside him al
day, except when the physician prevail
ed upon her to rest. She tenderly
| clasped her husbands hand as she
watched him. Apparently he slept {
good deal; occasionally he uttered E
few words in an incoherent, dreamy
way, words which those who were
watching him were unable TO catch
Their only consolation was that he was
not suffering pain. No narcotics were
administered.
Though national funeral will prob
ably be accepted by the family, there
Is little doubt that the remains of Mr.
Gladstone will be laid to rest in the
peaceful graveyard at Hawarden, ad-
joining the church where he was mar
ried more than half a century age.
At Hawarden the happiest portion OF
his life was passed, and it is truly a
retreat sweet enough for any laborer.
The late Right Hon. William Ewart
Gladstone, NJ. P, P. c., was the fourth
son of the late Sir John Gladstone,
Bart, of Fasque County, Kincardino,
n. B., well-known merchant of Liv-
erpool, and was born there, December
20, 1909. He was educated at Eton
and Christ Church, Oxford, of which
he was nominated student in 1929,
and graduated, taking a double first
class, in Michaelmas term, 1881.
Having spent some time in conti-
mental tour, he was returned at the gen.
neral election, in December, 1882, in the
Conservative interest, for Newark, and
entered Parliament just as the struggle
of parties Was at its height.
He was spinning tops at years.
when Bismarck was the new baby at
Schoenhausen. He was learning Greek
at the age Of 10, when Victoria put in
an appearance. He was arranging for
his marriage when Grover Cleveland
came to delight the hearts of his pa
chequer when boy was born in Ger
many, who has since become Kaiser
William.
His father was Sir John Gladstone, a
wealthy merchant, who relinquished
small business in Glasgow, about 1885,
and removed to Liverpool, where he ac-
qulred large fortune in the EastsI In
dla trade, being created a baronet in
1916. This fourth son was sent to
Eton, and while there gave promise OF
the splendid brilliancy which marked
his course at Oxford, from which he
graduated at Christ church In 1881 as
double frst-class, the highest honor
and one rarely attained. Then he be-
came fellow of All Souls.
After travelling for short period be
entered Parliament in December, 1882,
as a member for Newark, nomination
borough belonging to the Duke OF
which he continued to rep
resent till 1916.
It is a mark of strong character
when a man who finds he is headed in
the wrong path turns completely around
and leads In the other direction. Glad
stone, when he was first elected to the
House of Commons, just after the pas
sage of the reform bill that made Eng
lish representative government, previ-
ously a mockery, into something like a
reality, was Tory of the straltest,
most old-fashioned sect. His maiden
speech in the House was in the debate
upon the measure abolishing slavery
in the British Colonies, and was de-
fence of the shareholders against at
Jacks made by radical Abolitionlsts.
For nearly twenty years he was one OF
the shining lights of the Conservative
oarty and the the foremost lieutenant
Of Sir Robert Peel, its great leader.
Then he gradually drifted into Liber-
alism, and, after being for some time
more or less "a free lance" he became
4 member of Lord Palmerston's Cabi-
net, in 1859.
At the death of that statesman he
succeeded him as leader Of the Liberals
in the House of Commons, and when
his party regained Office in 1868, after
first government, Gladstone
attained the premiership. He held it
Tor six years, and again from 1880 to
1885. when he declared himself in favor
If the Irish demand for home rule,
which up to that time he had stren-
ouslv opposed. The result was the Sc
cession of a large body of his support
ers and his defeat at the polls in 1886
"a defeat which the dauntless veteran
oftarward retrieved. Gladstone per-