The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-05-19

humored and brilliant speaker. The two
men subsequently sincerely disliked each
other.
Palmerston, man very popular in his
day, managed the foreign policy of Eng
land and was something Of 4 bully of
small nations like Greece, whereupon
Gladstone let fly at him.
I'VE, forsooth," said Gladstone, "have
mission to be the censors of vice and
folly, of abuse and imperfection among
the other countries Of the world.
He eaid that there was a law Of ma
tions England must observe.
1t may be said that probably no Eng
hshman before Gladstone continued to
enjoy the fame Of Sir Robert Peel. His
statue is in nearly every important city
OF Great Britain, and he is regarded as
the prime minister who altered the COM
pfexion of legislation from eighteenth
century despotism to nineteenth CEN
tury freedom.
In the shifting political condition of
England young Disraeli was winning
the position on the Tory side that Glad
stone had abandoned. Disraeli believed
that England should have nothing to do
with sentiment, but should control her
foreign policy like King David and the
pharoahs Of old.
Gladstone had now resolved to become
, sort Of q missionary in foreign coun-
tries on the Gde Of liberal opinions. His
Ccottish blood drew from the examples
If Bruce and Wallace sympathy for
I'll people engaged in combating des-
potism. In 1850, at the age Of Al, he
took sick daughter to Italy and resided
several months in Naples. He visited
the political prisons and saw such scenes
rs made him resolve to denounce the
Bpanish-Austrian despotisn in the two
6icilies. A little previous to this time
Rome had been revolutionized by MAJ
Eini and Garibaldi, but this only imbit-
tered the condition of the Neapolitans
who would initiate the example. There
was no parliament in Naples for years,
the police were very corrupt, and torture
was employed in the prisons.
Gladstone acted as newspaper cor
respondent in effect, writing letters to
the Earl of Aberdeen upon the tyrannies
in Naples. He said that they were edo
ing the work Of republicanism in Italy,
political creed which has little natural
or habitual root in the character of the
people,"
We may consider that at this time
Gladstone was doing in Europe the work
Of William HI. Seward in the United
States, which Mr.. Tilden once described
to me as drawing attention to some
distant subject Of agitation in order to
avoid the discussion Of evils at home"
The king Of Naples had responses
made to Gladstone, who resumed the
agitation in the newspapers. He trans
lated book by an Italian republican on
the sad condition of the Roman state
from 1915 to 1850. The matter came mp
in parliament, where it was shown that
prime minister Of Italy was kept III a
dungeon. Palmerston took advantage Of
the discussion to increase the basis of his
support in England by refusing to circu-
late the king Of Naples reply. This
work of Gladstone undoubtedly had an
influence to embolden Garibaldi to make
his descent upon Sicily and Naples nine
years later and achieve complete tri-
nmph. The king of Naples was driven
out Of both his kingdoms. and they were
annexed to the kingdom of Italy.
In 1852 Benjamin Disraeli passed ahead
of Gladstone in the cabinet of Lord Der
by, becoming chancellor of the excheq-
uer. Gladstone buckled against him,
supporting free trade doctrines. Disraeli
boldly declared his financial policy to be
to increase the area Of direct taxation.
Whether there was rivalry of principle
or Of personality between him and Glad
stone will always be an open question.
Disraeli attacked Sir Robert Peel and
bristled with fine invective. Gladstone
took the ultra respectable side, and
combed Disraei over for his freedom Of
Characterization, as when he said that
''he regarded certain nobleman, but did
not respect him." He described Disraeli's
financial proposals as unsound and de-
lusive and condemned the principle Of
general direct taxation.
The ministry was beaten, and Dis
raeli's nose was out Of joint. When Alb
erdeen formed cabinet, Gladstone took
Disraeli's place as chancellor of the ex-
chequer. Russell, however, was the
chief man on the floor. Oxford sent
Gladstone to parliament again, and he
opposed free trade in foreign manufac-
tured articles, Disraeli taking the other
side. In bringing forward his budget" /"
as the scheme of revenue is named in
England, Gladstone showed particular
skill in managing the bonds and settled
finances Of England. He was very
Scotchy and trimming. He extended the
income tax, the legacy duty, and ad-
vanced the tax on personal property and
made several remissions which brought
him adherents in many branches of trade.
The Radicals especially took Gladstone
into their regard.
This, indeed, was the main difference
between Gladstone and Disraeli-that
the former understood finance and the
latter was bold foreign minister. Mr..
Disraeli's descent from Jewish fore
fathers should have assured contrary
discrimination. But the Scotchman, it
has been well remarked, is quite ii match
In finances for the Jew.