The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1898-05-30

through the remoter country districts
occasionally, there was no cottage too
poor to decorate his house on the day
"Mester Gladsape" was to honor It by
only red cotton pocket-handkerchief
or a bit OF ribbon OF the Gladstone color.
But It had the value OF being home,
made and spontaneous. Mr.. Justin
Mccarthy. In his interesting STORY OF
Gladstone's Life" says:
ut Is well understood that Mr.. Glad
stone on his retirement from public life
received from the sovereign the offer
OF an earldom with, OF course, a. seat In
the House OF Lords. Mr.. Gladstone
gratefully and gracefully declined the
title and the position. No one could
have been surprised at his decision.
He had already made q name which no
earldom or dukedom or any other rank
could have enhanced. Posterity,' says
Lord Macaulay, has obstinately re-
fused to degrade Francis Bacon into
Fiscount ST. Adams" In the same
seEse, the contemporaries and the pos
terity OF William Ewart Gladstone
would have declined to accept for him
the title Of Earl Of Hawarden or earl
OF any other place. He Is fixed in the
affection and the admiration Of his
countrymer as William Bwart Glad
stone" Hsga
And yet there IS one title which he has
received BY the universal accord of the
public everywhere. Who Invented Il,
nobody knows; but II will ever remain
with his memory. He was called the
Grand Old Man" and the Grand Old
Man" he always will remain. Nick
names are not given 10 men who count
for little in the world. Love, admira-
ton, devotion and undying gratitude
are expressed In phrases like THE
Father Of His Country" THE Great
Emancipator." or THE Grand Old
Man" SEf 4
Any estimate OF Mr.. Gladstone would
be singriarly defective which did not
recognize his Christian character. For
1t was the distinguishing mark OF his
craftsmanship. that In marked contrast
with his most eminent political rival,
Mr.. D!sraeli, he sought for the solution
OF the current political problems Of his
time in the application to them OF reli-
glous principles In all his engage
ments he found time for the exacting
duties OF religion. II anything is beyond
question. 1t Is that the handspring of
that life these many years has been
Christ. Christian principles. Christian
faith and Christian love have domin2ted
and shaped 1t. The large debt which
humanity owes to that tireless activity
1. owes to Christ. s
Christ in him is the key which un-
locks his character and his life. One OF
his most characteristic qualities was his
personal humility. But this cannot
be explained without the key, for Mr..
Gladstone did not, In the ordinary
meaning OF the word, undeTrate HIM
self. His exquisite courtesy, which, In
and out of parliament. was model for
all, proceeded from the same source.
II was essentially Christian. 1t was
this, also, that made his life constant
ministry. AS disciple of Christ, Mr..
Gladstone felt that the servant is not
greater than his Lord. and therefore he
accepted Christian service us the law of
his life; and the chief and the best
thing about this service was his per-
sorality. Like his Master. .he went
about doing good.
His religion was tolerant. He be-
lieved in God and, Christianity Yet he
fought for the admission to the House
OF Commons Of Charles Brndlaugh, who
was an arowed atheist. In the course
OF the debate Mr.. Gladstone said: "I
have no fear OF atheism In this house.
Truth is the expression OF the divine
mirG, and, however little our feeble vis-
ion may be able TO discern the means
by which God may provide for its pres
ervation. We may leave the matter In
His hands, and we may be sure that
firm and courageous application Of
equity and Justice Is the best method
we can adopt for the preservation and
influence OF truth"
Gladstone has demonstrated TO all the
world that man may be great poit-
Ical leader and at the same time re-
main IN unimpeachablc Christian. He
proved that Christian may be 4. man
even in the dangerous world Of politics,
and not be lost IN It. What n slgniA-
cant lesson this Tor our American poll
tics!
Great is the power OF bonds and gold!
Mighty the influence OF customs and
institutional But the greatest force
that can exist in society is the presence
and power OF good men, What beauty
Is to the statue: what rlpencss Is to the
fruit. what strength is to the body;
what wisdom is to the reasop--thnt
character Is TO the soul. The last word
OF this wonderful man was Amen"
1t was fitting word for the close 6c
such a life, devoted rs 1t was to the
church, the people and the nation.
.tta.