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


stances OF his marriage and his peerago
convey the insinuation of one whose path
was a personal one. Gladstone, ON the
other hand, with less genius was more
canny and lasting. Gladstone reduced
the national debt in little while nearly
$50, ,000, 900, and this fact seemed mo-
mentous in England, where the public
debt IS hardly ever decreased.
What especially struck Englishmen in
Gladstone as their secretary of the treas
ury was his facility in discussing every
detail. lie could portray statistics as If
they We're romance. In 1854, at 45 years
of age, Gladstone was just as loquacious,
continuous and perspicuous as yester-
day. Among those who opposed his bud
get was Bulwer Lytton, tho novelist.
In 1854 came on the Crimean war
through Palnerston's connection with
Louis Napoleon's empire In France. To
cement this alliance Napoleon was will
ing to second England in checking the
aggressions of Russia toward Turkey.
In the same cabinet Of Aberdeen, where
Gladstone handled the finances, Palmer
ston was an important secretary. Pal
merston was determined upon flaming
foreign policy. The war brought Eng
land but little glory, and the exposure Of
things in the army by Russell, tho con-
respondent. Kinglake and others cut
ragged Great Britain. The ministry was
driven from power, and Palnerston rose
to the head Of affairs, still retaining
Gladstone in the exchequer.
Gladstone now got In some fne work
against the maintenance of Moham-
medan power in Europe. He kept rather
independent Of the ministry, ruling his
own department efficiently. Lord Derby
put Disraeli in Gladstone's place and
also had the literary Bulwer Lytton In
his cabinet In 1858.
Gladstone now went in pursuit Of the
Greeks and visited the Ionian islands.
When he came back, critic remarked:
"Some give the palm Of public speaking
10 Disraeli, some TO Palmerston and 9th
ers to Bright, but II the object OF speak
ing is to convince all audience then give
Gladstone right subject, and there is no
one can come near him. The extent and
accuracy of his knowledge on almost ev-
cry subject, his dexterity in using that
knowledge and his exhaustive power Of
reasoning are truly surprising, while his
command Of the English language 10
quite unexampled."
Parliamentary reform now came up,
and Disraeli adopted it, especially com
PEELED thereto by the oratory of John
Bright. Gladstone helped to drive the
ministry out and again took Disraelis
place. Oxford still returned Gladstone,
and he carried his budget easily and es-
pecially praised Cobden's "fair trade"
treaty with France.
Gladstone, as the American civil war
continued, managed to repeal different
duties. such as that on paper He intro
duced the postoffice savings bank bill.
which has had remarkable influence to
encourage thrift among the poor people
in both city and country. Disraeli bit
terly attacked him and referred to Ibis
intolerable financial freaks" He, how
ever, increased the expenditure Of the
state. Englishmen liked him because he
managed in some way to keep up the
revenue to high figure without espe-
cially bothering anybody. He seemed
to be always reducing something and yet
raising plenty of money.
At this point, in 1852, he made speech
at Newcastle showing that he had not
only welcomed Italy and Greece to the
family of nations, but that he was very
ready to welcome the Confederate States
of America. Years after this he made
strong apologies on this subject, but
there is no doubt of the fact that in the
second year of our civil war he did us
more injury than any man in England
while striving to maintain the Union.
AT the same time this position was less
inconsistent than many of Gladstone's,
for in his youth he had been defended
of slavery.
1t generally believed that Gladstone's
administration OF the finances maintained
Palmerston in his long and hardly de-
served popularity. The universities be-
gan to notice the rising young statesman.
and especially the University of Edin-
burgh. Oxford now defeated him on ac-
count Of his recalcitrant Toryism. The
London Times stood by him, as it had
taken the same position with MIN on the
subject Of the American war and OBJ
served, "Henceforth Mr.. Gladstone will
belong to the country, but no longer to
the university"
He was sent to parliament from South
Lancashire or Manchester, and addressed
a vast meeting at the Free Trade hall:
"At last, my friends, am come among
yon. lam come among You unmuzzled.
The university has been drawn into the
O.,