New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-05-19
WILLIAM EWART GLADSTONES CAREER
LIFE s. o THE MINISTER OF
OF THE ADVANCED LIBERALS STATESMAN.
La

known as John Gladstones when he entered the
employ Of nc Liverpool shipping house OF which
he was destined to become the head. In Scot
land the family name had been Giadstanes. 1t
came from the Lowland Scotch. "Gled" meaning
. hawk and ''stanes" rocks Like a hawk. the
,reatest Of the line 70 soar with serene and
constant poise above the low levels Of the poll
<ics and diplomacy Of the century; and In the IN
Aexibility Of moral purpose and In naked gran
deur Of character he was like the matchless
granite Of the Scotch mountains.
William Ewart Gadstone's father was sue
cessful merchant. born in Leith. Scotland. ac-
cumula.ing in Liverpool. from 1874 to his death
In 1851 a great fortune in trade. He carried on
a large business with Russia and the East and
West Indies. and was the first English merchant
TO dispatch vessel to Calcutta and China after
the East India trade had been opened TO private
enterprise. He the leader Of the Liverpool
Exchange. and q man of wonderful energy and
force Of character. In politics he was stanch
Tory. and an intimate friend Of Canning. being
frequently returned to Parliament and being
kpishted by Sir Robert Peel In 1S45 From his
father the statesman inherited. along with
many rugged and robust traits OF character. his
marvellous endowments of energy. courage and
practical intelligence. From his mother.
woman Of commanding presence. marked &C
complishments and lucidity Of mind he inherited
his kingly figure and the intellectual resources
which were the common stock of his success IN
classical study. politics. oratory and literature
II was through his mother Ohe daughter or
Andrew Robertson. of Stornoway) that his
descent traced from Henry III Of England
end Robert Bruce. But no eminent Englishman
OF his time had so little need to look for traces
of royal blood in remote genealoges BY the
divine right of human genius he was king
among men.
SCHOLASTIC TRAINING.
Born IN 1909 the fourth in family In
which the elder brothers were reserved for the
navy and mercantile life. William Ewart Glad
stone was free from his youth to follow the bent
Of remarkable capacity for political life At
Elton he was tie school-feow Of George Angus
tus Selwyn afterward famous the Bishop OF
New-Zealand and of Lichheld. and also Of Arthur
Henry Hallam and Winthrop Mackworth Praed
At Christ Church. oxford. for which he was
specially prepared by DR.. Turner. afterward
Bishop Of Calcutta he made a great reputation
by his capacity for work. He was thorough IN
everything he undertook. He was the PRIDE OF
the University. In 1881 he obtained the highest
academical honors in mathematics. physics ana
letters. known at the University the double
first" There is an Oxford tradition that he
worked every day from 10 to o'clock. and again
from 8 o'clock until morning; and that when he
was examined for his degree a great throng or
etudents gathered TO marvel at erudition which
baf1ed the intelligence and experience or veteran
examiners The ardor for classical study burned
with steady glow throughout mis- laborious ca
Yeer, and his -eminence as Homer'c scholar
has not been disputed in England. His power or
acquiring languages was remarkable. for In ad-
dition TO his classical attachments he spoke
French nuentiy. and could write Italian with
s,tcor Nd freedorn TRANSLATION OF one OF Cow
per's hymns in Italian verse was one Of the
recreations Of his old age. His achievements
in mathematics at oxford anticipated his tri-
umphs as practical inancier. and his won
derful series Of Budget speeches His zeal for
theological controversy received ts first I'M
pulse at the University DR. Pussy was Regius
Professor Of Hebrew and Canon OF Christ
Church and Dr. Newman preaching at 81
Marys. The period Of stagnation when the Es-
tabshed Church was almost as torpid as
department OF the Civil Service drawing to
O. close Great controversial movements which
were to stir the religious life Of England to Its
depths were already heralded. New forces were
brought TO bear at the centres Of It's intellectual
being Keble's hymns were imparting devotional
feeling to the groups Of young men already
gathering about Newman and Pussy. New men
were rising Arnold had established himself at
Rugby and Maurice had Just been ordained at
Oxford The clergy were beginning 10 think Tor
themselves. and TO become something more than
creatures Of routine
ENTERING PARLIAMENT
A nav era was dawnins In political as well as
IN religious life. During Mr. Gladstone's first
wear at oxford Roman Catholics were admitted
70 Parliament and to the highest posts under the
Crown: and before ne had won his double nrst
the Duke of wellington was driven from orice
the wings found themselves in power for the
first time In twenty years. and the Reform DILL
abolishing rotten boroughs and giving represen-
cation TO 143 counties and towns. was forced
through the Commons only to be rejected by the
Lords. When Mr.. Gladstone. after holding
re,lowship In All Souls College and making
holiday tourney to Italy decided to stand for
Parliament. the popular agitation had triumphed
and the Reform bill had become a law. IN
moved by the storm which had swept over the
country and created CONSERVATION among the
privileged classes, the youthful candidate aiieu
himself with a zeal almost fanatcal win 'hose
who were dcmoralized by defeat we must
watch and resist" he said in his first election
address. that uninquiring and undiscrim'ha'-
ing desire for change among us which threatens
TO produce, along with partial good. a melancholy
preponderance of mischief, which am persuao-
ed would aggravate beyond computation ''e
deep-seated evils OF our Social sta'e' ""e
words were these, spoken at the opening scene
IN tho career Of a statesman who was destineo
To do moro than any other Englishman or the
century &c promote desire for change In re-
Mgious, political and social order. arousins
thereby the nnalevoent hostility OF the pri'i-
legged orders. and succeeding In the course OF
nf.y years In making Advanced Liberalism not
only reputable but necessary for the welfare OK
the State A stranger passage still. In the light
Of the Disestablishment Of the Irish Church. was
his defence of the Incorporation OF religion win
the state-arguments which he was speedny
10 develop In the earliest Of his published VIII