The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1898-05-24

by Her Majesty III the first Inst Nv.
but. in accordance with consultations
among the chiefs II the party. they re-
commended the Queen 10 entru>t tn.
ta>S OF forming n Cabinet 10 MIR. Glad
stone. He consented 10 accept the du-
y april 23l AND hi Cabinet was con
>trurfed with . view ~ concifate AMI
10 represent the different SECTIONS of the
Liberal majority. Mr.. Gladstone him
self >uperadded 10 his duties n First
Lord of the Treasury the functions ~
thanrellor of the EXchequcr, hut he re
signed the latter office in lN>3 into the
hands Of Mr.. Childer>. The history ~
Mr.. Gladstone's second Ministry may bc
summed M in three words ireland.
Egypt. Franchi~e-though. ~ course. 4
large numbtr Of other matters tSuch a.
Mr.. Chamherlain> Bankruptcy Bin and
Merchant Shipping Bill were long nm
der Consideration. Ireland was the
great question during the sessions of
1850 'AIay-Augu>tb 1881. ISL. and the
debate on the Compensation for Disturb
ancc Bill. on Mr.. FurSttr'S Coercion
BIZ. ana tafter the murder or Lord
Frederick Caveni~h and Mr.. Burke. May
q. lSS2. on the Crimes Bin. ocvupicl
the greater part Of the lime and attcn-
tion Of the country. What prolonged
and cXaSperatcd the discussions was the
method of obstruction inyentcd and prac-
ticcd not only by the followers Of Mr..
Iarncll. but also by some members Of
the Tory party. After the passing OF h
Crimes Act. which closed Il period or
almost uncNampled Parliamentary and
administrative difficulty. Egypt began 10
occupy the mind Of Parliament.
The struggle with Arabia
ca. VI came To Il head in July. when Sir
Il. Seymour now Baron AlccStcrl bonn
barded the forts Of Alexandria: and
WAS ended on September 13. when Sir
Garnet Wolseley Won the battle Of Tel
elykbil. But Mr.. Giadstone'S difficult
ties were only just beginning. The re-
volt of the Arab tribes Of the Soudan:
the destruction Of Hicks rasha's Egyp-
tisn army. the two Suakim expeditions.
the dispatch of General Gordon to
khartoum. and long afterwards of Lord
Wolseley's relieving force. the advance
Of this latter. its difficulties and its hard
won victories. its failure to reach khar-
toum in time to save G~ordon-thesc
things are too fresh in the public mem
DRY to need Il detailed repetition. The
session Of 1881 was occupied. rs far n
home politics are concerned, With the
Franchise bill-a bill for extending
IbtlStIloIN Stil1dSt ~ lUt totiilItS, allti
thus completing the democatising of ON
constitution Passed in the House of
Commons. it was thrown ont by the
Lords, who. under the guidance of Lord
Salisbury. declined TO pass it until the
Redistribution Scheme was before
them. But after an autumn Of popular
demonstrations" 4 series Of conferences
between the Liberal and Tory leaders
were hold in which the lines Of a Re
distribution Bill We're settled. In 1880
both bills were passed, but very shortly
afterwards, on June 3, of the same year.
Mr.. Gladstone was overthrown by a
vote on the budget. and the COnServa-
tiyeS. under Lord SaliSbury'S leadership,
came into power.
During 1892 Mr.. Gladstone carried out
yet another and most vigorous campaign
in Midlothian. He was elected. but by
a greatly reduced majority, and for the
fourth time he became Premier. On
October "A he delivered the first of the
Romance lectures. choosing "'Alediaeval
Universities for his subject, at Oxford.
and was accorded Il most enthusiastic
welcome.
In April, 1893, Mr.. Gladstone moved
the second reading Of another Home
Rule Bill for Ireland in the HON., OF
Commons, but the bill was thoWn out
by the Lords.
During his stay at Diarritz, in Febru-
airy. 1894. a London journal announced
Mr.. GladstOne's retirement. but the re-
port was c~Ontradicted in very guarded
terms. After his return to England the
rumor was renewed, and in the midst
of the uncertainty Mr.. Gladstone de
livered his last speech as Prime Minister
in the House Of Commons. on the first Of
March-the occasion being the Lords
amendments to the Parish Councils Bill.
The next day his resignation was
made public, and the discovery that the
Premier was suffering from cataract in
both eyes was given as the chief cause
for such Il decisive step. On March :.
Mr.. Gladstone. III an audience VIII the
Queen. gave up the seals of office. \
successful operation was performed, two
mont later. by which the cataract was
removed. and Mr.. Gladstone recovered
wonderfully during the ensuing summer.
After Il visit to Cannes. in the early
part Of 1899. the octogenarlan statesman
made q stirring speech on the American
question. at Chester. IN August. His
connection with the House of Com
mons terminated that year. as he did
not seek reelection at the General Elec-
ton which took place at that time.
Since that period Mr.. Gladstone rarely
took part. in public affairs, but made
some exceptions, when he interested him
self i'll favor Of the Armenians. While
at Cannes. in March. 1897. he wrote
and published Il letter to the Duke of
Westminster pleading the cause of Crete
and Greece as against Turkey.
\ Stained-glass window was unveiled
in Hawarden Church in recognition Of
Mr.. Gladstone's efforts in behalf Of the
oppressed Armenians. and Mrs. Glad
stone was presented with a portait of
His Holiness Mighriditch L., Supreme
Patriarch Of the Armenians.
Mr.. and Mrs. Gladstone left London
for Cannes on November -. 1897. and
arrived at the latter place three dovs
They remained there for nearly
eleven weeks. and the homeward triD
was begun on the 10Th Of last February,
they reached London on the 18th.