Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-05-19

duh and, dispirited aspect Of the opposite
Under Palmefston's Administration.
In Palmerston's administration. 1856
Mr.. Gladstone continued for few months
to hold the finance ministership, but re-
signed 1T, owing to the premiefss resisting
Mr.. Roebuch's motion for SebastopoI in
quiry. though he continued to give the
gsvernmsnt general support In the
Derby's second ministry. special mission
to the Ionian islands to arrange certain
difficulties which had arisen in the adj
ministyation of that dependence soon to be
made over to Greece.
Chancellor of Exchequer.
Lord Palmerston returning to power in
1859. Mr.. Gladstone resigned his former post
of chancellor Of the exchequer. and brought
forawrd one of his notable financial
measures. giving effect TO the commercial
treaty with France and providing for the
repeal Of the paper duty which the house
of commons. for while. foolishly sought
to veto. For some time his master hand
guided the national finances and brought
But sone mistake he made at this period
mistake which he afterwards confessed
to be an error OF judgmentIn expressing
that Jefferson Davis had succeeded in maxi
ing the Southern states an Independent ma
ton.
Leader in House of Commons.
Palmerston's death in 1865 made Mr..
Gladstone leader of the house of commons.
The general election of that year severed
Mr.. Gladstone's connection with the rep
resentation of Oxford university and drove
him to South Lancashire for a seat. In
the following year Lord Russelrs second
administration was defeated in its reform
xiii
and his colleagues, resigned. Mr.. Glad
stones fight for reform was, however. not
without effect; for Mr.. Disraeli, in the in
coming and
bill of 1860 which has since been expanded
until it has become practically household
suffrage In cities and boroughs.
Becomes Prime Minister.
- Mr.. Disraeli, on his accession to Office,
met defeat on Mr.. Gladstone's resolution in
regard to Irish church disestablishment,
and Mr.. Gladstone. in 1869. became for the
first time, prime minister OF England.
Mr.. GladstOne and the Irish Question.
Ireland and Irish affairs now began to in
terest Mr.. Gladstone. probably owing to
the Fenian disturbance Of 1861 and the ris-
ing discomfort In the island. He declared
that it was his purpose to follow out the
doctrine announced by Fox in 1897, that Ire
this end he made it known in the course
of the canvass that he would endeayor to
deal with "Ireland's three great difficulties;
the system Of national education:" The
first measure to come Forward was the bill
for the disestablishment of the church. The
fought by Mr. Disraeli and his party but
It was carried by "a large majority;
The bill for the reform of the Irish land
laws. the principal measure measure OF ~ when @ was was
solute and unlimited power BECAME law
on August l. 1870. This was followed bX a
succession Of energetic reforms: Baiio.
law, for the protection of voters; abolition
OF the purchase of commissions in the
army, and creation of a general system or
education.
Downfall of Gladstone Ministry.
The defeat of the government on the
irish educational bill caused the downfall
Of the Gladstone ministry. Mr.. Disraeli,
however. refused to undertake the forma,,
-tion of q ministry and Mr.. Gladstone had
to remain at the head of the government.
reaction set in Mr. Gladstone determined
ttion the Conservatives were successful. and
Mr. Dfsraeli returned to power In 1874.
Mr. Gladstone retired from the premier
ship and also from the leadership of his
party.
Third Time Premier. --t
In 1880 the Liberal party came into power
with an overwhelming majority, and Mr..
Gladstone beanie premier n second time.
He succeeded in carrying, in 1855, vast
scheme of parliamentary reform by which
the constituencies were ,arrayed in more
nearly, proRortio1ate divisions. The irish 81
constant turbulence and uncertainty, Joined
with the Conservative party in one clause
9 %as the budget MT a resne
Lord Salisbury became prime minister;. but
few weeks were enough to prove that
the government did not have working
At the general election in 1885. the Liber-
ais were overwhelmingly victorious and for
the third time: Mr.. Gladstone was called to
to power by declaring himself in favor of
home rule-a declaration which split the
Liberal party in two and curtailed his lease
its second reading in the house was re:
tected by a majority of thirty. An appeal
was made to the country but 1t was: equally
majority of Conservatives and Unionist
Liberals were returned. For the second
time Lord Salisbury became prime minister.
tactician of the first order, pursued hfs
course and stood firm in his resolve to be-
friend Ireland. He relaxed nothing of his
activity. and continued ably to lead the
party in opposition. until the wheel Of fate
turned once more in his favor, when in his
SD year he became for the
Fourth Time Prime Minister.
On February 13, 1893, he introduced in the
house of commons a second home rule bill.
The scene in the house was one of the
most memorable in its history. The crowd
that sought to gain admittance was i'm
mense; and of those who succeeded were
many distinguished persons. The display
of force and energy in one of his age was
remarkable, when Mr.. Gladstone spoke In
defense of the bill. In scope and charac-
ter 1t varied little from the earlier meas
ure, except on the question of Irish rep
resentation at Westminster. After vari-
Gus notifications 1t passed the house OF
commons September ], 1S93 by a majority
of 81. But on September 1t was thrown
out by the house of lords by a vote OF
419 to A.
The second defeat of his attempt to con-
ciliate Ireland snapped the link which
tirement, while not unexpected, fell like
thunderbolt upon the country. which had
so long known his governing hand. In
Lord Rosebery he named his own success
or; and confiding to him the fortunes OF
his party he relinquished his seat in par.
liament-withdrew from political life. TIC
the public regret at his retirement was
added much sympathy for the failure OF
hearing and eyesight which marked the
infirmities Of age. as well as the strain
which had been put upon him.
Withdrawal From Public Life.
After his withdrawal from public life, hi
went to Hawarden, where he has alway.
beer happiest.
HIS Oldest living son was rector there
and the aged statesman liked to read the
lessons for the day in the church. Ht
used to amuse himself by telling trees or
the Hawarden estates. He said once tha
he did this as mental rest. While swing
ing an ak he could dismiss from his mint
all other affairs except just the bushes.
In hand. His whole mind was concentrate