The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-05-22
CITY OFFICIAL PAJER.
CI.AD1TONU AND SHERMAN COW
1'RAsTTsD.

William f. Gladstone and John Sher-
man stand forth as Enthusiastically the
greatest financiers Of the present gener-
alton. and probably Of the entire CEN
fury. While above the average In al
most every department OF political ac-
ti*ity, Il was as chancellor Of ths ex-
cheuuer that Gladstone won his chief
lanels. and AZ chairman OF the finance
committee in the United States senate
that John Sherman achieved his most
lasting honors. Now that both OF these
iIIustrious men have Withdrawn from
the struggles Of The pnblic arena. the
one by death and The other through the
weakness OF advancing years. II be-
comes an interesting study TO note the
polnts Of similarity and divergence
which maintained between them. Dir.
Sherman belonged TO what might be
termed The opportunist class Of states
men: Gladstone 10 the dcctrinaire. With
the former there Was seemingly
studied contempt for consistency and
corresponding regard for the demands
Of a present emergency: with the latter
the claims Of political consistency per-
msAsed every measure aud character
lied his entire career. Gladstone was
sensitive In the extreme and endeasored
90 avert criticism by an explanation Of
the motives leading TO any change Of
front.
Practical common sense predomInated
In the mental structure Of Sherman.
combined with the absence Of - sensl-
tive and Instructive sense Of dependence
upon popular estimation. which mani
tasted itself In a reckless disregard Of
consistency. spfinging from his persist
emit and unwavering loyalty to the
higher interests Of the American natlon
ard his answering jealousy for the
maintenance OF thu national credit.
Tho entire removal Of these Illustr!ons
men from the ranks of the mere politi.
clan TO tho higher walks OF statesman
ship Is shown more fully In their fire.
quent change Of policy than In PERHAPS
any other manner. The keen sensitive
ness OF the one and the almost over
Independence Of the ether prevented
neither from SD frequent a change of
action as Ia almost awaken the convic-
Of fs,ag tn ~ f.
stone was arst a Tory. then a WhIg.
now Conservative and then a Liberal:
at one time an ardent protectIonist, and
then an urgent free trader: at first
against Irish bcme rule and then one OF
its most earnes; champions: voting and
working primarily against the aisestah-
i!shmens OF the Irish church. 1t was his
own hand tina, eventually produced this
mnch-needed reform.
Mr.. sherman's career shows not So
many changes os policy. perhaps. as
that Of Mr. Gladstone. but when any
change seemed necessary 10 him BY the
emergency OF the hour. his conversion
WAS equally as radical as that 81 Mr..
Gladstone. An almost oat-anG-out free
trader In 1861. he became protectionIs,
when Ohio entered The lists as Il manu-
featuring commonwealth. The phrase
.'rohber harons." So common en- the Hrs
81 the pessImis;ic ropuiIst OF the pres.
emf day. originated With Mr.. sherman lu
the days OF his free trade proclsyltleS.
He introduced and carried the sherman
clause Ia The laws ~
the nation. and he mere than any one
else WAS the instrument - lss removal
from the national statutes. The his
torian Ridpa;h says that ''lt Is a mara
CT strong character when a f,an Who
Ends be Is headed In the wrong ragh
turns completely around and leads In
the ether direction
II Is OF interest 10 no,s shat even the
enemies Of bath nevee thought 10 assign
an unworthy motive to either fer a
change % conviction. the sarnestness
and consclentiousaess ot each saving
him from the tauuts commonly az
dressed 70 raslie men who anderro =
change az sentiment.
The influence a Gladstone ana sh.r-