Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1901-10-25

Square, near the main entrance OF the
imposing Gothic town hall. has the pose
of body. expression of face, and the Wig
orous but natural action of the grand
old man in his most earnest mood.
The statue is ten feet high and stands
on simple pedestal One arm is OUT
sculptor having reproduced with strlk-
ing effect the orators abnormally long
forefinger The other hand clasps with
strong grip roll of manuscript. The
figure is finely posed. one foot being
slightly raised and the weight being
carried by the other leg. Above the high
collar and familiar crumpled cravat
rises the massive and majestic head in
epical dignity.
1t is a stronger work than Raggfs
statue of Beaconsfied in Parliament
square Westminster, and one of the
best examples of sculpture in Eng
land.
Manchester was equally fortunate in
having the statue unveiled by a states
man who loved and reverenced Glad
stone and understood him better than
anybody else The ceremonies were
simple and unpretentious. John Morley
was quietly entertained at luncheon by
the civic authorities and unveiled the
statue with few words of eulogy in
the presence Of a large open-air audi
ence. He delivered subsequently in the
great room OF the town hall, where he
could he heard, an eloquent and achol-
arly tribute to the greatest OF English
liberals.
There was a tremendous outburst of
applause from the vast audience when
he was introduced with brief gem
tence by the Lord Mayor. Speaking
without notes, and with occasional
signs of hesitation, he gave the impress
sion OF thinking aloud out OF full mind
on one subject which he considered Of
supreme Importance in the history of
the times. His gestures were frequent,
there we're passages OF quiet irony. and
there was deep undertone of earnest
ness. Disclaimlng any intention of max
ing partisan use OF the occasion. he In
vited the audience to enjoy something
Of the peace and perspective of history
in rejecting on the career and character
of a great man who had swept like some
new planet in the sky to fascinate and
absorb the attention OF the age.
Mr.. Morley contended that detraction
from Gladstone's work could be nothing
less than slur upon the English peo-
pie. since he had stood during gener-
alton at the flood tide OF popularity. He
dissented strongly. however, from
Hunters bitter remark: Here Is a
man with the greatest intellect In Eu-
rope, ard he debases 1t by following ma
iorities and crowds"
Morley asserted that the exact oppo-
site was truth, and that the flowing tide
was often against Gladstone, and that
he struggled against 1t. He gave sew
eral illustrations from financial ebates
OF Gladstone's power Of creating, trans
forming, and directing public opinion.
Finally Morley referred, amid tre-
mendous applause, to the Geneva arbi-
tration as a noble reparation for mis-
reading the civil war In America. Glad
stone erred in judgment in common
with nearly all great Englishmen at the
time, but atoned for his injustice by
quenching the fires of ill-will and AMI
mostly between the nations and ,naug-
ting the first precedent for establish
ing reason in place OF force and deadly,
IL not always necessary war. IL Glad
stone had not done anything else than
favor the Geneva arbitration he would
have deserved statue OF marble,
bronze. or even pure gold.
T This passage was received with
rounds of cheers, and the entire address
was followed with enthusiasm. Nor
ley described Gladstone as the greatest
orator in parliamentary history and,
above all things. moral teacher who
live and wrought SO as to keep the soul
alive in England.