New-York tribune., 1902-06-28

| despite all constitutional tranllnels. A friend
| Of his once asked the Queen IT, when prime
| minister resigned he named his successor
Not unless 1 ask him to-" was her maJestys
reply. The imperfect sympathy between her
and Gladstone is well known. He harangueS
me as If 1 were a public meeting, she Is re-
ported TO have said, but Mr.. Russell has further
explanations to offer, among them the fact that
the Liberal statesman's opposition 10 Lord Bea-
consfield, when the latter was the idol OF the
court was at any rate, during the prominence
OF the Eastern question in 1901 40 nearly
equivalent to an attack upon the court Itself
He recalls the public snub administered to Glad-
stone in 1879. when he and his wife were not
invited to the wedding Of the Duke or Con-
naught, and refers to even more remarkapIe
rebuke given behind the scenes:
Mr. and Mrs Gladstone had been in the habit
Of paying frequent visits to the late Deah
Wellesley at the Deanery at windsor ana tlie
habit continued during the long sIuSste
over the Eastern question. An illustrious per
sonage wrote to the Dean suggesting that as
Mr. Gladstone engaged in violent dlteIho A
upon the government, it might be better IL MS
visits the Deanery were dlScol!t dlSco tliiteo' iit
''Whereupon,' said the stout old Dean Nelliils
toms nephew and counterpart, i wrote Iel
a tickler.' Imagination boggles at the thouSh'-
Yet the numerous instances of the Queens un-
sympathetic attitude toward Gladstone, ant
her independence in more than one situation, do
not cause Mr.. Russell to forget the magnanimity
and sagacity with which, when occasion de-
manded, she placed the public good before her
own feelings. He gives the following illustra
ton:
AT Easter. $780, the great issue between Lord
BeaconSfield and Mr.. Gladstone was submitted
to the judgment Of the nation. The Queen
went abroad, conforta bic in Lord BeaConsfeds
assurance that the election would give him a
fresh lease of power. When the dismal truth
that Mr.. Gladstone had majority of a hun
dred was known, her majesty came home and
Lord Beaconsfed resigned. Then political eX-
citement became intense. Lord harrington was
no doubt the utular leader OF the Liberal party,
and certain section OF moderate Liberals were
despera tely anxious that he should become
Prime Minister but the militant and victorious
element in the party would have no chlef put
Mr Gladstone Yet his distaStefulnesS TO the
court was common knowledge, and l remember
being assured. by one who ought to nave known
that the Queen wouldn't speak TO hlhl- III
strict accordance with constitutional rule her
majesty sent to Lord Harrington, and not mere
ly requested but implored MIN TO form an ad-
rninistration He replied that q Liberal admin
istration with Mr.. Gladstone as the candid
friend just outside it would be a practical i'm
possibility.
But are you sure Mr.. Gladstone wouldn't
serve under you?"
u can't say 1 am sure he wouldn't, ma'am, for
I have never yentured to ask him
Now l beg you will ask him, and come back
and let know what he says
This command Lord HaTtington. as SIN IN duty apdy
bound obeyed. OF course, the answer was what
he had anticipated Next day he went back
to Windsor, taking Lord Granville with him
Both statesmen assured the Queen that MI
Gladstone was the only possible Prime Min
lister and that evening he kissed hands. It
was a supreme instance OF constitutional pro
priety triumphing over personal distastes and
even political convictions
We have touched upon only a few of Mr.
Russelrs themes. There are more than forty
charters in his book, and they cover a wide
Ae1d He writes of the court and of democracy,
of finance and journalism. of the Church and
the universities Of chivalry and of Hedonism.
and of many more interesting subjects. He
uses the light touch essential in brief con
tributions to periodical literature, but, writing
out Of full mind, with unfailing taste and
with serious concern for high ideals. he has pro-
duced a book which glad to have be
tween covers It offers rich fund of entertain
ment