New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-10-10

GIRsT NoucE)
Asr Morley has reared an imposing monument
TO the great statesman with whom he was Tor
many years on terms OF intimacy, and for whose
genius and character he has long cherished
rrofound admiration The trustees and other
members Of Mr.. Gladstones family left with
him he tells us in a PREDATORY note, IAN IN
qualified and undivided responsibility Tor MS
naees. and even the most cursory glance over
the latter serves to show that he has labored
IN the Hottest spirit. making contribution to
rolitical literature important not only for its
subject but FOR Its form. The first Of the three
volurnes covers the time from 1909 TO 1893
There are a few pages of Introductory matter
and then in three brief chapters the author ceals
with Cladstone's childhood. his life at Elton and
his oxford period The personal aspect OF MS
subject IS OF course. constantly recurring 10
Mr. Morley throughout his narrative. but pol
tics necessarily claims his attention at an early
stage and lie has scarcely written fourscore
pages when he approaches his hero's public ca
reor with the story OF his entry into Parlia-
,,,ert In 1880. The second volume carries the
record down TO 1850, and embraces many OF the
most significant episodes in Gladstones he.
The third volume not only rounds out the rec
ord. but contains soma twenty paseg SUMMARY
ing Mr. Morley's final impressions, an appendix
Of various documents a very useful chronolog-
ical table and a voluminous index. Save for
view OF Hawarden Castle and one OF The Oc-
sagon." which Gladstone built at the northwest
era corner thereof as a frep-oof receptacle for
his letters and papers the Illustrations distribu-
ted through these volumes are all portraits.
Five OF them shcw the statesman himself at
as many periods Of his career. A portrait Of
his father. Sir John Gladstone, IS prefxed to the
first volume. which also contains a reproduction
Of a charming pointing Of Mrs Gladstone. done
many years ago.
This Life" Is unique IN this respect at least
that il appears within five years Of the death
of its subject, whereas as has recently been
pointed out. the authorized biographies Of his
chief predecessors IN the political history
of the Victorian era have been much longer IN
finding their way into print. Lord Melbourne
was not thus officially commemorated until
thirty years after his death in 1s4S, and Peel
Talmerston and Lord John Russell were like
wise delayed IN being painted at anything like
fan length for their countrymen. Lord Beacons-
field died IN 1851. leaving his private secretary,
now Lord Rowton to use his discretion as to
the publication OF his papers. and that gentle
has not yet cared to give his documents
to the world Mr.. WTfrid MeyneIs Benjamin
Disraeli: An Unconventional Biography which
has just appeared 81 London, is affair OF
anecdotes and the like, and has no Official stand
three volumes on Gladstone have been published
so soon. for they are the work Of the one man.
his friend and colleague, best qualified to write
them Mr.. Morley, setting forth the record Of
a man who aided IN shaping the destinies of
England for twoscore years has had to write
practically the history OF an important part
OF a great epoch, and he has himself shared In
the making OF that history. II is plain. there
fore. that to the task upon which he has been
~
exceptional resources IN himself and he has fur
Their had the advantage Of access 10 all the
letters and papers OF the dead statesman in
Guiding a diary Of peculiar value. He prints
much about Gladstone and his time that is new,
offering US q really intimate view Of several Of
the great crises through which England passed
while Gladstone was a member OF. or the leader
OF. the government His point Of view through
out is well illustrated BY this extract taken
from the introduction:
Gladstone used TO say Of himself that his life
was ever greatly absorbed IN working the in
situations Of his country. We mark a signal
trait. Not for two centuries, since the historic
strife Of Anglican and Puritan. had our island
produced a ruler IN whom the religious motive
was paramount in the like degree. He was not
u only political force but a moral force. he
strOve TO use al the powers OF his own genius
and the powers Of the state for moral purposes
and religious. Nevertheless. his mission in all
fits forms action. He had none OF that de-
tachraent often found among superior minds
which we honor for its Gisinteresteoness, even
while We lament its impotence ia result The
track IN which be moved, the Instruments that
he employed, were the track and the instru-
ments the sword and the troWel OF political
action. and what IS called the Gladstonian era
WAS dlstnctiVely political era
Americans viii read this exhaustive narrative
from beginning 10 end with hardly less interest
than Will be felt by Engishmen. but there is,
OF course. a special significance for them IN
those parts Of the work which relate to affairs
IN this country. There are. for example. the
comments OF Gladstone on the Trent affair. con-
tanned in some correspondence with the Duke
of Argyle. He describes the Cabinet meeting
held after the receipt OF the news that the
Confederate commissioners had been seized. AZ
ter the Cabinet meeting. he writes: Il returned
10 Windsor Tor dinner and reported to Queen
and Prince. The Cabinet determined on Friday
20 ask reparation, and on Saturday they agreed
10 two dispatches TO Lord Lyons. Of which
the one rected the facts stated we could not
but suppose the American Government would
OF itself be DESTROYS to afford US reparation, and
said that IN any case we must have the COM
rnissioners returned 70 British protection. and
% an apology or expression Of regret The
second Of these dispatches desired Lyons TO
come away within seven days II the demands
not compiled with ] thought and urged
that we should hear what the Americans had to
say before Withdrawing Lyons. for 1 could not
feel sure that at the bottom Of the law
OF the case. OF could Judge here and now what
form It would assume. But this view did not
prevail"
Mr.. Morley is at pains to show how the
Queen, the Prince Consort and AIr. Gladstone all
worked together 10 soften abridge and eene--
ally modify Lord Russelrs violent dispatch 70
, - r,,ons the British Minister at VVasb,ro+o,