The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1909-12-29

ENGLAND HONORS MfMORY
Or her GRAND Old MAN"
one Hundredth Anniversary Of Birth
Z" william {. Gladstone Finds
PEOPLE Stirred to Depths BY
Political Strife.

London, Dec. 29.-All the newspa-
pers OF London today devoted leading
articles to the one hundredth ami
'ersary Of the birth of William e.
Gladstone and published retrospects
OF his career and his policies with
particular reference to the great is
sues now being fought out in the Rri-
tish election campaign. The Liberal
press bestowed unstinted praise upon
the statesman's memory, and even
those papers which were opposed TO
him during his lifetime printed eulo-
sisuc articles on "the great common
er"
Inc centenary was generally OBJ
served throughout the United King
dom. The National League of Young
Liberals led in the observance and
under its auspices countless memorial
meetings were held. During the day
thousands of persons visited the states
mans tomb in Westminster Abbey.
Others made pilgrimages to Hawarden
and to the Gladstone monument in
front of st. Clement Danes Church. in
the Strand. The base Of the monu
ment was literally hidden from view
.by the wealth of wreaths and other
floral offerings deposited there.
More than a decade has elapsed
since Mr.. Gladstone was removed from
the stage Of life, and during that time
nothing has occurred to change the
universal opinion which assigned to
him place in the very front rank of
British statesmen, and whose achieve
ments VIII always form an INSOFAR
able part of the story of the Victorian
age.
The son of wealthy Scotch mer-
chant, member of parliament and bar
onet. Gladstone was born in Liver
pool on Dec. 29 1909. After being edu-
Gated at Eton and oxford, he enter
ed parliament and between 1888 and
1S43 became successfully first junior
lord OF the treasury, under secretary
for the colonies vice-presjdent OF the
board Of trade, master of the mint and
president of the board of trade with
a seat I'm the cabinet. He was after
ward chancellor of the exchequer in
several governments, and four times
held the office of prime minister.
Beginning political life as a Tory.
Gladstone finally joined, the Liberal
party and became almost a radical
in politics. AS colonial secretary un-
der Peel he gave aid i'm the measures
which led to the repeal of the corn
laws. AS chancellor of the exchequer
he reformed the system of taxation.
In 1867 he succeeded Lord Russell
as leader of the Liberal party. In
1869 as prime Minister he succeeded
i'm bringing about the disestabllsh-
ment of the Irish church. After the
lapse of years, Gladstone gave his ad-
hesion to the principle of home rule
for Ireland. but his amended land bill,
passed by the house of commons. was
thrown out i'm 1898 by the house of
isblhos III Aii' i'iioNiiiS SNbi iit S"'N
up parliamentary life. retired to his
estate at Hawarden, spoke for the last
time in public in 1896 and died on May
49, 1898, at the age of eighty-nine
Throughout his long career Glad
stone was a sturdy defender of the |
rights of the English people. He ex-
ended the suffrage championed equit- |
able taxation. and was the friend of |
popular education. Abroad he de-
nounced tyranny in the two Sicilies
md reused the world on the subject |
IF Bulgarian atrocities and Armenian
In connection with the recent APP !
oointment of Herbert Gladstone to be
he first Governor general of the new
South African federation, it is not
without interest to note that IL was
William L. Gladstone, his father, who
m 1882 restored the independence OF
he Transvaal republic. Mr.. Gladstone.
however. always made it clear that
when he restored the independence or
he Transvaal he intended that the
-epublic should remain subject to
British suzerainty, and above all to
English paramountcy.