RETIREMENT OF MR GLADSTONE.

Feilding Star, Volume XV, Issue 255, 5 March 1894, Page 2

RETIREMENT OF MR GLADSTONE.

Lasi* Saturday marks tbe close of the political career of the Eigbt Honorable W. E. Gladstone, whose resignation as Premier has boen accepted by Her Majesty the Queen. Mr Gladstone entered Parliament in the year 1832 for Newark, where his mercantile origin, the success of his Lniversity career, his babits of business, aud his high character, recommended him to Sir Robert Peel who in December 1834 appointed him to a junior Lordship of the Treasury, and in February, 1835, Under-Secretary for Colonial affairs. In the Par. lament of 1817 — 52 the questions of University Reform, and the removal of Jewish disabilities were frequently and earnestlj' agitated in the Lower House, and though Mr Gladstone's early sympa thies bound him strongly to the Higb Church aud Tory Party, yet he felt tbat on both these points the exegencies of tbe times required that somo concessions should be made. Ho consequently found himself frequently opposed to his former friends, and eventually separated himself from the great body of tbe Conservative Party in February 1851. After the death of Lord Palmerston he became leader of the House of Commons, retainiug the Chancellorship of the Exchequer in Lord Russell's second administration. On tho resignation of Mr Disrae li's Ministry in 1868 Mr Gladstone succeeded that gentleman as First Lord of the Treasury. On January 13th., J 875, three weeks before the assembling of Parliament, Mr Gladstone announced in a letter to Eari Granville his determination to retire from the leadership of the Liberal Party, and shortly afterwards the Marquis of Hartington was chosen by the Liberal Party to be tbejr leador in the House of Commons. Early in 1879 Mr Gladstone.was invited to be come the Liberal candidate for Midlothian, and the crowning incident of tbe electoral campaign in the ensuing Parliamentary recess was his visit to Scotland in connection with his con testing that ounty at the general election. His success was phenome nal Since then Mr Gladstone bas been the moGt prominent political figure iv England and in Eui ope. Besides being eminent aB a statesman, Mr Gladstone bas acquired gr-jat celebrity as an author. His retirement owing to fulness of years was Dot unexpected, and will be a subject for sympathy and regret from even his warmest political opponents. However he may have been admired or hated as a politician, as a man and a Christian he holds the esteem of the whole of the English speaking world. As an orator, financier, and statesman Mr Gladstone has few equals.