Mr Gladstone's Strength.

Manawatu Herald, 8 October 1892, Page 2

Mr Gladstone's Strength.

— . — » — . — . Writing in the middle of the recent English general election, the Lancet, the, great medical journaj, ..drew, atr tention to the great age of the Liberal leader. So far as our knowledge of English history in this and the last century goes, says our contemporary, there has only been one octogenarian premier — Lord Palmerston — who died at his post in hig . eighty- first year, Several of our eminent states.men in this oentu^y — not one in the last — who had in their time been Prime Ministers attained to this longevity— Henry Addingtbn (Lord Sidmouth, son of D'r Addington) died at 87, the Duke of Wellington died at 82, Lord Grey at 81, Lord Russell at 86 ; but long before their decease they betook themselves to that 'blest retirement' which the poet tells us is such a 'friend to life's decline.' We are no politicians, but we cannot be insensible to the prodigies of powei? at four score. In this sense we regard with keen interest the recent mental and physical feats of Mr Gladstone: in his Midlothian campaign. He has already ' beaten the record ; ' and if he is to be again Prime Minister of England we shall regard the achievement as one of which the English race may be proud. Suoh a statement involves no medical approval of men even of Mr Gladstone's strength engaging in political strife at 82. But from a physiological point of view, such power and pluc ; k can ondy excite admiration, and jtfe heartily hope that they may suffer neither harm nor discredit by the experiment. !