Manawatu Herald. TUESDAY. MARCH 6, 1894. Mr Gladstone.

Manawatu Herald, 6 March 1894, Page 2

Manawatu Herald. TUESDAY. MARCH 6, 1894. Mr Gladstone.

# . We now learn that this . most distinguished Statesman has had to resign the high office of Premier. It appears that old as he is, the chief trouble necessitating so grave, a step is with his eyes, to repair which it is decided an operation is imperative. The shock to a man who has reached the ripe old age that the veteran Premier has, must be great, and like a brave and careful general he prepares for whatever may be the consequences. All parties will unite in praying that out of the impending operation he may pass unhurt and restored and thus be permitted to close the remaining years of a, long and arduous life, in the olose study of the authors he loves so well. It is unnecessary to praise the acts of the Bight Hon. W. E. Gladstone, they are recorded in the history of the land he has ruled, and though many do not agree wholly with him yet the prosperity of Great Britain tells its own tale and c oses the mouths of those who predicted evils and misfortunes from his Government. The late Premier of England was the fourth son of the late Sir John Gladstone, Bart, of Fasque county. Kincardine, who was a well known Liverpool merchant. He waa born on the 29th of December, 1809, was educated at Eton and Christchurch Oxford, and took a double-first in 1831. He was elected for Newark in December, 1832, in the Conservative interest. In December, 1884, Sir Robert Peel appointed him to a junior Lordship of the Treasury and in 1835 Under-Secretary for Colonial affairs. He retired when his Ministry was defeated and re turned with them to power in 1841 when he took office as Vice-Presi-dent of. the Board of Trade and Master of the Mint; he was also sworn in as a member of the Privy Council. In 1848 Mr Gladstone succeeded the Earl of Bipon as President of the Board of Trade, but resigned it in 1845. In 1846 Mr Gladstone resigned his seat for Newark but at the general election in August, 1847, he was elected for the University of Oxford. In February, 1851, he finally separated himself from the Conservative party. Mr Gladstone, in the " Coalition " Ministry in December 1852 became Chancellor of the Exchequer, which post he held also under Lord Palmerston until the beginning of 1855, when he resigned. Under Lord Derby's administration Mr Gladstone, in 1858-9 accepted the appointment of Special Commissioner to the lonian Islands, and in June 1859 he resumed office under Lord Palmerston as Chancellor of the Exchequer. In 1865 the ; University of Oxford rejected Mr Gladstone, but he waa returned third on the poll for Sooth Lanark shire. After the death of Lord Palmerston he became the leader of the House of Commons. In 1866 he brought in a Reform Bill and being defeated, resigned. At the election in 1868 he was defeated for South west Lancashire, but was i returned for Greenwich. In Decerai ber 1868, on the resignation of Mr i Disraeli's Ministry Mr Gladstone ; beqarae First Lord of the Treasury. In January 1874 a fortnight before both Houses were to have met for j business Mr Gladstone took every* I body by surprise by announcing the immediate dissolution of Parliament. The elections, the first under the . , ballot, proved heavy against the 1

Premier and he had to resign, Mr Disraeli succeeding him. He announced in January 1876 his decision to retire from the leadership of Liberal Party, and th^ Harlington a chog6Q ftg leat | el . in hl9 . tiiace. Early in 38T9 he was elected for Midlothian and in 1880 after the di'Ssoltttbn he was called upon to form a Cabinet. In June 1885 Mr Gladstone was overthrown and Lord Salisbury came into power. In. November the Liberals, at the general election were returned with numbers equal to Conservatives and Parnellites combined and Mr Glad* stone returned to office. His introduction of the Home Rule Bill broke up the Liberal Party, many prominent members joining the " Unionists." On Mr Gladstone appealing the country on this Bill he was defeated by an overwhelming majority and resigned without meeting Parliament. Mr Gladstone again ascended to power in August 1892 which he retained until last Saturday.