THE BRITISH PREMIER.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2341, 17 September 1880, Page 2

THE BRITISH PREMIER.

—— In a biography of Mr Gladstone an American contemporary says : —“at lb years of age Mr Gladstone was Junior Lord of the Treasury, under Peel, and since then lie has been one of the most imposing figures in English politics. He has been identified with all the great reforms which have marked the latter half of the century. He defended the bill for the removal of the disabilities of the Jews. Ho upheld (he repeal of the Crown laws, though it cost many friends, and severed him from the party with which he had begun his political life. He made a specialty of finance, and his ‘ budgets ’ were pronounced by Lord llussell ‘ to contain the ablest expression of the true principles of finance ever delivered by an English statesman.’ In the golden age of Liberalism, which was ushered in by the year 1 S(JB, Air Gladstone was the great moving power in securing (be disestablishment of the Irish Church, the Irish Land Lill, the abolition of the purchase of commissions in the army ; the Geneva arbitration and a host of reforms in legal administration. For the last six years he lias been chafing under the theatrical policy of Ecaconsficld, and the fact that lie Judged rightly the temper of the nation was proved by Ids success, as unaccountable as it was startling to the Conservatives. At 70 years lie took up the burdens of oliicc at which many younger men would have been dismayed. That his position is a diliieult one has been shown b} r recent events. "Whatever may be the result, failure cannot tarnish Ins reputation for splendid intellectual activitj'- and shrewd business ability.