GLADSTONE’S “HYPOCRISY.”

Shannon News, 14 August 1925, Page 4

GLADSTONE’S “HYPOCRISY.”

HIS SON RESENTS AUTHOR’S SLANDERS. LONDON, July 26. “Your garbage about Mr Gladstone shows that you are a liar. Because you slander the dead, you are a coward; and because yoia think the public will accept such inventions, you are a fool,” writes Lord Gladstone to Captain Peter Wright, whose book, “Portraits and Criticisms,” accused William Ewart Gladstone of hypocrisy in matters of sex. Captain Wright, replying, declares his criticism to. be supported by evidence in his possession, and also by the late Lord Milner’s dictum that Gladstone was governed by his seraglio. He adds; “Gladstone’s hypocrisy, which is now his common reputation, was crystallised in Labouchere’s epigram: ‘lf Gladstone' were found playing cards with a fifth ace up his sleeve, he would explain that God put it there.”

Captain Wriglit asserts that Gladstone, after conniving at Charles Parnell’s illicit relations with Mrs Kitty O’Shea, and using them for political purposes, was foremost in denouncing them when revealed during the divorce'*’ proceedings, and adds: “Such hypocrisy in the case of another makes me believe that Gladstone was a hypocrite in his own case. My views are unshaken by your lordship’s controversial language, which must be practised in tire pantry . instead of during debates in the House of Lords.” IS LETTER LIBELLOUS. Mr Gladstone’s sons invite Captain Wright to sue them for libel in connection with their letter to him. Captain Wright, interviewed by the Daily News, declined the offer, but offered Lord Gladstone a percentage on the increased sales of the book, due to his letter. Lord Gladstone’s lawyers rebut Captain Peter Wright’s contention that the former’s letter to the latter is not libellous because it was contained in an envelope. The lawyers point out that Lord Gladstone sent a copy, of the letter to Captain Wright’s publishers, whereupon' - it was open to Wright to take criminal proceedings. Lord Gladstone says that he is now awaiting for Captain Wright to come into the open. PASSAGE OBJECTED TO. Hon. Harry Gladstone, who. is. a director of the P. and O. Company, associates himself with his brother’s protest against the aspersion cast upon their father. The passage to which the Gladstones object reads: “The Liberals worshipped God and Mammon with equal zest, assigning inward service to Mammon and leaving God to. content Himself with their outward professions. Gladstone, their leader, founded. a great tradition, since observed by many of his followers with pious fidelity, namely publicly to speak in language of the highest and strictest principle, and privately (to/ pursue and possess every sort of woman.” “INSERTED IN PROOF.” Liberal papers are defending Gladstone’s reputation at length. The publishers of Captain Wright’s book declare that the manuscript, when accepted, did not contain the offending , passage, and that it was inserted in the proof. They express regret that it was overlooked. RETORT SCORNFUL.. AUTHOR TO “G.O.M.’S” SON. LONDON, July 28. Captain Peter Wright, in a further, reply to Lord Gladstone, who.objected to his references to the late William Ewart Gladstone, declares: “If *youir father had been engaged in such a dispute he would have shattered every reasoning I could use, and would have left me vanquished, confounded and mute.

“That would have been his masterly way of dealing with an opponent —not like you, alternately reviling and shiffliiig. I disdain to lift a weapon against so unworthy a descendant of a worthy sire.”