| Show GREAT BRITISH STATESMEN A SHORT time since hon W E gladstone in a public utterance questioned the good judgment of the american people on the ground that they placed too high an estimate upon his character A local made this remark a subject for adverse criticism of the grand old man while admitting him to te one of the most cultivated and best informed men of the age the paper referred to failed to see where he had exhibited true statesmanship one of the reasons upon which the estimate was founded was the fact that he bad frequently changed his base this of itself would not be a strong point against mr glad stones statesmanship progressive men me n occasionally icem elm change q opinions and it to is not fair to infer unless the evidence on the point is unquestionable that in presenting a change of front they are simply tr trimming immink their heir sails rails to catch the popular breeze comparative characters were introduced to show the inferiority of mr Glad stones statesmanship bright and beaconsfield Beacons field I 1 to our view john bright could not as a statesman be appropriately appropriate li compared to mr gladstone the latter being in almost every direction his bis superior gladstone is a natural leader of af men ghisla Thi an essential qualification without it the statesman is hampered I 1 in a carrying his measures forward to success not having the necessary assistance mr bright was great as a political standard bearer not as a leader in detail at close quarters he was well nigh invincible on the platform while not as logical as 48 gladstone he was more powerful with the people as a speaker beyond this he old aid not bold a high place in the field of statesmanship his power was displayed in the championship of a measure or movement not in originating either the statesmanship of beacons field differed from that of gladstone as widely as the characteristics of the two men while the home policy of the latter as premier has always been regarded as vigorous and progressive that in connection with foreign affairs has been considered weak under his administration england has taken a comparatively rear seat among the great powers and has not infrequently submitted to undignified snubbing beaconsfield Beacons field on the other annd was noted for his bis spirited foreign polly policy w and would only consent to with honor 31 3 1 peace never being willing to sacrifice flee the latter for forthe the former an illustration of this feature was given durling during the last russo turkish war when the troops of the czar approached uncomfortably near to constantinople thus endangering En glands eastern interests instantly government ordered a british fleet to pass up the dardanelles Darda nelles into the black sea bea this meant war if the rt bi 8 advanced a step further toward the capital of turkey the czar weakened and the crisis was bridged had gladstone been premier it is probable that the nus russians would have taken possession of constantinople and contiguous country and friml of the bloodiest struggles of history been precipitated tho the same spirited foreign policy enabled to practically dictate to the berlin berlia conference which grew out of the struggle between russia and turkey the famous treaty of berlin being mostly the work of his subtle mind Gladston Glad stones eis tendency is toward republicanism whose success means the disintegration of the british empire beaconsfield Beacons field was essentially senti ally an imperialist and his entire effort was in the direction of the extension of the empire and preserving it intact the genius of the statesmanship of f gladstone naturally appeals to the sympathy ot of the lovers lovera of popular rule in the direction of which the great commoner has always traveled during the larger and later period of his notable career loyal englishmen who regard the disruption of the british empire with repugnance necessarily look toward Beacons beaconsfield field as the greater man of the two both are great but remarkable as it may appear in opposite directions and it seems to be difficult to decide as to who is entitled to occupy the first place there is but little doubt as ae to who would receive the popular verdict in this and disown bis own country it would be the grand old mau man who to is one of the most remarkable characters of modern times in many respects his capacity for acquiring and retaining information his working power and physical vitality are all phenomenal with him As a farseeing far seeing operator of a vig orous foreign policy aud a polished brilliant and incisive debater bea ensfield ons field Gladston Glad stones els conspicuous a antagonist was an intellectual marvel bright could not be consistently compared to either of those barly shining lights |
