VOL. XXIII.
INDIANAPOLIS, IND., SATURDAY, DEO. 8,1888.
NO. 49
Gladstone Interviewed.
From our Special Correspondent.
"I am the only person that ever inter-
tiswed Gladstone."
The speaker was a tall handsome,^mill-
Urr looking gentleman, with magnificent
moustache and side whiskers.
"How did it happen, Colonel? Tell me
ill about it," I said, fall of curiosity, for I
knew that the speaker was one of the best
raconteurs in Europe. Ha had been
trice around the world and had met the
most famous persons of his time. Soldier, journalist aud man of fashion, he
was at home in the camp, at the club, in
the drawing room—anywhere and everywhere. He had a personal acquaintance
with King Humbert and had been'granted
several private interviews by Pope L io
XIII. He had smoked a chiboque with
tbe Sultan and wandered amid the ruins
of Athens with Dr. Schliemann. He had
witnessed the barbaric splendor attending
the coronation of the Czir, and as a boy
had seen Washington Irving working in
h:s garden at Sunnyside, wearing an old
straw hat and clothe3 of rustic simplicity.
He had visited Tennyson at Hazelmere
and President Grant at the White House.
We were sitting ia a cosy corner of the
Girrick Club in London enjoying a little
sapper after the theater, when he mentioned that he was the only man that had
ever interviewed Gladstone. "It happened in this way," he said. "Half a dozen
of ns were-sitting in- the office of the
London Telegraph one afternoon, when
the editor in chief said: "I would give
100 guineas for an interview with Gladstone."
'What is the diffijulty?"
"The difficulty is that he positively declines to be interviewed—he will not be
interviewed."
"I am an American," slid the Colonel,
■nd interviewing originated in the United
States It is reduced to such an art there
that men are frequently interviewed without knowing it.
"Well that is the only way Gladstone
can be interviewed, for if he supposed
that you came for that purpose he would
1* as dumb as a fish, or more likely decline to see you altogether."
"All right, I will undertake to interview
'he grand old man."
"The Colonel then went on to Bay that
the first thing he did was to call upon the
American Minister with whom he was
*ell acquainted, and get a letter of introduction to Mr. Gladstone. "Hearing that
fie always observed Sunday strictly aa a
day of rest from offi rial duties, I chose
'hat day for my visit. I found him in
his library reading the Sermon on the
"sunt, for it should be remembered that
the greatest and grandest of living Englishmen is a Christian, whose pure and
simple life is an example for the so-called
**tter-day philosophers, who spend their
•fres in attempting to pull down the
Temple of God. Like all Eaglish gentlemen, Mr. Gladstone Is thoroughly well
"ed, and like all really great men, he is
Perfectly simple and natural in his man-
"ers. He bore his 75 years remarkably
*ell. His voice was full, strong and rich;
***« hair although white, was abundant;
w'th little signs of baldness. A slight
'toop in his shoulders was tho only indication of advanced age that the groat commoner exhibited. In conversing with
*•> American visitor, Mr. Gladstone would
■Hturally speak of the United States, for
*b.ich country he baa a decided admiration.
'America has a magnificent future," he
J*'d. "if the American people are only
'^-e to their possibilities. B3fore the
cl°se ol the 20th century.the vast continent
'"-braced within the limits of the United
^t&t«»-stretchlng from the Atlantic to
**? Pacific aud from the Gulf.of Mexico
10 the great lakes of .the North— will be
the home of 300,000,000 of freemen, representing every nation upon earth; vaster
in extent and population than the Roman
Empire in its palmiest days, but free from
the danger that attended the extension of
that Empire among barbarous peoples,
which was the primary and potent cause
of the decline and fall of the greatness of
Rome. Eyery true Englishman should
be proud of the progress of the United
States, for the Americans are our kith
and kin, and having the same literature,
the same language and the same sturdy
love of political independence. The
wresting of Magna Charta from King
John prepared the way for the battle of
Bunker Hill and the Declaration of Independence."
"It is strange that you have never visited the United States, that you might see
the practical working of Republican insti
tutions, Mr Gladstone."
"Nothing would give me more pleasure,"
was his reply, "but I have never been
able to find the time. I have been in puD-
lic life almost uninterruptedly since 1832
and for the last 35 years,I have either been
in oil ice or one of the leaders of the opposition."     *
"When did you first enter office?"
"In 1852 as Chancellor of the Exchequer
under the government ot Lord Aberdeen.
From that time Mr. Disrseli and I were,
constantly opposed to each other, though
it was not until after the death of Lord
Palmerston that I became the leader of the
Liberals.
"It is rather singular that you began political life as a Tory and become the leader
of the Liberals, and Disraeli who commenced as a decided Radical should turn
out to be the most conservative of the
Conservatives."
"Yes, I was very young when I entered
political life—too young to have convictions of my own upon the principles of
the groat parties that divided the public
opini in of Great Britain. As I grew older,
and studied, and thought, iny views became gradually more liberal until I ended
by becoming the leader of the"   Liberals."
"What do you regard as the most important question now agitating English
politics?"
"The Irish question is not only the most
important question now agitating English politics, but the most important question that any English government has
ever been called upon to deal with. For
seven centuries the Irish were treated as a
conquered people, having no rights that
the Eaglish thought they were bound to
respect. The natural consequence of such
a state of affairs was that many wrongs
were committed whose evil effects are still
felt. Centuries of injustice cannot be
righted in a few years, even by the best In-
tentioned government. Ever since I entor-
od public life, a more generons policy towards Ireland has prevailed, and all her
just demands have been complied with,
but no government could live a day that
dared to say to Ireland, 'Go free.' Home
rule will come, but absolute separation
nover. The British Empire must be maintained in its entirety. This is not a question of Church but of State. The Irish
Church has been disestablished and that
of England may follow, but it would be
without any political result. With few
exceptions, all Englishmen are loyal to
the throne, and feel a personal pride in
keeping up a splendid royal state. The
Prince of Wales is as popular an heir apparent as England has had since famous
Prince Hal of jovial memory, and no
doubt will become a second Henry IV,
when he ascends the throne, without having an opportunity, however to display
that bravery on the battle field which all
English gentlemen possess, for it is not
customary in this age for kings to lead
armies."
"What do the Irish people really want?"
"The present cry is for Home Rule.
Should that be conceded the next demand
will probably be entire separation from
England. The Irish have my sympathy,
and I shall always be in favor of Ireland
having all political rights consistent with
the honor of tho British Empire. The
majority of tho English ponplo are not yot
prepared to allow Homo Rale to Ireland,
but the time is fast approaching when it
must bo granted. The world moves, and
governments must move with it. What
one age would regard is impossible becomes a matter of course in tbe next. The
electric lights, that now make the night
as bright as the day, were undreamed of a
generation ago. You have in New York a
bridge which surpasses all the seven wonders of the ancient world, but before the
next century dawns that magnificent
structure will be regarded as quite an ordinary aflair. So is it also in politics. I
should be glad were the last act in my political career to give Home Rale to Ireland.
It is a right measure, and this is the right
time for that act of justice to be done."
"It would be the crowning glory of a
long anl distinguished career."
"Yes, I would be quite willing to take
my leave of political life forever could I
see this measure accomplished and Ire'
land cease to be a thorn in the side of Eng
land. When I retired from the leadership
of the Liberal party in 1874,1 intended it
to be permanent. The Irish complications
had not arisen at that time. When the
Conservatives were routed in 1880, I resumed my former position, and became
Prime Minister again. It has been since
1880 that the affairs of Ireland have assumed so formidable a shape. The Irish question is a very delicate one, and must be
treated with patient sympathy. Ireland
has no bottor friend than I am, but I cannot do what is impossible."
"I had often heard Gladstone speak in
the house of Commons," continued tho
Colonel, "but he never seemed grander,
more impressive, more truly the greatest
of living Englishmen, than on that Sunday afternoon when, sitting in his own
quiet library, he discussed the gravest
qnestion of the ago."
"How did he impress you from a personal point of view ?"
"Well he is tall, his eyes are blue, his
hands large, his feet English, you know;
his manner gentle but dignified,and while
absolutely free from affectation, he displays an ease and polish which we expect
to find in an English gentleman of his political and social position. William E.
Gladstone is not like his great rival Disraeli, a dashing political acrobat, but he is
a great statesman, possessing a genius capable) of guiding his country successfully
through one of the most critical periods
of her history. When ho leaves the scene
where he has shone so long and so brilliantly, England will find it difficult to
select from her public men one capable of
taking the place of this grand old man.
Montk.
There was an explosion of natural gas
at Wabash, Nov. 20;h, which produced
considerable fright. A lad named Miller
noticed gas escaping from a cut-off gate,
which was uncovered, and getting down
into the hole the boy lighted a match.
The force of the explosion lifted the lad
up and threw him whirling like a top
across the road. He was slightly burned
about the face. A moment later there was
a frightful roaring. The pipe a short distance away had ^parted, and the force of
the explosion threw up a great shower of
dirt and rocks,while the roar shook buildings in the lower part of the city. A similar incident occurred in this city the
same day. The boy, August Brubn was
fined $5 for his fun. '
Germany   last   year   imported   62,000
horses.
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IndianADolis, Ind.