SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 1834.

Auckland Star, Volume XXV, Issue 30, 3 February 1894, Page 4

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 1834.

The " Pall Mall Gazette " has not increased its credit for accurate information as a political newsmonger by the announcement that Mr Gladstone intends to retire almost immediately from the cares and responsibilities of office. If the intention of that sapient journal was to create a mild sensation in political circles, and to give the English press a fresh topic to comment upon, its tactics have been successful, but if the " Pall Mall Gazette " flattered itself that the public would give implicit credence to its statement, that illusion has been dispelled. In the first place it was not likely that a journal which under its new management is supporting the Unionist party, would be in possession of information regarding the Premier's intentions that was withheld from the Government organs, and what is still more to the point, Mr Gladstone took the first opportunity of giving the report a distinct denial. The terms of his announcement are not by any means ambiguous. The venerable gentleman, who is at present recruiting his energies at Biarritz, says he has no intention of resigning, but he admits that in discharging his public duties he is to some extent hampered by the conditions of his sight and impaired hearing.

The terms in which Mr Gladstone's reply is couched form an excellent text for both his friends and enemies to enlarge upon. Not the. least remarkable thing in connection with the Prime Minister is the wonderful physical vigour he displays even in extreme old age. After a protracted debate in the House of Commons, when younger members are wearied and exhausted, the veteran statesman seems fresh as a daisy. His step is still firm and brisk as he traverses Regent-street or Piccadilly, and he never pleads his great age as an excuse for absenting himself from dinner parties or from discharging social functions. It seems indeed a point of honour with Mr Gladstone's supporters to maintain that his physical powers are unimpaired. Of course the " Times "is not likely tolose the opportunity of casting a shaft at the Premier, and while it treats the rumour of his resignation as a canard, professes to believe that Mr Gladstone's admissions have a serious effect from a political stand-

point.

It goes without saying that his opponents are eager to catch at anything that favours the idea of the Premier's resignation. The issues that depend to a great extent on his retention of office are so momentous that the very mention of a transference of the reins of power to other bands, causes a vibration in the Oppositiou ranks. It is only a few weeks ago since the Duke of Argyle challenged Mr Gladstone's right to retain office on the ground that at 84 no man ought to be entrusted with the Premiership. But in order to make good this proposition it should be shown that the holder of the office is incapacitated either by physical or mental impairment from discharging his public duties. No one will say, for instance, that Mr Gladstone's bodily infirmities, as indicated by himself, are such as to absolutely disqualify him for administering the affairs of the Empire. The extent to which his power of vision or acuteness of hearing is impaired would not be thought by anyone sufficient to cause a man of middle age to stand aside. With regard to Mr Gladstone's mental powers, we have as yet received no sign of decay. The amount of brain work he has gone through during the last few months shows that his mind is elastic and vigorous as ever. Even the Duke of Argyll admits that the Premier retains his wonderful intellectual powers, although he opines that the mental balance is not so perfect as of yore. Many persons,^ however, will hold the opinion that the obliquity is in His Grace's own mental vision, and that he lacks the power to accurately gauge the wisdom of the great statesman's measures.

One of the charges which Mr Glad" stone's opponents are never weary <r harping upon and which they put for" ward f.s a proof of his deterioration, is

the frequency with which he has changed his political views. The ecclesiastical party can never forget that although in his youth he was a pillar of the High Church, he was the chief agent in disestablishing the Church of Ireland and that he is joining handa with dissenters" to render a like service to the Church in Wales. His change of front with regard to Home Rule and his adoption of the cause of the Irish Nationalists, aimed his opponents with fresh arguments, and the storm of vituperation the aged statesman has had to encounter in consequence, would have daunted a less able and intrepid leader. The truth is Mr Gladstone, like Sir George Grey, possesses the rare quality of keeping pace with the progress of the age. A. statesman who has this gift, and is daring enough to exercise it, will always expose himself to charges of inconsistency. Of the wisdom of his actions, posterity will form a more correct judgment than his contemporaries. Nothing could exceed the virulence with which Gladstone's proposal to disestablish the Irish Church was met, but after a quarter of a century has elapsed, few persons would dispute the wisdom of that measure. If we reason by analogy a similar judgment may be formed when Home Rule for Ireland has been for years an accomplished fact.

The "Pall Mall Gazette" affects to think that Mr Gladstone's disappointment in regard to his Home Rule Bill may hasten his resignation. We do nor agree with this view. No doubt the Premier would have liked last session to secure Home Rule for Ireland as the crowning triumph of his political life, but he was too shrewd a politician to believe that with his following be could at once overcome the opposition of the House of Lords, and too intrepid a leader to be daunted by a failure that held out a good hope of an ultimate victory. Mr Gladstone, to use his own words, is aware that at his great age his tenure of office may at any time be interrupted, but he will have the sympathy of the majority of the nation in his determination for the present to remain at the head of the Government.