LECTURE ON GLADSTONE.

Press, Volume XLVI, Issue 7357, 9 July 1889, Page 3

LECTURE ON GLADSTONE.

The Rev. F. W. Isitt delivered a lecture in the Oddfellows' Hall last nlgbt on " Gladstone, the greatest of livlug Scotchmen. There was a very good attendance of the public, and Mr J. L. Scott, who occupied the chair, made a few remarks by way of introduction.

The Rev. Mr Isitt, who wae frequently applauded throughout the address, said that there was confusion about the nationality of the Grand Old Man, as he called him. Gladstone was a Scotchman in the same sense as children born In the colony of English parents were English. Gladstone in early life grew up with conservative ideas. His Qrst election foi Newark carried him to the Reform Parliament of 1532. No man had ever been so frequently trusted and rejected as W. E. Gladstone, and the reasons why he had been "kicked out" by those who flrsft trusted him would be given daring the lecture. Gladstone's* conservatism was extremely strong, but the greatest thing and the noblest which he did during his early years was to protest against the Chinese war. But Gladstone was energetic, fluent, and popular, and soon obtained a seat in the Cabinet. The repeal of the corn-laws brought prominently forward Richard Cobden, John Bright, Robert Peel and his young lieu* tenant, Gladstone, who still then held to the idea that duty was necessary on corn, though he had advanced a little way towards freetrade. The fight proceeded, and Bright appealed to Peel and Gladstone, an appeal strengthened and impressed by the fearful famine of Ireland. The appeal was successful, though Peel was very badly attacked for his change, and he had to retire. His only supporter was Gladstone. But these two came back pledged to repeal the laws, and the cartoons issued at the time were shown at the lecture. Newark " kicked ,, Gladstone out because he decided to give free bread to the people. He (the lecturer) asked whether Gladstone or Newark lost most by the change. He had a little book by Jennings, who summed up Gladstone in his own way, and as the lecture proceeded he would refer to it. Gladstone was next elected for Oxford, and was found speaking and voting against his actions of twelve years previous. Hta visit to Naples taught him the impossibility of governing people except by their own choice. Soon after Gladstone's return from Naples the Russian war broke out. Russia yielded everything except her position on the Black Sea, and Gladstone spoke in support of it, though he had but a small minority with him. Shortly after the close of this war Gladstone made a mistake. He was unwise enough to say at the time of the American war, that Jefferson Davis would establish a government. But politicians were llaable to mistakes even in our own day, Gladstone was noble enough to acknowledge the mistake. For his growing Liberalism he was "kicked out" of Oxford, and the Press of England rang out against the dismissal. He however, went to, and was elected by, Lancashire, and in 1866 he brought down his great " Reform BilL" Gladstone, twitted by Disraeli for opposing the Bill of 1831 and supporting nis own of 1866, made a most happy reply. The Bill was however, thrown out, and Disraeli's party went in, out of whom the Opposition squeezed a Radical Reform Bill. Gladstone next brought down his resolutions for disestablishing the Irish Church, and no worse Billingsgate could be used than was used then against him; but he denied all the charges against him. (Applause.) In connection with this event many amusing cartoons were published. The resolutions were thrown out. He went to the country and returned with a majority. This lost him bis seat in Lancashire. The Home Rule cry was now raised by Isaao Butt, of Dublin, and his supporters to embarrass Gladstone. They set a stone rolling which they had not been able to stop. Aβ member for Greenwich he brought in his Irish Land Bill, which was carried with amendments. A deal of the animosity which Gladstone had stirred up was caused because he laid his hands on vested interests and vested iniquities. (Applause.) An alliance of the beer and the Bible ousted Gladstone first from office and then from his seat. Since then he had been disliked In the colonies because his foreign policy was not a spirited one, as some put it. Gladstone had done a noble deed when he submitted the Alabamaquestion toarbitration. He had been rejectedf or wishing to do justice to Ireland. The speaker admired Gladstone for trying to find out the best methods for remedying the trouble. Coercion was tried now, but it was no good; it had always failed. Just as Mr Isitt believed the foreign policy of Gladstone was a right one, so na believed that it was on the purest principles of justice that Gladstone wished to grant Ireland what she asked. It was a question whether Ireland should be trusted or not. (A Voice —Trust them.) If only England would give her as much self-government as was compatible, hande could be shakes across St. George's Channel, and the two countries would be happily united. After some further references, the rev* gentleman closed by saying that he believed of all men England had ever seen, he of whom they had been speaking was one of the worthiest and the best. An uncrowned monarch, and yet not altogether uncrowned, for he had known what it was to wear the prickly thorns of unmerited sorrow. Largely outcast by public opinion, his enemies said he was clinging to his last plank; his friends pointed proudly to the Grand Old Man as contented to be misunderstood, hurling himself forward to save the sinking ship Hibernia. In fifty years the muse of history would pause over the illustrious names of this century. Men would learn to believe that war was madness, and higher on the scroll of fame above the names of those who brougnfe about war would be inscribed the names of those who sought for peace. But the name would be reached of one man who had throughout kept to his object, and higher than all would appear the name of William Ewart Gladstone. (Loud and continued applause.) The Rev. Mr Dewdnkt moved, and Mr D. Reese seconded, a vote of thanks to the Rev. F. W. Isitt for the lectures he had given. The motion was carried by acclamation*