Hawkes Bay Herald FRIDAY, APRIL 11, 1879.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 5354, 11 April 1879, Page 2

Hawkes Bay Herald FRIDAY, APRIL 11, 1879.

When the practice of " interviewing " notable persons was started in America by newspaper reporters it was much ridiculed in England, and generally it was regarded as an amusing development of Yankee impertinent obtrusiveness. It would seem, however, that even to this, among other things that are utterly un-English, the fastidious taste of the Briton may, by custom, become reconciled. Mr Gladstone has been interviewed — or at all events "interrogated," for ifc is not certain whether he was questioned personally or by letter — and that, too, without going to the land of wooden nutmegs and such like " notions." The interrogator was the editor of a monthly periodical bearing the title of the Biograph, and Mr Gladstone seems to have submitted with surprising readiness to the ordeal of interrogation. The Standard, a Tory organ, of course puts the matter in the worst possible light, and makes -it appear that Mr Gladstone "tendered himself as a witness to be examined in his own behalf." Is is, however, far more likely that the correct version is that given by the Northern Whig, that Mr Gladstone believed the interrogator "to be engaged in a serious study " of the political changes of recent times, and that the answers given by the great statesman were not intended for publication. The Bioc/raph itself states that Mr Gladstone answered the questions in answer to that periodical's invitation. It does not, however, matter much which way it was ; the result is what m ost concerns the public, but we cannot say that it amounts to a great deal. Indeed, we can scarcely recollect so remarkable an instance of adroitly parrying with direct questioning. The first inquiry was — "By what mental changes or external causes, did he consciously pass from the Conservative to the Liberal side %" As the Biograph truly enough remarks, probably the question was too defined to receive an answer that could be given in precise terms, and we should not have been surprised if Mr Gladstone had entered into an elaborate history of political events leading up to his change of sides ; but he did nothing of the kind, he contented himself with a reference to his speech at the opening of the Palmerston Club, at Oxford, in December, 1878, the only passage in which that at all bears on the point is the following :— " I think that the principle of the Conservative party is jealousy of liberty and of the people, only qualified by fear ; but I think the principle of the Liberal party ' is trust in the people, only qualified by prudence." The second question was — " To what statesman has Mr Gladstone been most indebted for his tuition in the principles t or the ad-

ininistrative art ixi politics?" Mr Gladstone answered that he was niost indebted to Sir Robert Peel and to Sir James Graham; The' Biograph remarks upon this that niost persons would miss the name of* Canning, arid be a little 1 surprised, at first, at the inclusion of the name of Graham. " Everyone^' it saysj " would mention Peel as a great moulder, of Mr Gladstone's principles, but few would think of Sir James Graham- in some respects ilior'e Cdriservative in. his composition and never remarkably popular; tri the art of administration, no doubt, Sir James Graham greatly excelled, as also in making a clear and busi-ness-like statement to the House of Commons, no matter what complications were involved." Question three concerns the Irish ■ XJniver sity Bill, and it runs—" Was Mr Gladstone really surprised at the fate of the Irish Universisy Bill, or did he persist in dealing with the subject as a niafc ter of dutyj knowing that he risked almost all that followed t Writhing could be more emphatic than Mr Grlad^ stone's answer. He was surprised. Question four reads — " In the event of carrying through his University Bill, what other fresh scheme, if any, was in his mind 1" Any further 1 Irish legislation remained for subsequent consideration. Question five was — " Does Mr Gladstone's ' moral antipathy ' — if it be wholly moral, as some people contend — to Lord Beaconsfield date from the attacks made on Sir Robert Peel, or is it of more recent origin ?" Mr Gladstone replied that antipathy was not a word he could admit or recognise as describing his attitude at any time. The sixth and last question' was — " For what precise reason was the late Earl Russell excluded from the Liberal Cabinet in 186S f Mr Gladstone said he was aware of no disability in Lord llussellj at that or any period, except age ; he was seventy-six. After all what does the whole budget of answers amount to % Simply nothing. And yet, so great is the interest attaching to the man himself that everything that he says or writes immediately attains public prominence, and accordingly we find all the Press of England full of "Mr Gladstone and the Biograph"