GLADSTONE’S “HYPOCRISY.”

Horowhenua Chronicle, 13 August 1925, Page 2

GLADSTONE’S “HYPOCRISY.”

HIS SON RESENTS AUTHOR’S " SLANDERS. [ LONDON, July 26. “Your garbage about Mr Gladstone. , shows that you are a liar. Because you slander the dead, you are a cow- , ard; and because you think the pub- ' lie will accept such inventions, you are a fool,” writes Lord Gladstone to , Captain Peter Wright, whose book, i “Portraits and Criticisms,” accused William Ewart Gladstone of hypocrisy in matters of sex. Captain Wright, replying, declares , his. criticism to be supported by evit deuce in his possession, and also, by . the late Lord Milner’s dictum that k Gladstone was governed by his serag- . lio. He adds: “Gladstone’s hypocrisy, [ which is now his common reputation, I was crystallised in Labouchere’s epi- , gram: .‘lf Gladstone .were found play- ! ing cards with a fltth ace up his r - sleeve, he would explain that God put ! it there.” Captain Wright asserts that Gladstone, after conniving at Charles Parnell’s illicit relations with Mrs Kitty ( O’Shea, and using them for political , purposes, was foremost in denouncing . them when revealed during the dit worce proceedings, and adds; “Such . hypocrisy in the case of another L makes me believe that Gladstone was I a hypocrite in Ills own case. My views are unshaken by your lord- ' ship’s controversial language, which 1 must be practised in the pantry in- . stead of during debates in the House , of Lords.” : IS LETTER LIBELLOUS. I Mr Gladstone’s sons invite Captain Wright to sue them for libel in connection with their letter tor bim. t Captain Wright, interviewed by the Daily News, declined the offer, but offered Lord Gladstone a percentage oh the increased ,sales of the book, due to his letter. Lord Gladstone’s lawyers rebut Captain Peter Wright’s contention that the former’s letter to the latter is not , libellous because it was contained in I an envelope. : The lawyers point out that Lord Gladstone sent a copy, of the letter to Captain Wright’s publishers, whereupon it was open to Wright to take criminal proceedings. Lord Gladstone says that he is nowawaiting for Captain Wright to come into the open. PASSAGE OBJECTED- TO.‘ ' Hon. Harry Gladstone, who is a director of the P. and O. Company, associates himself with Ms brother’s protest against the aspersion cast upon their father. The passage to which the Gladstones object reads; “The Liberals worshipped God and Mammon with equal zest, assigning inward service,, to Mammon and leaving God to content Himself with their outward professions. Gladstone,, their leader, founded a great tradition, since observed by many of his followers with pious fidelity, namely publicly to speak hi language of the highest and strictest principle, and privately *to pursue and possess every sort of woman." “INSERTED IN PROOF.” Liberal papers are defending Gladstone’s - reputation at length. The publishers of Captain Wright’s book declare that the manuscript, when accepted, did not contain the offending passage, and that it was inserted in the proof. They express - regret that it was overlooked. RETORT SCORNFUL. AUTHOR TO “G.O.M.’S” SON. LONDON, July 28. Captain Peter Wright, in a further reply to Lord Gladstone, who objected to his references to the late William \Ewart Gladstone, declares: "If your father had been engaged in such a dispute he would have shattered every reasoning, I could use,- and would have left me vanquished, confounded and mute. “That would have been his masterly way of dealing with an opponent —not like you, alternately reviling and shiffling. I disdain to lift a weapon against so unworthy a descendant of a worthy sire.”