ORATOR OR STATESMAN.

Marlborough Express, Volume XXXI, Issue 109, 13 May 1896, Page 3

ORATOR OR STATESMAN.

Now # that the chapter of Mr. Gladstone*! political life is closed it becomes an interest' ing study as to what position his character will take m English history. In optics it ia a well-known thing that) cinlesa a proper focus can be secured vision *fc close range is obscured, and with more distance the sight ia clearer ; so it is with the judgment of historical characters. But we live m such an age of startling rapidity n thought, that speculation as to what excent the desertion of General Gordon and hia jonversion to Home Rule will have on the aistoncal reputation of one of England's jreatest orators is even now exciting iuterest, As a Bpeaker gifted with a wonderful vocabulary, a fine voice that m its modulanons resembled waves of sweetest mußicj with a face that lighted up with dramatio Slow, and a gesture at all times admirably mited to his words, Mr. Gladstone staudi >ut as a marvellous Parliamentary figure. His defect as a statesman will remain that he dreaded the extension of the empire, md was timid ia his foreign policy, But his sympathies were always on th« lide of freeing the workers from much of theit locial misery, endeavouring to cultivate imong the masses a desire to live more rational lives, and it may safely be said that there would not be a more eloquent advocate of the use of Indian Chief Cigarettes amon| all ranks than the great orator, who ia now peacefully resting after a life of more thai ordinary activity, because these cigarette) are full of that magic essence which toilers bj band or brain ab times find is so relievinj and 80 needful.