It is impossible to study Mr. Gladstone's life without being impressed with his intense spiritual earnestness and moral fervour. And this from his earliest days, which is all the more remarkable when we consider the condition of things in England when he appeared on the scene.
While he was at Eton he was known to be pre-eminently God-fearing, orderly, and conscientious. He would not join in or countenance any levity about things which he regarded sacred. Though he was pious no one could accuse him of being ostentatious or priggish.
He was not only pure-minded and courageous but gave early promise of what he became so distinguished for in later years, viz., his love of humanity.
"He stood forth at Eton as the champion of sume wretched pigs," says Mr. Russell, which it was the custom to torture at Eton Fair on Ash Wednesday, and, when bantered by his schoolfellows for his humanity, offered to write his reply good round hand on their faces.' No wonder he was a great favourite and evidently believed with Coleridge that He prayeth best who lovett best 'All things, both great and small.'
The most intimate friend young Gladstone had at Eton was Arthur Hallam whom Tennyson immortalized in In Memoriam. Who can estimate the blessed results of such a companionship! If we are wise we should always seek the society and friendship of those better than ourselves and endeavour to follow their example.
Burke whom Gladstone venerated and almost worshipped said: Is example nothing? It is everything. Example is the school of mankind and they will learn at no other." Weesee then that both at Eton and Osford Gladstone exerted wholesome and beneficial influence. He was a hard and diligent student and while he did not object to a supper or wiae party, he was abstemious in the use of wine, and his example had a good effect. Such was his force of character that he impressed those who knew him best most favourably. One of his friends when writing to his mother said: "Gladstone is no ordinary individual; and, perhaps if I were called on to select the individual T am intimate with to whom I should first turn in an emergency, and whom I thought in every way pre-eminently distinguished for excellence I should turn to Gladstone." Bishop Wordsworth who on hearing him speak at the Oxford Union, predicted he would one day live to be Prime Minister, said: that no man of his standing in the University habitually read his Bible more or knew it better." No wonder Dr. Dillinger called Mr. Gladstone the best theologian in England. What he was at school and college, so he was when he entered the House of Commons.
Macaulay referred to him as 'a young man of unblemished character," and such he remained throughout his long and chequered life, Mr, Justin McCarthy says: "I have mixed with most of Mr. Gladstone's contemporaries, his political opponents as well as his political followers, and I have never heard a hint of any serious defect in his nature and his character, or of any unworthy motive influencing his public or private career." This is indeed high praise. Phis does not mean, however, that he was perfect and there were times when his petuous temperament and his impulsive nature led him to take a wrong view of things.
Despite of what some people would call his faults and failings, he was never charged with indulging in personal imputations, which is one of the easiest and most popular of all the arts of oratory. His generosity to all men around him; his fidelity to his colleagues; his earnestness in the cause of truth, justice and humanity are traits which must not be forgotten when estimating his character. Let mo quote again from one who knew him intimately and well, Mr. G.
Russell "While a politician he was still essentinlly, and above all a Christian—some would say an ecclesiastic. Through all the changes and chances of a political career, asa Tory, as a Home Ruler, in office and in Opposition, sitting as'n Duke's nominee for a Posket-borough and enthroned as the idol of an adoring democracy, Mr. Gladstone "plays in the merry game of life, that one where what ho most doth value must be won." In his own personal habits known to all men, of systematic devotion; in his vigorous reservation of the Sunday for sacred uses; in his written and spoken utterances; in his favourite studies; in his administration of public affairs; in the grounds on which he has based his opposition to policies of which he has disapproved—he has steadily and constantly asserted for the claims of religion a paramount place in public coneration, and has reproved the stale sciolism, which thinks or affects to think, that Christianity, asa spring of action, is exhausted force."
.—AS A MORAL REFORMER, Even in his most anti-reforming days ho was in favour of Catholic emancipation, and when he made his maiden speech in the House of Commons he struck the key-
subject before the House "'as a question note of his future policy by discussing the of justice, of humanity, and of religion." Mr. Gladstone was once asked by a friend of mine what he believed to be O'Connell's principal characteristic. He replied: "I think O'Connell's principal. characteristic was a passion for philanthropy." This might indeed be applied to himself.
Perhaps the first great stride he took in the way of reform was when he joined Sir Robert Peel as a Free Trader. This cost him his seat, and he remained outside the House of Commons for some time, though a member of Sir Robert Peel's government, He did a great deal towards bringing the repeal of the Corn-Laws to successful issue. We find him vindicating the policy of admitting the Jews to Parliament, though in his younger days he was opposed to it. He was soon tested. Neurly haifa century ago the peace of Europe
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.