A Great Career Closed

William Ewart Gladstone, incomparably the greatest Briton of the century, if not of all time, after an almost unbroken public service of sixty years, has voluntarily laid down the burdens of his high office of premier of Great Britain, and closed, in all probability forever, the book of his public career. His has been in many respects the most remarkable parliamentary career in British history. While there are others who have seen longer service, none have had so arduous, varied and distinguished a career. It is not without deep feeling, therefore, that the passing of such a man from the stage of his country's service, and the service of humanity as well, for the beneficient influences of this grand life have extended round the earth, is to be contemplated. From early manhood to the great age of fourscore and five he has had more influence in shaping the history of a great and progressive nation than any other individual, and to him civilization as well as his own country owes a greater debt of gratitude than to any other British statesman. During the span of his public career, no people of Europe have made greater advancement in every department of thought and action than have Englishmen, and yet his name is indelibly associated as originator or defender with every great reform effected, every advance in religious and politica! liberty, in education and general thought. Entering the house of commons in 1832, for the borough of Newark, he held the post of Lord of the Treasury, and afterwards, in 1835, Under Secretary of State for the Colonies; in 1838 he published a work on "The State in its Relations with the Church"; in 1847 e entered the commons as a representative of the University of Oxford, and continued to sit for the same for eighteen years; he advocated the cause of Italian independence in many eloquent speeches in 1858 he was sent on a mission to the Ionian islands, and the same year published a work in three volumes on "Homer and the Homeric Age"; in 1860 he carried through parliament a commercial treaty with France; in 1869 he disestablished the Irish churph; in 1870 he carried the first Irish land act and an act establishing a system of common schools throughout the kingdom; in 1871 he abolished the sale of commissions in the army; in 1872 he enacted the Ballot Reform law; and in 1881 he carried the second Irish land act. By this series of great reforms he secured the removal of sectarian disabilities and brought about the enfranchisement of men's consciences; the enlargement of the suffrage and the right and practice of self-government to the masses; provided tor a system of public education; greatly amelioratep the condition of the Irish land tenants; and during the entire time of his public service, with the burdens of government resting heavily upon him, he found time to devote himself to literature, and became a critical and voluminous writer upon a wide range of subjects. He always wielded a powerful influence with the people, because they justly regarded him as one of themselves. All of his great reforms were in the direction of their interests, in securing for them better justice, more humane methods of government, and a broader recognition of human rights. In diversity of genius and fertility of resource he is the marvel of modern times. Barely in the history of the world has such mental power been associated with such physical endurance. Most of the great men who have been largely instrumental in shaping the history of their times have completed their life's work and retired from active service long before reaching his years. And yet we find him at the age of more than fourscore years called to lead his party and direct the legislation of his country on one of the greatest issues in her history. The determination and tenacity of purpose with which he has labored to secure home rule for Ireland should alone immortalize his name. Although he has been forced by the infirmities of age to leave this great work uncompleted, the end is almost in sight, and the harvest for which he sowed the seed is ready for the sickle. Although it is to be regretted that he was not permitted to finish this labor of love, his fame and his place in history are established, and are in no sense dependent'upon the final solution of this question. He has annduring place in the popular heart, where he will become more and more enshrined with the flight of time. He retires from the arduous labors of public life followed by the blessings of his countrymen and the admiration of the world. Time will unquestionably write his name in bolder characters, and his fame will never grow less.