MR. GLADSTONE ADDRESSING THE CROWD FROM THE BALCONY OF LORD ROSEBERY'S HOUSE, GEORGE STREET, EDINBURGH, ON MONDAY, APRIL 5TH, 1880. CHAPTER IV Lord Rosebery and Mr. Gladstone THE first and second Midlothian campaigns form important chapters in Mr. Gladstone's biography, and their political significance has been many times discussed by able writers. I shall only attempt to consider the personal aspects of these great electioneering struggles, especially in their bearing on the position and public career of Lord Rosebery. Why was it, some young student of politics might ask, that Lord Rosebery on these occasions, and on many which succeeded them, extended to Mr. Gladstone a hospitality which was princely in its expenditure, son-like in its affectionate care? Rumour in the London clubs said that the Midlothian election of 1880 cost him not less than £60,000, and Lord Stanley of Alderley, early in the life of the new Government, taxed him from his place in the House of Lords with having spent sums SO enormous that under a less complaisant Ministry he might have been removed from the bench of magistrates. There is, of course, the obvious answer that Lord Rosebery was intensely ambitious, and that he saw in Mr. Gladstone's visit to Scotland an opportunity of commending himself to the country. But, in that case, why did he refuse office when Mr. Gladstone's Government was formed? The more closely we examine the records of the time, the more we are driven back to the conviction (1) that he acted as he did from a deep personal devotion to Mr. Gladstone-a devotion which in those days took the form of unquestioning hero-worship, and (2) that he had an honourable desire to free Midlothian from the Tory ascendency of the House of Buccleuch. On Monday, November 24th, 1879, Mr. Gladstone arrived in Edinburgh. His journey had been one long triumphal progress, and he reached his destination, as the Spectator remarked, provided with such a stock of tweed and plaid and rug as might have set up a small dealer. On the platform at the Waverley Station an admirer had laid two beautiful rugs of fine Leicester wool, with a crimson Angora border, and bearing the word "Welcome" in blue. The people of Edinburgh were strung up to the highest pitch of excitement, and as the twilight of the short November day closed in, they assembled in thousands near the station and in Princes Street. Lord Rosebery drove up in an open carriage and four, with two outriders, and waited for an hour before the train, which had been delayed by the enthusiasm on the journey, steamed into the station. All this time the people were massing themselves more closely to gether, and the pressure became at of the High Street, from the Castle length so dangerous that mounted Rock. that mounted Rock. At every window eager faces police had to clear the approaches to looked out. Mr. Gladstone stood in his the platform. carriage, bare-headed, and bowing like an Emperor to his subjects. Broken remarks - half-tearful, half-exultantcould be heard from the crowds. "See his white head. Did you know he was seventy years old?" "I saw him eighteen years ago, and I'm thankful to be spared to see him again." "A night like this would be cheaply purchased by the loss of years." Such were some of the thoughts that found expression as the carriage, preceded by mounted constables, dashed along the street. Every one realized that Scotland was on the eve of a great awakening, that forces were astir which would make this one of the memorable nights of history. If old legends come to mind in the moonlit nights of summer, and we think how Amusing accounts of the scene appeared in some of the Society papers. The World said the crowd was so dense that the horses of the police plunged among the distinguished men, conveners of parishes," etc., who had secured places in the front line. "Come," said Lord Rosebery, "let us all fall back together"; and he promptly threw himself on the biggest man behind him. Directly the crowd was well pushed back, he slipped under a horse's head and regained the open space. When later on a horse fell in alarming proximity to the noble Earl, the solemn conveners of parishes took it as a judgment on their gay deceiver. There was general relief when the tension was removed at ten minutes past five by the arrival of the distinguished visitors. Lord Rosebery stepped to the door of the saloon, and handed Mrs. Gladstone out. The second to shake hands with Mr. Gladstone was Mr. Adam, the Liberal Whip, whose genius had organized the campaign. Then began the first of Mr. Gladstone's historic drives through the ancient city of Edinburgh. Rain had fallen during the day, and the air was raw and damp, but no discomfort could chill the enthusiasm of the multitudes who waited in the gathering darkness to welcome the Liberal statesman. The crowd in Princes Street-extending the whole length of that noble thoroughfare -was five and six feet deep. Lights gleamed from the windows of hotels and private houses, from the tall "lands" "On such a night Medea gathered the enchanted herbs so when the gloom of November returns A rocket was sent up when the procession reached the chapel gate of Dalmeny, where the provost and magistrates of Queensferry presented an sent. made a drawing of her for Miss Gladstone's album-a placid little figure in a lace robe with the inscription, "The Suffrage Babe." On the Friday Lady Rosebery held a reception, at which many well-known Liberals were preOn a table in the music-room were displayed the gifts which Mr. Gladstone had received since his arrival in Scotland. The excitement increased daily, and tickets for the Corn Exchange meeting on Saturday, which had originally cost half a crown, were disposed of on Friday for £2, £3, and £5. This was perhaps the most important meeting of Mr. Gladstone's first campaign. The crush at the [Elliott & Fry. LORD ROSEBERY. pronunciation of the name as "Rozbre"), he was seldom present to respond. He and Lady Rosebery found sufficient employment in attending to the comfort of Mr. and Mrs. Gladstone, and in entertaining the party at Dalmeny. One of the most important personages in the house was the baby, Sybil, then just two months old. Sir Edgar Boehm doors and in the hall was frightful. Lord Rosebery presided both here and at the working-men's demonstration in the evening. Lady Rosebery had given quantities of evergreens for the decoration of the Corn Exchange, and the bare, grim hall was transformed into a bower of greenery. Mr. Gladstone led the Countess to the platform. Some one remarked that she displayed a pretty desire to escape from the storm of applause by settling down in a vacant chair beside her husband. Even Lord Rosebery's powerful voice could not at first make itself heard above the tumult. He succeeded at length in restoring silence, and in a few graceful words introduced Mr. Gladstone. He spoke of "that silver voice which has enchanted Scotland and enchained the world." " From his home in Wales to the metropolis of Scotland there has been no village too small to afford a crowd to greet him, no cottager so humble that he could not find a light to put in his window as he passed. Mothers have brought their babes to lisp a welcome, old men have crept forth from their homes to see him before they died." The tenderness of the little speech touched the hearts of the audience all the more because it had scarcely been expected from the gay young peer. Mr. Gladstone's Sundays in Midlothian were well spent. On the day following this heavy week he drove into Edinburgh with his host and attended. service at St. Mary's Cathedral. They walked to St. Cuthbert's, and inquired if Dr. Macgregor was preaching. On learning that he was absent, they took a walk along Princes Street and looked at the Ramsay and Simpson statues. Lord Rosebery pointed out the monument to Dr. Chalmers at the top of Castle Street, and Mr. Gladstone carefully examined it. After lunch at the Royal Hotel, they attended service at St. Giles' Cathedral, hearing a sermon on the man who hid his talent in a napkin. The weather was fine and bracing, though bitterly cold, and a curious crowd waited at the church door to see Mr. Gladstone come out. The next important event was the visit to Glasgow on December 5th. On this occasion the University made Lord Rosebery an LL.D. His welcome was scarcely less enthusiastic than Mr. Gladstone's. The students sprang on forms and shouted for "Rosebery." There was a reproachful note in his first sentence, when at length he was forced to the front. "Fellow-Liberals of Glasgow, I did not think that in a free land like this so much tyranny could exist." London papers remarked that Lord Rosebery was the most popular man in Scotland, that he was as modest as he was clever, and that his excellent management of meetings had raised him in public esteem. After the Christmas holidays Lord and Lady Rosebery went to Nice, and on their return, at the beginning of February, the Earl was prostrated at 107, Piccadilly, with a rather severe attack of scarlet fever. The symptoms were at first so alarming that three doctors were called in. Lady Rosebery was indefatigable in her care of her husband, and was herself his constant nurse, preparing his food and watching over him night and day. The baby was fortunately safe from infection at The Durdans. In the middle of March, although still far from well, Lord Rosebery was able to accompany Mr. Gladstone to Scotland for the General Election. This time the departure of the illustrious statesman for the north excited general interest in London, and a crowd assembled to see him away from King's Cross. |