“We don’t want to fight, but, by Jingo, if we do,
     We’ve got the ships, we’ve got the men, we’ve got the money, too.”

And Jingoism became in the mouths of the Liberals a keen weapon of satire.  The government gained the applause of aristocrats and populace, but lost that of the plain people.

The ninth Victorian Parliament was dying out, and a new election was at hand.  Mr. Gladstone, now at the age of seventy, went to Edinburgh, the centre of Scottish conservatism, and in several masterly and memorable speeches, showing that his natural vigor of mind and body had not abated, he exposed the mistakes and shortcomings of the existing government and presented the boons which a new Liberal ministry were prepared to give.  And when in 1880 the dissolution of Parliament took place, he again went to Scotland and offered himself for the county of Edinburgh, or Midlothian, making a series of astonishing speeches, and was returned as its representative.  The general elections throughout the kingdom showed that the tide had again turned.  There was an immense Liberal gain.  The Earl of Beaconsfield placed his resignation in the hands of the Queen, and Gladstone was sent for,—­once more to be prime minister of England.

And here I bring to a close this imperfect notice of one of the greatest men of modern times,—­hardly for lack of sufficient material, but because it is hard to find a proper perspective in viewing matters which are still the subject of heated contest and turmoil.  Once again Gladstone was seated on the summit of power, and with every prospect of a long-continued reign.  Although an old man, his vigor of mind and body had not abated.  He was never stronger, apparently, than when he was past seventy years of age.  At no previous period of his life was his fame so extended or his moral influence so great.  Certainly no man in England was more revered than he or more richly deserved his honors.  He entered upon his second premiership with the veneration of the intelligent and liberal-minded patriots of the realm, and great things were expected from so progressive and lofty a minister.  The welfare of the country it was undoubtedly his desire and ambition to promote.

But his second administration was not successful.  Had the aged premier been content to steer his ship of State in placid waters, nothing would have been wanting to gratify moderate desires.  It was not, however, inglorious repose he sought, but to confer a boon for which all future ages would honor his memory.

That boon was seemingly beyond his power.  The nation was not prepared to follow him in his plans for Irish betterment.  Indeed, he aroused English opposition by his proposed changes of land-tenure in Ireland, and Irish anger by attempted coercion in suppressing crime and disorder.  This, and the unfortunate policy of his government in Egypt, brought him to parliamentary defeat; and he retired in June,