Jasper County Democrat, Volume 8, Number 6, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 May 1905 — Disraeli Liked Gladstone. [ARTICLE]

Disraeli Liked Gladstone.

It is not generally known that on at least four occasions during the decade of the fifties Disraeli offered to sacrifice his personal position to Graham, Palmerston and Gladstone successively for the Interest of his country and bls party. In 1868 and 1869 Disraeli defended Gladstone against the carpers among his supporters, indignantly rebuking the “frothy spouters of sedition," as well as those who “preferred remembrance of accidental errors to gratitude for splendid gifts and signal services.” Gladstone was a worthy foe. Disraeli was as willing to give him praise as he was unwilling to strike him to please the popular passion of the moment, and bis magnanimity was frankly acknowledged by Mr. Gladstone. When Disraeli stood for bls last portrait—although suffering, he refused to sit to Sir John Millais—Sir John noticed bls gaze riveted on an engraving of the artist’s fine portrait of the great leader of the Liberals. “Would you care to have It?” inquired Sir John. “I was rather shy of offering it to you.” “I would be delighted to have it,” Disraeli replied. “Don’t imagine that I have ever disliked Mr. Gladstone; on the contrary, my only difficulty with him has been that I could never understand him.”