We're reminded today of a man ranked by Hayek as one of the greatest classical liberals.  In this guest post by Jim Powell, we learn about William Ewart Gladstone, who so often started on the wrong side of an issue, and so frequently thought his way to the right side ...

William Ewart Gladstone’s Great Campaigns for Peace and Freedom

by Jim Powell

IN THE HEYDAY OF CLASSICAL LIBERALISM, British politics was dominated by one man: William Ewart Gladstone. He entered Parliament at age 23, first held a cabinet post at 34, and delivered his last speech as a Member when he was 84. He served as Prime Minister four times.

Nobel Laureate F.A. Hayek ranked Gladstone among the greatest classical liberals. Lord Acton believed Gladstone’s supremacy was undisputed. Paul Johnson declared there is no parallel to his record of achievement in English history. One might add there are few parallels anywhere.

As Chancellor of the Exchequer in four ministries, Gladstone fought the most powerful interest groups. He helped abolish more than 1,000—about 95 percent—of Britain’s tariffs. He cut and abolished other taxes year after year. Imagine, if you possibly can, our income tax with a single rate of 1.25 percent. That’s what was left of the British income tax when Gladstone got through hammering it down. He wasn’t satisfied, because he wanted to wipe it out.

Gladstone believed the cost of war should be a deterrent to militarism. He insisted on a policy of financing war exclusively by taxation. He opposed borrowing money for war, since this would make it easier, and future generations would be unfairly burdened.

Gladstone’s most glorious political campaigns came late in life: to stop British imperialism and to give the oppressed Irish self-government. Gladstone showed that even in such lost causes, friends of freedom had the strength and courage to put up a tremendous fight that would never be forgotten.

TO BE SURE, GLADSTONE WASN'T A perfect hero. Having matured in an era when his government had limited power and committed few horrors, Gladstone figured it could do some good. For instance, he approved taxes for government schools. But part of the problem was that government revenues soared as Gladstone cut tariffs and other taxes, and political pressure became overwhelming for government to spend some of the loot.

Despite his errors, Gladstone towered above his rivals. His most famous opponent was Benjamin Disraeli, the Tory who promoted higher taxes, more powerful government, and imperial conquest. Gladstone’s liberal rivals were mostly fans of Viscount Palmerston, best known for his bullying of weaker countries. During the late nineteenth century, Gladstone’s chief Liberal rival was Joseph Chamberlain, a socialist who became a vigorous imperialist. Without Gladstone’s influence, there probably would have been fewer gains for liberty, and the losses probably would have come faster.

Gladstone’s enduring contribution was to stress the moral imperative for liberty. Influential British philosophers Jeremy Bentham and John Stuart Mill had almost banished morality from political discussion, as they touted the greatest-good-for-the-greatest-number principle, but Gladstone brought out the moral dimension of taxes, trade, everything. Whatever he did, remarked historian A.J.P. Taylor, was a holy cause. 

Gladstone’s moral fervor was a key to his popular appeal. As historian J.L. Hammond observed: It is safe to say that for one portrait of anybody else in working-class houses, there were ten of Gladstone.

Gladstone vanquishes Disraeli