The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1866-04-27
nlr. Gladstone on American Anairs.

At banquet given to Mr.. GLADSTONE in Liver
pool by the Liberal party, he devoted much OF his
speech to America-for by common consent
abroad, the United States are so called as if they
comprised the whole Of this continent. He said :
About five or six years ago, when the subject Of
Parliamentary reform was under discussion, it
Was popular and fashionable practice to speak
OF the institutions OF America ss perfect failure
and long orations were delivered in the House OF
Commons setting forth all the particulars Of t,at
failure, and making Of those institutions as q
bugbesr to terrify and frighten US from pro-
ceedinc in the path Of our duty, to induce us
to withhold our confidence from our country
men, and insist upon retaining the narrow limits
What has taken place since that ' I am neau not
going to deliver q general lecture upon the OWL
war in America; above all, I Am not going to bring
forward any invidious dstinctions or any distinc,
tion at oil, between one section and another of
that great community. For my part, my earnest
aspiration and desire Of Englishmen at large-for
the welfare Of that nation In every part and por-
ton Of II. whether 4 Be white or black, North or
American institutions to be preferred to our own.
Hear, hear.l But what am going to do Is this:
think It is our business as men Of sense to draw
LESSONS from the experience Of mankind [hear,
hear1 and from the facts that come under our
view, whether they be In despotio countries or in
constitutional countries, or in countries repubi-
can or democratic. [Hear, hear.1 And the point
which ask you to observe is this: not the COM
parative merits OF English or American institu-
tions, but this single and important point Of the
effect that has been produced in America by large
ly extended popular franchises, by a widely: spread
patriotism on the part Of the people in the choice OF
their governors, the wonderful, une1ampled and
almost incredible effect that has been produced
by that system in giving forcible expression to
the national +. viii, and in enabling the govern.
giving effect to that will, such as have probably
never been developed in equal times and among
equal numbers OF men since the race Of men
be segen gan o05 upon the earth Appause Less than
population, who can hardly be said to have en-
tered distinctly into the war; thankful as we may be
at the change it has ultimately had upon their des-
tines-2o, ,o0o, 600 in the majority, and 6,OOO,
in the minority coming to the bloody issue of war
upon matter which upon the one side and the
other was what justice requires US to do, am
bound to say, common held vital by both, to admit;
developed an amount Of heroisn, power Of self
sacrifice lheAr, hear]. an energy,-a perseverance,,
forgetfulness Of every personal interest, an
amount Of actual force arrayed and marshalled
by the subjects In support of their chosen rulers
such as 1 know not where to seek for in the
annals OF the history Of the world. [Applause !
What would say Is, let us learn lessons where
We can. and among. others let us learn them
from our brethren, the children Of our loins in
America"