The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-02-15

spoke for about three-quarters of an hour. and
fancy that many present who either did not
understand, or only very imperfectly, our lan-
guage, went away with the same conviction.
He spoke in English to French audience, and
though to several among them 1t was, as II
were, an unknown tongue, somehow or other
all seemed to understand what he said without
the help of an interpreter.
He began by thanking the Society for the
honor they paid him by their invitation, aud
especially by the manner in which they
echoed the remarks of their President, He
his tenure of office as Chancellor of the Exche-
quer. Abiding to the Treaty of Commerce, he
secondary There were two persons TO whom
tire real merit was due first the Emperor
Napoleon, but for whose stroug will and perse-
verance that great act never would have been
accomplished, for 10 was he who, in spite of
obstacles which would have deferred any one
pleasant dream into brilliant and solid
reality; and next, to Mr.. Golden, man of the
highest order of talent, of the purest patriotism,
of the most indomitable perseverance in what
he felt to be right and just, and of the most
disinteTested character.
To these two personages all the merits OF that
great work should be attributed, while all the
merit he claimed for himself was having
seconded the efforts of his amented friend. His
alluson to Mr.. Golden was most touching; 1T
was received with burst of applause MIR.
Gladstone fully admitted that England had
long sinned in the matter of commercial free
dom, but she had since made amends; her re-
pentance for her errors was before tne world
faction. There was still, indeed, something to
do, and that something he hoped would be
realized. Other nations, taught by experience,
would, he trusted, soon follow the nigh example
set them by France and England. The path of
commercial freedom was like the path of vir-
tus; IL was only the first steps that were diff
cult, the last were the most easy.
He had heard people say that France had
greatly profited by the treaty OF commerce
with England; he sincerely hoped the statement
was true, and he assured his hearers that he
not only .rejoiced at it, but he offered them his
most sincere congratulations. Englishmen
We're not jealous OF the good when france de-
rived from that treaty, for acts like these pro-
NOTED goodwill among nations in place of the
animosity which in former times, and before
they came to know each other, prevailed
between them. They were the best guarantee
for the perpetuation OF goodwill, and eventu-
ally for the peace of Europe.
When Mr.. Gladstone resumed his seat there
was a pause OF some seconds, as if his hearers
were unwilling to believe that the voice of the
charmer was silent, and then they applauded
with enthusiasm. What they remarked and
admired in MIR. Gladstone's address, OF which
have given but very faint idea, the
earnestness, the appearance OF profound con-
which pervaded ii; then that manly tone, that
fascinating simplicity OF manner, far beyond
the reach of the mere rhetorician, which, per-
haps, more than anything else impressed his
hearers, the great majority of whom then heard
him and saw him for the first time, and which
riveted their attention, and even won him their
affection They were struck, too, by his de-
of meaning, and so complete that the speech
might be printed off as 1t uttered without
the change OF word, or even OF comma. All
this was felt by his hearers, though, / have
said few among them were converSant with the
language in which 1t was spoken.