The New York herald., 1870-08-16
GLADSTONE ON THE CRISIS.

GLADSTONE ON THE CRISIS.
Reply TO Disracii on Eugiand's Position for
War or DiplOmacy-The Russian Alliance
Armed Neutrality and Neutral Duties--Tho
ssNlisi0rtunc'' in tho American Wnr-Thc
ssSecret Treniy."
We published on the 10th instant the speech de-
livered by Mir. Disraeli in the English Parliament
on the condition and prospects OF the country Ia
relation to the present war. Owing to some mail
dlsarrangcments Mr.. Gladst0ne's speech dld not
reach us IN time for the exigences OF our crcuIa-
ton. We now publish verbatim report of the
Prime Minister'S speech on the occasion:-
Mr.. GLADSTONE said:-I will endeavOr, sir TO
separate In the observations 1t Is my duty TO
address 10 the House the diplomatic and the his
toric portions OF tue speech OF the right honora-
bic gentleman from That portion or ~ In WHICH
he has arralgned the policy OF the government
with regard 10 our military establishments. Now,
as respects the historical review taken ny
the right honorable gentleman, l am not able
10 agree with hlm In recollecting or stating the
period when this House. upon the eve OF Eur0pean
complications, has embarrassed or injured the
government by It's silence. SUCH Is not my
rccollectlon OF the year 1858. Such Is not
my recollection or the course taken by the right
honorable gentleman himself In the year 1858. This
House Is the onlyudgc Of the degree III which, upon
OCCASIONS OF this Kind II shall maintain reserve and
rely upon the Executive demand information
ana claim TO itself immediate share in the con-
duct of affairs. on these matters The House Is
supreme. The government rather does It's duty Dy
indicating to the House. 80 lar as It's position rem
ders 1t right, when the public interests may 1c
served be repOsing confidence in those who hold
public Office. The right honorable gentleman has
said much ia Which am able TO agree with regard
TO the position OF this country He. IN the terms or
his motion, desires 10 know what Is situation
relatively 10 the war now going ON. answer. that
our situation has been that OF mediator as between
the contcnding parties IL Is now that OF friend.
1t mas been the situation OF mediator unsuccessful
and yet not ollcious because the intervention un
dertaken by US was an intervention under treaty
on the urgent appeal OF France. The right
honorable gentleman, with something short Of
dature OF tie Trnce OF HOhenz0lern for the
throne OF Spain has had really nothing to DO
III this matter, anu at tho same time In another
portion of his speech, he treats 1t as Of such vital
Importance that he says 1t would have convicted US
OF utter incapacy for holding our Offices II had
not been aware before 1t was plainly announced by
the opposition OF France with regard 10 the Prince
OF Hohenzolern Now, am not able to take ad-
| vantage OF the scheme which lie provides for me
when he says That he Is sure, my official position not
| having changed, that J. at least, must have known
place wan respect to That candidature, and could
| not thereby be taken by SURPRISE Now, 1 frankly
own that as regards that particular incident 1t did
| come on me IN the nature oil surprise. Perhaps
we ought TO take that particular incident, ana like
| tom OF the state OF things-the high tension
| OF feeling and the vast existence and enlarge
ment OF military establishments Of the Two
Powers. That state OF things caused great
anxiety; at the same time, although 1t was not
| possible TO contemplate IL without apprehension
| Tor the future, that apprehension was not one
the realization OF which there was any reason TO
expect AT any given moment. And II we were unable
to loresec the iutureIf The diplomatic servants OF
England were unable to loresee the Immediate fu-
ture, they were in precisely the same conoltion as nc
Ministry Of France. For the Prime Minister or
made on this matter OF peace and war OF life
and death TO the British government to intervene,
III. OIlvier, the Prime Minister OF France declared
officially that the political atmosphere had never aD
peared SO CLEAR Such are The contingencies and
ycissitudes OF this matter; but Will not dwell upon
them, because there are other matters OF more in.
portance with which have TO DEAL In the charac-
ter OF MEDIATOR when a complaint OF France
made we 50 far admitted the justice OF that COM
plant, although without ever admitting that It
would have warranted In our view resort to arms
that we thought for the o! peaoe OF Europe
and under al the circumstances Of the that the
nomination OF the Prince Of HohenzolIern should
be Withdrawn. For that purpose the British
Governmentainterfereda and my noble friend. aided
doubtless by similar efforts from other quarters
successful IN procuring that withdrawal. And need
not say that II was deep disappointment TO i3,
when, after that nomination had been before u3
as the cause OF the existence Of danger, and that
cause so declared had disappeared from view, we
found the horizon was not clear We tnen endeaY-
Ored 10 Improve the position OF matters between
those two great States BY suggesting to France who
had given US title TO make SUCH suggestioh that
she could not be justified In demanding nom Prus-
STA an engagement which was TO cover ali tae an.
throne of Spain and the Prince OF Holenzolern.
We represented Prussia at the same tlne tat IL
was but just that as the King naa Deen associated
with the nomination SO he should responSlDly AMI
visbly associate himself with the withuraWal. On
the side o Prussia that purpose was gained though
|
hot beer, Tayo,oOle on the side OF France It was
put aside by the occurrence Of tho incldens
TO which the right honorable gentleman mas alluded
In no unbecoming or inapplicaole terms-the Incl
dent OF that supposed insult to the representative
OF France. which, as far as we have slnco
been informed appears t0Ehave vanished In thin air.
UIear hear) We, tnen, as last attempt, made our
appeal TO that protocol OF Paris which We had
niways thought remained as u noble monument
of so;ne real advance In civilization as an acknow-
ledrment or O public authority in ChristendOM,
wirich was to be entitled 60 exercise control ovcr
the PASSIONS, the capricesnay, over the slrongest
conyctlons even that might be entertained by part
cular states That appeal was declined by France
as unsuitable the case. II WAS received by Prussia
with the declaration that France had taken the
tiative In the war, and that under such circuIn-
stances 1t was impossible for Prussia To take the ini
alive IN recommending mediation. SO arrived as
the outbreak OF war ana the right honorable gentle
man now asks us what is our position III respect 10
that war. Our position Is, as lie has truly SAID, That
Of neutral. shall presently allude 10 the phrase
that lie used when he said that We ought To observe
an armed neutrality. Oiear, Gear) AS far as knew
The historic meaning OF that phrase 1t IL em'nentiy
unsuitable 20 the present circumstances. An arhea
neutrality, if remember the instances 10 WHICH
the phrase has been authoritati8ely appieo imports
| disposition OF mind very TAR, indeed, lroin tnas
unequiyOca riend,ness to both parties IN tis lIl-
| happy contest (Iear, hear.) Ua!ess am greatly
mistaken armed neutrality Is the term WHICH ls
| commonly employed to indicate state on eh,igs
when anticipating war-considcrlng yourSei IN lea.
OF war, you have not yet taken part nor decareI
Yourself Asecuced neutrality. neutcactT peckeo