The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1875-05-06
The Centennial.
A Letter from Mr.. Gladstone Read at

Letter from Mr.. Gladstone Read at the
Lexington Celebration.
In reference to TIE toast, ''The Com
monwealth of Massachusetts,, = Governor
CASTOR said he believed that on the
10Th of April, aid on the historic
grounds of Concord and Lexington,
Massachusetts neeled none to speak
for England and the United States. No
regular response vas given to this
toast, but in lieu a etter was read from
the ex premier of England, Mr.. Glad
stone, as follows:
LoSDoN March 5, 1875
GENTLE1IEN-I haze the honor to re-
ceive the letter, In which you convey to
me a very warm and courteous invita-
ti0n to attend the banquet which it is
proposed to b I'D at Lexington, in COM
memoration OF the attainment of the
independence of the United States of
America. The circumstances of the
war, which yielded that result, the
principles 1t illustrates and the remark
able powers and characters of the prin-
cipal men who took part, whether as
soldiers or civilians, in the struggle,
have always invested it with peculiar
interest in my eyes, quite independently
of the intimate con,ern of this country
in the events themselves. On account
of these features, tiat war and it's ac-
compartments seemed to me to censti-
tute one of the nDst instructive chap
ters of modern history, and I have re-
peatedly recommended them to younger
men as subjects ofespecial study.
With these views l need not say how
far I am from regarding the approach
ing celebration with indifference. 1t is
entirely beyond my power to cross the
sea, even with tie present admirable
communications for the purpose of at
tendance. The PRESENT time happens
to be fer me, eva Independently of my
attendance in parliament, one of very
urgent occupations, which I am not at
liberty to put aside, but I earnestly
hope and I cannot doubt that the cele-
bration will be worthy the occasion.
In a retrospectiie view of the eventiul
period my couitrymen can now con-
template it's incilents with impartiality.
l do not thinl they should severely
blame their ancestors, whose struggle
to maintain tip unity of the British
empire is one Ehat must, I think, after
the late great war of the north and
south, be viewid in America with some
sympathy and Indulgence. We can
hardly be expected to rate very highly
the motives of those other powers " no
threw their weight into the other scale,
and who so se1sibly contributed towards
accelerating, j not indeed towards de- |
termining, thi course of the war; yet
for one I can most truly say that, what |
ever the motives, and however painful |
the process, hey, while seeking to do |
an injury, conferred upon us a great |
benefit by rebasing us from efforts, the |
contiauatiOnb which would have been |
an unmixed Evil. As regards the fathers |
of the American constitution themselves, |
believe weean, and do now, contem- |
plate their great qualities and achieve
ments with an admiration as pure as |
that of the American citizens them |
selves, and san rejoice no less heartily |
that, in the counsels of Providence. |
they were made the instruments of a |
purpose most beneficial to the world. |
The circumstances under which the |
United States began their national ex-
istence, and their unexampled rapidiJy |
of advance in wealth and population, |
enterprise and power, have imposed on
their peopiean enormous responsibility. |
They will be tried as we shall at the bar |
of history, hut on q greater scale.
They will be compared with the men
not only of other countries, but of other
times. They cannot escape from the
liabilities and burdens which their
greatness imposes on them. No one |
desires more fervently than I do that
they may be enabled TO realize the |
highest hopes and anicipations that |
belong to their great position in the |
family of man. have the honor TO be, /
gentlemen, your Obliged and faithful |
W. z. GLADSTONE.