The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1875-04-30
The Centennial.
A Letter from MIR. Gladstone X cad at th
Lexington Celebration.

A Letter from Mr.. Gladstone Read at the
Lexington Celebration.
In reference to the toast, "The Com
mOnwealth of Massachusetts,, " Governor
CASTOR said he believed that on the
10Th of April, and on the historic
grounds of Concord and Lexington,
Massachusetts, needed none to speak
for England and the United States. No
regular response was given to this
toast, but in lieu a letter was read from
the ex-premier of England, Mr.. Glad
stone, as follows:
LONDON, March 5, 1875.
GENTLEMEN have the honor to re-
ceive the letter, in which you convey to
me a very warm and courteous invita-
ton to attend the banquet which it is
proposed to hold 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 a peculiar
interest in my eyes, quite independently
of the intimate concern of this country
in the events themselves. On account
of these features, that war and its ac-
compartments seemed to me to cOnsti-
tute one of the most instructive chap
ters of modern history, and I have re-
peatedly recommended them to younger
men as subjects of especial study.
With these views I need not say how
far I am from regarding the approach
ing celebration with Indifference. It is
entirely beyond my power to cross the
I, I Ill
communications, for the purpose of at
tendance. The present time happens
to be for me, even Independently of my
attendance in parliament, one of very
urgent occupations, which I am not at
liberty to put aside, but 1 earnestly
hope and l cannot doubt that the cele-
bratiOn will be worthy the occasion.
In a retrospective view of the eVentfuI
period my countrymen can now con
template its incidents with impaTtiality.
1 do not think they should severely
blame their ancestors, whose struggle
to maintain the unity of the British
empire is one that must, think, after
the late great war of the north and
south, be viewed IN America with some
sympathy and indulgence. We can
J hardly be expected to rate verv highly
the motives of those other powers who
threw their weight into the other scale,
and who so BensIbly contributed towards
accelerating, if not indeed towards de-
4 termining, the course of the war yet
for one 1 can most truly say that, what
ever the motives, and however painful
! the process, they, while seeking to do
an injury, conferred upon us a great
| benefit by releasing us from efforts, the
! continuation of which would have been
] IL fokA
| of the American constitution themselves,
I believe we can, 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 can rejoice no less heartily
/ that, in the cOunseIs of Providence,
| they were made the Instruments of g
purpose most beneficial to the world.
The circumstances under which the
United States began their national eX-
istence, and their unexampled rapIdlJy
of advance IN wealth and population,
| enterprise and power, have imposed Oh
their people an enormous responsibility.
They will be tried as we shall at the ban
of history, but on a greater scale.
They viii be compared with the men
not only of other countries, but Of other
times. They cannot escape from tne
liabilities and burdens which their
greatness imposes on them. No one
desires more fervently than 90 thal
they may be enabled to realZs Ihe ne
highest hopes and aDticiPatlons that
belong to their great posltioh III Ine
family of man. I have the honof 10 De,
gentlemen. your obliged and faithful
servant, W. L' JLAD7Lo'E'
..Five cents fare for that child,