Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1875-04-20
Letter from MIR. Gladstone.

AT the banquet at the ceutcru. celebration
at Lexington yesterday when the toast " Eng
land and the United States was proros ID, no
regular response was made, but 10 lieu the fol-
lowing letter from the ex-Prcmier Of i1ug land.
MIR. Gladstone, was read
LoNDoy. April s. 1873.
GENTLEMEN: | have the honor 10 receive the
letter in which you convey To &c n very WARM
and courteous invitation to attend the banquet
which it is proposed to hold At Lexington III
commend Grafton of the attainment of the nde-
pcndence of the United States Of America. The
circumstances of the war which yielded that re-
suit the principle. it iilustratcs add The remark
able powers and character Of the principal mon
who took part, whether Ne soldiers or civilians,
in the struggle have always invested it with
peculiar interest IN my eyes quite Independently
of the intimate concern Of the country III the
events themselves On account of thee features,
that war and its Accomplishments sceil 10 me to
constitute one Of the most instructive chapters OF
modern history, and have repeatedly recon-
mended them to younger mer rs suh ec!s II es
pecisl study With these views l do not say
how far an from regarding the approaching
celebration with Indifference 1t IL entirely be-
yond my power TO cross the sc!, rvcu with the
present admirable communications, for the pur-
pose of attendance The present time happens
TO be for me- even independently OF my attend
ton, which | am not ut liberty to put aside.
But | earIe:tly hope and | ci.nnot doubt that
the celebration will be worthy of the occasion.
In retrospective view .! the eVentua! period
my countrymen can now contemp ate IL incl
dents with lmpartiality. | do not think they
should severely blame their ancestors whose
struggles TO msintain the unity OF the British
Empirc is O! Z that must, / think, after the late
| great war Of the n orth and South, be viewed in
America with some sympathy and Indulgence"
We can hardly be expected to rate very highly
| the motives oil those other powers who threw
| their weight into the other scale and who so
| sensibly contributed towards determining the
| issue of the war Yet, for one, can NEST truly
| say that whatever the motives, and however
| painful the process, they, while seeking to do
an injury, conferred upon Us great. benefit oy
| releasing us from ctlnrts the continuation OF
| which would have been Of unmixcd evil As
regards the fathers of the American Constitu-
ton themselves, believe we can and do now
contemp late their great qualities and achieve
ments with an admiration rs pure as that OF
American citizens themselves, ana can rejoice
| no less heartily that in the counseis Of Proyi-
dence they were made the instruments Of Il pur-
pose most beneficial to the world. Inc clrcum-
stances under which the United States begun
their national existence, "nd their uneXsmp.ed
rapidity Of adval &c in wealth and population,
| enterprise and power, have imp sed on their
people an enormous responsibility. They will
| be tried, as we shall see, ut III" bar OF history,
but on a greater scale They will bo 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 Oh them.
No one desires more tervently than l do that
they may be enabled to realize the highest hopes
and anticipstiors that belong TO their great po-
silion in the family of man.
hsve the honor to be, gentlemen, your obe-
dent and faithful servant,
| w e. GLA: STONE.