Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1875-04-21
CONOORD---LEXINGTON
Some Omitted Proceedings at
the Centennial.
Letter from Hon. W. Il. Gladstone, OF
EngIand-PatrlOtie Sentiments from
Gen. Bartlett.

Letter from Hon. W. Il. Gladstone OF
EngIand-PatrIOtie Sentiments from
Gen. Bartlett.
at the celebration at Lexington, the toast,
sEngland and the United StatSe," was pro-
posed. 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 3, 1S75-Gentlemen:
L have the honor to receive the letter in
which you convey to me a warm and cour-
teous invitation TO attend the banquet,
which it is proposed to hold at Lexington
in commemoratiOn of the attainment Ofthe
independence OF the United States OF
| America. The circumstances Of the war
which yielded that result, the principles il
illustrates and the remarkable powers and
characters of the principal men who took
| part, whether as soldiers or civilians in the
struggle, have always invested it with a
peculiar interest, in my eyes, quite indie
pendently Of the Intimate concern Of this
country in the events themselves, on &C
count Of these features, that war and its ac-
compartments seemed to me to constitute
one Of the most instructive chapters Of
modern history, and l have repeatedly rec
commended them to younger men as sub
jecls Of especial study.
With these views l need not say how far
1 am from regarding the approaching cele-
bratiOn with Indifference. 1t is entirely
beyond my power TO cross the sea, even
with the present admirable communication,
for the purpose Of attendance. The present
time happens TO be for me, even ~independ-
emily Of my attendance in Parliament n
of very urgent occupations, which l am not
at liberty 10 put as de. But l earnestly
hope, and l can not doubI, that the celebra-
tion will be worthy of the occasion. In a
retrospective view of the eventful period,
my cOuItrymen can now contemplate its
incidents with im~partiality. IdOno think
they should severely blame their ancestors,
whose struggle TO maintain the unity Of the
British Empire is one that must, l think,
after the late great wal Of the North and
South be viewed in America with some
sympathy and indulgence. We can hardly
be expected to rate very highly the motives
of these other powers who threw their
weight into the other scale, and who so
sensibly, contributed towards accelerating,
if not, indeed, towards determining the
event Of the war. Yet for Il l can most
truly say that, whatever 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
an unmiXed evil.
As regards the fathers Of the American
Constitution themselves. l believe we can
and do now contemplate their great quail
ties and achievements with an admiration
as pure as that of American citizens them
selves, and can rejoice no less heartily that
in the cOunsels Of Providence they were
made the instruments of a purpose most
beneficial to the world. The circumstan-
cas under which the United States began
their national existence, and unexampled
rapidity Of advance in wealth and pop
ulatiOn, enterprise and power, have i'm
poseds on their people an enormous
responsibility. They will be tried as We
shall, at the bar Of histOTy, but on a greater
scale. They will be compared with the
men not only Of other countries, but Of
other times. They can not escape from
the liabilities and burdens which their
greatness imposes on them. No one de-
sires more fervently than l do that they
may be enabled to realize the highest hopes
and a~nticipatiOns that belong to their great
position in the family Of man.
l have the honor to be, gentlemen, your
Obliged and faithful servant,
w. L. GLADSTONE.
"The North and the South was pro
posed, and Gen. VIM. +. Bartlett, Of Mas
sachusetts, responded. Referring TO the
Southern soldiers, he said:
"As an American, l am as proud of the
men who charged so bravery with Pickett's
Division on our lines at Gettysburg as 1 am
Of the men vino brayeiy met and repulsed
them there. Men cannot always choose the
right cause, but when, having chosen that
which their conscience dictated, they are
ready to die for il, if they justify not their
cause they at least ennOble themselves; and
the men who for conscience sake fought
against their government at Gettysburg
ought easily to be forgiven 10y the sons Of
the men who for conscience sake fought
agains. their government at Lexington and
Bunker Hill. Oh, sir, as Massachusetts
was the first in war, so let her be first in
peace, and she shall forever be first in the
hearts Of her cOuntrymen."