New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-01-19
LEADING LONDON TOPICS.
MR. GLADSTONE REFUTEs A ISLANDER.


sprune ont of the Gladstone BOuTke correspondence
published on Tuesday. Mr. Gladstone called on Mr.
Bourke to avow or disavow report Of one sentence
in recent speech this effect; that Mr.. Gladstone
had sent an emissary to Russia for the purpose OF
translating his pamphlet ION Bulgaria) INTO the
Russian language, with the view OF augmentihg
the power Of the war party in Russia"
Mr. Bourke answered that he did use those
words. and proceeded to justify them by
quoting two passages from two Russian news
papers, which in part. and in part only, bear them
out Mr. Gladstone replied that an Under Secretary
of the Foreign Office, with his unrvalied means OF
information, might be expected to produce some
better authority for statements gravely affecting an
opponent. The statements were, he said, alto
gether without foundation" and he thought it Mr..
Bourke's duty to acknowledge his error publicly.
Mr. Bourke then sent the correspondence to the
papers with final note. saying that he was quite
willing that the public should see his explanation
of what Mr. Gladstone "considers to be an error'
Twill venture to say that Dlr. BOurke would not
deal in this way with anybody but Mr.. Gladstone.
He had made an assertion of a damaging character,
based on mere report. The report turns out 10 De
wrong and Mr. Gladstone assures him that II IS I'M
founded. Whether Mr.. Gladstone sent an emissary
IN Russa or not: whether he sent him for the pur-
pose of translating his pamphlets and whether the
translation was to be made with view OF intiaming
the war party in Russia, are questions within Dr.
Gladstone's knowledge. They are all questions OF
fact Whether hesen an emissary he and the alleged
emissary know. Whether, if he sent him, he did so
with the motives alleged, Mr. Gladstone only knows
Now Mr.. Gladstone denies point blank the whole OF
MFR. Bourke's statement, and Mr.. Alexander, the
"emissaryD has since denied so much of it as re-
lates TO him There is not an atom OF evidence TO
contradict either OF them. Aud yet Mr.. Bourke
thinks he has done what becomes a man of honor
when he refuses 10 retract his caumny, ana closes
the orresnondence with sneer implying that ne
does not believe hIr GadstOne's own account OF hs
own act and motives After what Lord Beaconsheld
and Lord Salisbury have done in this line don't
know that Mr. Bourke's conduct is astonishing
Like master like man. seems to he his rule. But 1t
is one more painful example of the acrimony lately
imported into political controversy IN England ana
of the dccadcnce ofthe tone of public liie
Mr.. Froude is ecturing in Edinburgh toaudicnces
of 600 people on South Africa; beginning with
the pregnant remark that the English have lately
killed about 10000 persons in that part of the
world who had done them harm, but who, it
was feared. might do some harm if not preyentvely
Killed of out of the way. Mr.. Froude is an adj
yocate of an aristOcratic system OF society, but
nc has never carried his theories to the extent OF
supporting the ourages for which Sir Bartle trere
first and the Government afterward are respoh-
sible in South Africa. He has been there mas
studied the questions on the spot, ana mas
ever since sheen the determined opponent OF
English policy as applied to natives and to Beers.
OF the annexation of the Transvaal, country as
large A. France ne says Nobody knows eSactiy
why we did it," The seizing of the Diamond flelds.
whether q crime or not, was blunder. England
has auarreled with two free republics. exasper-
nrf fcbu lat on of
tbe moment when their friendship was most i'm
nortant. entanglcd herself in complications with the
natives beyond the Orange River broken the treaty
to which her faith was pledged, damaged her repu-
tation, and gained not one compensatng advantage.
These views are expressed, not for the first time by
Mr. Froude, with all the authority of his
name and knowledge. They are not OF Il
kind complimentary to his country, yet they remain
Tins far without answer or with 80 much OF an an-
swer as consists IN saying that England has mis-
sion that the kafrs are niggers, and that the
Beers are not much better.
4 letter appears to-day IN London evening paper
demonstrating against so much of the eulogy on the
late Mfr. Delane in the January udcmiildn as as
cribes to him Liberal policy. am not gong INTO
that. nor need it be matter of controversy The
course of the paper Mr. Delane edited Is matter oi
history-and pretty familiar history. Mr.. Delane's
| mistakes on some great public questions are only
too we'll known. Io himself was ready
enough TO admit them; and they were. rs
n rule. mistakes IN which the majority OF his
| countrymen went with him, and he with them. But
| tbe writer who offers this criticism pays just
tribu.c TO Mr. Delanes high views of the position OF
| journalism, aud Publishes letter to one "i us
leader writers. which don't remember TO have seen
in print before. and which is as follows:
want you to write a very gooi and rather strong
article upon matter whc9 hinH very maternity con-
| Germs tho character OF the Press. , A.
A set Of low fellows. stimulated by the boundless
charity Of the British public nave GOV up & ~ IN
Prcss Fund. have no doubt you were UsNeu u, SUI
scribe. Now maintain that lherc IL any 1'ca M
to ee established IL shIa te 6s Smbe s4ond rot
be admitted to share IN H. mnch Irss sSnthor.' on
The Press IA rich enough 10 maintain It's own tup1I-
Ism, and ought feel ashamed OF the appeH. !" 1c
and wbacycr other cnprces Of charity may exist and
the Clergy have this excuse, mat lDan LucG
the ease OF The Press man he does not succeed ne
can leave his profession TO take up any oher be
sides, there are 10 people whom II Is ess saie to ,ar
into any power OF obhgng friend" Give reporter
the power and he becomes most asnSeiGss ,Sa son he
make the worst the best ana iehr intre d M I'm mh
few of them who would be attracted Dy soou Sup-
| scriptiOn To the Fund.
Well may our critic say that he recognizes III this
the sterling ring of the man. Mr.. Delanes ietter
| embodies in every line protest against allowing
the Press to he either mendicant or sycophaht ana
his advice is as good now as the day IL was "Iten.
The "low fellows" whoever they were, VINO started
the Newspaper Press Fnnd. have since then secured
the countenancc Of many who are n0' iow' iheY
have an annual dinner they are able TO get famous
men to preside over them aud make spsccheS 10
them they have Lord Houghton as permanent
chairman; and they send the hat round 70
the public with as much dignity as can 20
with begging IN any form. But the Press
would nevertheless stand higher with the pubiic
without its Fund.
Among the agreeable incidents of the private view
on Saturday at the Royal Academy was the announce
ment that the Dnant landscape by young Browning
| LID hann cold The hnxer Is Mr.. Thomas BrasseY