The Indianapolis sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1880-1904, 1885-04-29
Gladstone's Presentation OF the Afghan
Situation is Most Powerful
and Convincing Statement.
Nothing Developed to Prevent War
Between the Two Great Pow
ers Of Europe.
GLADSTONE'S SPEECH.
A Comprehensive aud Lucid Statement of
the Afghan Trouble and EneIand's
Plain Duty.


Committee of Supply, and having, at the
Prime Ministers request, rejected-by vote
of 2C9 10 1s6-the motion made by the OPP
position to separate the vote Of credit, this
motion called for division into a vote of
credit for the expenses of the Soudan enter
Prise and another fsr Special preparations
account. The object Of this motion plainly
was to secure debate or the Governments
Soudsn policy, by questioning the outlay of
that part of the credit which would,
by its division, have been applicable
to the expenses Of the Khartoum expedition.
In the COMMITTEES of Supply, the vote of
credit as a whole being up, Mr.. Gladstone
proce eded TO explain the Governments OBJ
iect in asking for it. he disposed of any
probable discussion of the Soudan question
by q short and powerful argument. Ia this
he urged that 1t was now the paramount
duty OF the Government "to hold the British
forces in the SOUdan available for service
wherever the call of duty and honor may
take them in the service OF the British Em.
pire" This utterance was received with
cheers. Mr.. Gladstone continued as fol-
lows:
I. now come to the subject OF the special prepa-
ratiODs. with regard 10 which have heard win
great satisfaction the assurances OF the honorable
gentlemen opposite 10 the Government that they
are disposed to forward IN every way the grant OF
funds 10 use cheers from the opposition bencdesl,
which TO the best of our mind ana judgment are
required for the maintenance OF what l, on for
mer occasion, described as national and imperial
Certainly an adequate sense of our OBLIGATIONS
TO our indian Empire has never yet been eonclu
sively claimed by any one party in tue state. la
| my opinion he would be guilty of moral oGense
| and gross political folly who should endeayor 10
claim on behslf OF his own party any superiority
in that respect over those who are habituslIy oD-
posed 10 him. Cries OF ''bear " hear 1t is an
imperial policy in which we are ensa2ec;
| lCheeIsl In respect TO this vote, have heard
| that there are comments upon its smallneSs: but
( II is the largest vote of credit which has been
asked for within the last seventy years, except
/ lhat in the time OF the CIimesO war. What
would observe is this, that the vcte is little iar-
than IL looks for though 1t is stated at 500 co.,
eco in the first place, it. is contemporaneous with
large increase OF the charge of the annual esti-
mates for the army and navy; Ia the second place.
| from the other branch of the vote, namely, Jhe
| si5. o0.000 which we put down as likely TO be
more important Inan either of these two items IL
must be borne IN mind that this case is primarily
an Indian case; case OF military preparation.
| Those who miRhL want to know waat Is the
| total amount OF the charge now going forward as
likely to be entailed by the present preparations
| would require TO know what we ourselves do not
| know yet namely: what viii be the cost of the
vigorous and effective measures which, as wa hope
snd believe, are being taken in India to meet its
| share OF the present obligations. Cheers. A de-
mand for Information is always plausible de-
mand, often a reasonable demand, never demand
/
| Let us consider what is the present position,
| ard what is the mode OF conduct of the g owe n
ment adapted TO that position. IL is not a case of
war. There is no war before US. actual, or we
may say, perhaps, proximAte, though am slow TO
deal with epithets which are, OF course, liable to
4 some latitude of Interpretation. i not called
upon 10 define and l would find great difficulty
| in defning-since IL does not sand upon any
CT anCe OF mine. or OF my coleagues-the degree OF
| danger that may be before us. We have labored,
and We continue ID labor for an honorable settle
ment by pacific means. Cheers But one thing
4 / n
| uDRency, an outbreak of war, a rupture OF rela-
, tons between Two great po ers Ike Russia ana
! Englsnd one thing will say with great strength
! OF conviction and great earnesiness. in my
| endeavor TO impress II upon the committee,
! that Will strive TO conduct ourselves
10 the end of this diplomatic controversy, in such
way as that, IT, unhsPpiy, IL is TO end in violence
| or rupture, we may AZ least De sole 70 cnaIenge
the verdict OF civilized manhood upon review
| OF the correspondence, upon a review of the de-
| mands and reiusals, to say whether we have. or
! whether We have DOT. done ali that men could do,
by every Just and honorable effort. TO prevent the
/ plu1sing of two such countries. with all the mil
lions that own their sway, into bloodshed and
In my opinion the question Before the commit
| tee at this moment i simple and very narrow
one. What We present 10 you is a case for preva'
| ration. Is there, or is there not. any case for
| prepaIa'ion2 lCheers.l Look at the facts before
| Hs. Try them by that test and by no other. DO
| not urke your own foregone conclusions to the
misconduct OF Russia or any one. Do not enter
into the JUDICIAL part of the case only, but also
/ into mat part OF il which Is prudential Upon
that aspect OF the case. and that slone-asking no
credit es TO the future and no acquittaI 70 the
| pas,-we say II is case f)r PREPARATION. Cheers.
! Thefscts within your knowledge are enough to
make it your bounden duty 10 pre- pare. There
| fore, II am asked for more informauOn my an
swer is this: 1T is impossible for Us to give you
! full information We could not at this moment
| open up the correspondence that has been going
| on. We could not lay before you unsifted infor-
nation and rumors that nave reached US. We
| could not enable You by any possibility 10
| judge oI question that has not vet
| reached q stste OF maturity FOR Judgment.
The evidence Is not complete The development
is simply eoing forward, Do not let US TO san
| guinely point 10 favorable issue. Do not let US
ce pair that reason aRd justice may on eotn sides
prevail over narrower and more unworthy feelings.
Cheersl. We csn not give YOU all the informa-
/ Iicn we possess. III we did give il. IL would not
| place you in a position for conclusive judgment.
! you, and. therefore. We stand simply upon what
ls patent and notorious snS say that there Is in
! those patent and notorious facts. with which the
| whole world Is acquainted. cause, and ABUNDANT
| cause for preparation. Hear. hear.l Shall now.
! in q Very few words. sketch RAPIDLY and slightly
the outlines OF those patent and notorious facts2
The starting point of our movement in this case
stands between us and any other consideration of
policy; But our obligations to him are
him or anybody elsa were he misled
| into course OF tyranny sgainst the just resent
| ment OF his subjects We are not bound to sns-
tain him In his course Of evil. but we have q con-
| tiDsent obligation TO give him our aid aud sup
port. and think every one who hears me will say
| tSat that Obligation should be fulfilled in no
stin'ed mann er hear, hearl II II really be liy-
| Ing 0olieation. contingent only upon this one
| condition-thaf his conduct is such that we can
| honestly spprove it, Thst is the present condi-
| ton OF affairs In connection with the Ameer OF
4 Aiehansstsn. have stated distinctly to the
| House that there have been full communications
| between him snd the Vieerov OF India aud that
| tne isneusge he holds and the principles Ee an
hounees are those which absolutely enlite him to