The Arkansaw traveler., 1885-06-27
A STATESMAN REBUKED.
lopie P. Read, in Cleveland Sum-

lOp1S r. KeaQ, III OieVeIanQ Sun.t
 It seems to me that MT. Gladstone has made great mistake. He may differ from me in this opinion-for give him that right-yet an outspoken disposition compels me to make this announcement. do not wish to be dragged into news- paper controversy, and shall doubtless take no notice of any reply which MT. Gladstone may make to this article.
 Every nation, except our own, should resent an insult. That England has been insulted none of her people can deny. Yet MT. Gladstone, instead of snatching down the old horse pistol which his grandfather so proudly four ished, quietly takes up his axe, goes to the woods and remains until the dinner horn is blown. Is this the way in which a statesman should act2 Can a man afford to chop wood when he knows that a dark cloud of ruin is gathering in the east? Oh, chopping wood is all well enough, but man should not completely give way to the habit.
 Several years ago, while living in Ken lucky, l began one day to split few rails. didn't know that the habit was pernicioas. No one warned me DO one at first took me by the hand and led me away from inc vice into which every one must have seen was falling. The next day again yielded to the tempter. A month passed. People pointed at me and said, "There is a confirmed rail splitter" I forgot the duties which owed to my country, forgot the mean ing of selfrestraint, forgot to send old Lige Tucker the fifteen dollars which had borrowed from him six weeks before l turned out so badly.
 One morning while was staggering under the influence of the maui an old man, who had no doubt saved many reckless person, came to me, touched me where my suspenders crossed, and said: ::
 "Don't"
 That simple word, just that one word, kindly spoken, caused me to put down the maui.
 "Don'tw he repeated. His lip trem- bled. thought that he was going tt burst into tears. but after sneezing he said :
 Don't throw your life away. You are young, and doubtless reasonably honest Let me lead you away from this place Come. Come over into my field and pull fodder for me. know that it is hard to break of, but you must nerve yourself. Alter you have pulled fodder awhile you may dig ditch through my meadow. Come"
 hope that MT. Gladstone may see these burning words. l shall send a marked copy to the house of commons.
 l do not like to criticize the course of empires, for l know that the people who conduct them are subjected to much worry. Why, when l was governor ot Arkansaw was bothered nearly all the time. The state treasurer gave me a great deal of trouble. He did not want me to draw my salary in advance. Hav- ing had this experience, am slow to ad- minister rebuke, but in this case l cannot avoid it. think that Mir. Gladstone should have fought when the Russian knocked the chip of his shoulder. True, somebody might have been hurt, still MT. Gladstone should not have insisted upon chopping wood when the people wanted to see an exhibition of a more lively nature. Look at Bismarck. Did he go away and chop wood while Ger many and France were quarreling2 No he threw aside his foolish dissipations and went to work.
 Horace Greeley said that if choppipg wood were universal, dyspepsia and rheu- matism would be unknown. Probably MT. Gladstone did not want rheumatism. Probably he thought that dyspepsia would be distasteful. At any rate, he doubtless thought that chopping wood was moro healthful than war could possibly be. Oh, don't particularly care. It makes no difference to me whether there ever be another war. I am doing well enough only I am tired of people writing to me and asking why England and Russia did not fight.