The Wilmingtonian., 1885-05-02
GLADSTONE.
ALL THE WEIGHT OF HIS IN
FLUENCE FOR PEACE.
The Significance of Diplomatic I'm
tegrity Upon European
Opinions.

- N-~
already brilliant record. 1t is an exempli-
tication of what success may be attained by
the weight Of a single mind whose past pol
itical record brings its long array Of integ-
rity, of elevated craftsmanship, unbaffled
honesty of purpose and individual purity to
bear upon the c,isis of any political ques-
tiun.
Without making any personal comparison
Of the two greatest European statesmen,
Bsmark and 6 Gladstone, . reference to their |
public standing in the eyes of the people of |
Europe would best define them.
With Germany this has been the greatest |
moment Of her aggrandizement. Her great |
ness is due to the genius of one leader, BIS
marck. And that great man owes his prom
inence to successful conquests, territorial
acquisition and astute craftsmanship.
On tho contrary Gladstone, though the
leader of the progressive party in England,
and the premier of country whose annals
show the most astounding colonial extern
sion of any nation in the worlds history,
has always been man of peace.
On every occasion he has opposed the fur
ther extension of English territory. He re-
fused Bismarck's S urgent suggestions to an.
mex Egypt and to make of it an
integral part Of the British En-.
pire. And this is still his policy. With the
most vehement eioquence and biting irony
he opposed but not successfully, Lord Bea-
consteld project of adding India to the En-
, glsh crown as an immediate vassalage ard
the coronation of Victoria as Ediser / Hind,
the Empress of India and direct ruler of
240, 600 600 of people. Gladstone sci his
face against the annexation of New Guinea
: an island, the greatest in txscnt in the
world, next to Australia. The acquisition
i of Cyprus too was another Of those deeds of
0 the great conservative premier which Glad
c stone harangued against III Parliament. In
Q deed not only has the present premier op-
d posed the policy Of further territorial aoqui.
n sition for tho British Empire, but i'll some
It notable instances he has relegatcd to those
70 nationaities who have shown an ability fol
d self-governmcnt, territory held by England
F. Gladstone is the author Of the modern king.
y dog, of. .Greecs. The chfslanls ST zante
I Corfu a the Ionian group were ceded tc
that young monarchy as nucleus until, al
y the present moment the northern boundary
n ancient Epirus.
u No name is more honotcd among tho
/ Greeks, Bulaaiians ard MoDtcnpgtins to
a' day than that of Gladstone. We're he MOI
N trammelcd in his individual policy the Eng
h. lish plemier wonld raise Egypt to the digni
y ty of an independent state.
10 To his long career of personal integrity
'i his studied aversion 10 any encroachmen
lie upon the rights ofotlier nations Mr.. Glad
10 stone owes the high esteem with which III
| 10 uoltl NY bhtIl lidtlOil uEutl llG sun. DIS
To marck is feared and adulated. No suspi
" cion is ever LAID at the doors of Gladstone
Ut the diplomatic pourpariers of the foreig
VI ministers of the various European nationali
y is known, and an open just course accorIiuj
,s- to the inherent merits of the case in poin
an and last. ....
er Bismarck sneers at Mr.. Gladstone's sim
plicity and affects to describe his statesman
if ship as pueri!e and weak.
is The outcome of the present European er
m tanglement however, will demonstrat
- y whether his course Of political probty wi
H. not discover t. the great German chancellc
mo- that England under the guidance of such
lat mind as Gladstoncs has gathered around il
self many stedfast friends among the nation
alities of Europe who perceive at last this
fo he is of unswerving honesty of purpose, an
!, that he has the courage to sacrifice every
ho thing even the material advantage of terr
arc toral acquisition when truth and honor d,
ho mand it.
s., No better instance of Gladsto.e's mori
strength could be afforded than the case
tio the Transvaal trouble. 1t is only the mo.
da reckless assertion to claim, as was don,
ii that England was unable to conquer til
IN Beers. The III innate annexation of thi
-, country would have been only question
,oz time, munitions of war and troops. Surel
Il, the country that can make demand single
-, handed of Russia backed with the intentiC
80, TO enforce that demand and obtain conce
m sions from her before striking blow, is CT
III Fable Of subduing the Transvaal!
al, But the reason the real cause of ii
ON British troops ietiring, was that the EN-
ian lish premier adiudged that his side was IL
uurighteeus one. Gladstone was unwillr
the
-, to occupy the position Of statesman wi
rc would coerce those sturdy Cape farmers.
ops When the opportunity actually demant
or it Gladstone has not shown himself III
ready, His firm messages to Russia in re