The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1886-09-08
GLADSTONE'S CAMPAIGN.
Opening Address Of His Canvas
Made in Edinburgh.

Opening Address of His Canvass
Made in Edinburgh.
Mr.. Gladstone spoke in Music Hail. Edin-
burgh, on the night of the 18th, making the
opening ad lress of his canvass. Tickets of
admission had been issued, and the hall,
which is capable of holding 1000 persons,
was filed to its utmost capacity. The audi
ence cheerei for Mr.. Gladstone and Lord
Roseberry and groaued for Mr.. Chamberlain
and Lord Harrington AMI other Unionists.
When he began his speech, Mr.. Gladstone's
voice seemed less powerful than formerly.
He said that Inkerman was soldiers battle.
It was not woa by generals tactics or abil-
ity, but by soldiers valor. Equally were the
present dissolution of Parliament and general
elections the peoples battle. Referring to
the seeding Liberals Mr.. Gladstone said the
QUESTION was whether the country would re-
solve, with a'strong sense OF justice and SYM
pathy for Ireland, to compensate Tor these
defections.
IL am strongly convinced" said he, "that
the people have resolved to carry the day, not
withstanding the detection of prominent
leaders Of the Liberal party. This contest
was fought against US by the officers OF our
own army. The Conservatives were content
to leave the work in the seceders hands.
They call themselves Unionists and us disin-
tegrators. They wish to preserve the paper
union unaltered. We feel that it should be
specially conserved so far as it is
valuable. We seek the union of heart
and mind, which We are strug-
Cling to restore. 1t is desirable to speedily
close this great controversy for every inter
est in this country The position of all
parties will be deplorable. Public business
,x,sn H. .,,@a Ntal a,,l Ian "a
shaken. Social order in Ireland will not be
restored unless the people speak clearly,
manfully, and decisvely, such as the ques.
tion merits. [Cheers.] Do not let it be said
that the nation is unequal to the task of
dealing with the question. Some finch
difficulty. Some turn their backs in the
hour of trouble. Let the nation not do like
wise. Rest assured that if the nations voice
be given in defence of our cause, when the
contest is settled and the excitement has
passed away it will resemble the old ques-
tions Of religious disability, Parliamentary
reform and free trade. The people will Won
der why opposition was raised. As before
they forgot the opposition to the repeal Of
the corn laws and the removal of religious
disability, SO will they now forget the op-
position to the change We are striving to at
tain.
Continuing in this strain. Mr.. Gladstone
spoke of the essential conditions of Home
Rule, attacked Lord Hartingtons attitude,
referred to Chamberlin's shifting views, and
closed as follows:
'The Salisbury Government on the 26th of
January announced in both houses a policy
Of coercion in Ireland. The Queens speech,
which had previously heralded such announce
Hlent of the intention to use the severest meas
ures to repress the National League, was re-
ceived by the Tories with franti: cheers,
which rang long and loud. Lord Salisbury
may deny that he advocated coercion, but
his own words and acts prove that he did.
He vainly endeavored to escape, but he is
caught in a net wherein he is inaxtricably
coiled. His other alternatives are simply
quicksands, ever slipping, ever vanishing.
Don't, gentlemen, don't stand upon those
quicksands, however imposingly named.
''There are only two policies before the
country, and it remains with you to decide
between them. Reflect, each one of you, in
the name of Almighty God, each one in the
sanctuary of his chamber, in the sanctuary
after nearly century of continued coercion.
becoming weaker and weaker and more and
more odious and less and less effective as we
20 along, repudiated by large majority of
the Irish members-what it is to propose CO.
ercion as an alternative to local gov
ernment in Ireland. (Cheers) Do
not allow yourselves to be carried
away Uy craven IedrS, DuG UelieVe CndG
by acting justly you will act strongly (cheers)
Justice is always strong. Join us in our
effort to close this painful, terrible, awful
chapter of the relations between England and
Ireland, which for centuries and centuries
has been the opprobrium of our country
in the eyes and judgment of the world.
Join us in this happy, yea holy, effort,
and rely upon it, if we attain our end
it shall be done more, perhaps, to the
honor Of Great Britain than even the happi-
ness of Ireland" Loud and prolonged
cheers.]
Mr. Gladstone spoke for an hour and half.
At the end of his speech vote of confidence
in Mr.. Gladstone was carried unanimously
amid great enthusiasm