Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1886-04-23
THE GLADSTONE-C FEUD.
The Premier Tainted with His Former
Attitude Towards the United states.


In the exciting passage of arms in the
House of Commons between Mr.. Glad
stone and Mr.. Chamberlain, in which the
latter gave his reasons for seeding from
Mr. Gladstone's ministry, strong personal
feeling was shown. Apparently enraged
at Mr.. Gladstone's objection TO his reveal
ing matters discussed in cabinet, Mr..
Chamberlain pointing his finger at the
Premier exclaimed, "Sir, remember that
time, when in its greatest crisis, when it
was in IA most terrible moment of its fate,
my right honorable friend counSelled the
dsinteRration of the United State;
Mr.. Gladstone rising, said 81 did not
counsel it," Mr.. Chamberlain continued :
"My right honorable friend says he did
not counsel it, But he gave the weight of
his great name to the statement that they
had become separate nations dare say
my right honorable friend would admit
that in view of the situation he made a
mistake" Mr.. Gladstone responded,
Clear. hearW "Ah :" said Mr.. Cham
berlin, slowly and deliberately, with his
finger pointed to the Premier, "are you
certain you are not making mistake
again p This was a reference to the Irish
scheme. Then followed tremendous up.
roar in the House. The Tories yelled and
shouted, many of the Liberals cried
"Shame ~ at Mr. Chamberlain: But Mr..
Chamberlain was not through, and in a
voice almost inarticulate with passion
shouted "What would have been said of
me if, like some servlle partisan who dis
graces political life, / had remained on that
0he mnisteriaD bench, pretending to
serve my country with lie in my mouth ?.
The incident above referred to occurred
in an afterdinner speech at Newcastle on
Tyne in 1861, when Mr.. Gladstone was
Chancellor of the EXchequer. He eX-
pressed the opinion then that jefferson Da
Wis "had succeeded in making the South an
independent nation Coming from cabi-
net minister at Il time when neutrality was
understood to be the policy OF the Eng
lish government, the announcement
caused Il considerable sensation. In answer
to Mr.. Motley of Manchester, who wrote
on behalf of many cotton shippers, Mr.
Gladstone replied that his words at New
castle "were no more than the expression
in rather pointed terms, of an opinion
which he had long ago stated in public,
that the effort of the northern States tC
subjugate the southern would be hopeless
by reason of the resistance of the latter
In 1861, after the close of the war, Mr.
Gladstone was again written to about this
speech and he confessed that he had been
in the wrong. He said: 81 took too much
upon myself in expressing such an opin
ion. Yet the motive was not bad. My
'sympathies' were then-Where they hat
long before been and where they are
now-with the whole American people.
probably, like many Europeans, did moi
understand the nature and working of tn,
American Union" Ii January, 1850, Mr.
Gladstone had again to reply to criticism:
caused by the Newcastle affair. He ther
called attention to his speech in Parlia
ment in 1868 on behalf of the government
IN reply to Mr.. Roebuck's motion for tn,
recognition of the Confederate States, anC
his letter to Gen. Schenck, which, he said
| was largely commented on in England
and obtained from Mr. Fish, then secre
tary of state in America, courteous de
claraton, in which he acquitted me of al
conscious hostility to the northern govern
ment." He ended his letter by saying
81 deem it unnecessary to reopen the par
! ticulars of a matter completely settled b.
the declared opinion Of those best entitled
! to speak for the people Of the Unite'
States