New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-05-20


can say he replied. :" If any one had asked me
this time last year whether we should in twelve
months be weaker or stronger, should have said
weaker, and that probably we may be out al
together Yet we are much stronger both in the
House ana the country than were then. But
this time twelve months-who say?'
FROM the Irish Office to / 6 James-st is O short
walk but between the occupant of No. and the
Irish Secretary there is q great gulf fixed For
at j 8 James-st, pleasant little by-street within
o stones throw Of Buckingham Place, is the
present residence of Mr.. Gladstone The old
statesman was full of his usual buoyant spirits
lie entered heart and soul into the problem which
had set myself to solve and discussed the question
with the keencst interest Mr.. Gladstone is as
full OIL enthusiasm as boy He is the most invet-
crate optimist have ever met, and an optimist
almost an octogenarian is novelty indeed. One
OF MS remarks was very characteristic. Speaking
OF the right of Bulgaria to independence he cx-
claimed, believe in freedom Yes. in FREE
DOM spelling it out letter by letter; Freedom,
In the plain, simple photography of the word"
MI. Gladstone has no belief in England being in
danger OF war from France or from Russia. Flo
rldlculed the idea OF French invasion and said
that the arguments used against the Channel Tun-
mel made him blush to look Frenchman in tho
face. Not that l am so much for the Tunnel"
he said, as am against those who are against
| It," MIR. Gladstone was careful to point out that
ne was not non-interference man. At
the same time, he is q strenuous opponent of any
alliances with any European Powers 1T isl
he declared with great emphasis, not only desira-
BILE that we should be intirely free from entangng
alliances for our own sake; would go further
and assert that it is the indispensable condition Of
our being able at any time to intervene with
ohxy onfn l,nl,o a..
was as much opposed to league of pacific Powers
for the purpose Of preventing war by force as to
any other kind Of league. The strongest case
1 venturcd to suggest that could be made out in
favor of such league would be the league of all
the European Powers except France, to regard
| any attack upon the status quo settled by the
| Treaty OF Frankfort as casus belli. The effect
| OF this would be no doubt TO give q European
| guarantee to the cession of Alsace and Lorraine
but II it prevented war and saved the amour
| proprc Of France it might be justified. Mr. Glad
stone replied instantly, mo, neither would that
be permissible Status quo? Status quo is q fine
| phrase but what does it mean? 1t means that
you and or any Of the guaranteeing Powers have
! to undertake TO decide the future destiny of the
population nhabiting Alsace and Lorraine Now
| what right have you or / to take upon ourselves
any such duty? For would you have us to say
|
by the sword from France, therefore these popu-
lations shall remain forever subject to Govern
ment which they may detest. Or put it the other
way. Shall you and I undertake to decide that
because the populations of these provinces have
| become largely French in their habit of thoughts,
| language, etc., that therefore, they must be
returned to France? That is not question for
us to decide If we attempted to do so the French
and the Germans might on their part undertake
to say whether or not we would grant Ireland
| Home Rule
AS to the prospects of peace or war between
| France and Germany or between Russia and Aus
| tria, Mr.. Gladstone expressed no opinion. He
made no secret of his hearty desire for peaceabe
solution Of the Bulgarian question and the grave
dissatisfaction with which he would regard any
attempt on the part of Russia to interfere arbi-
trarily with Bulgarian freedom. He had said
| in days bygone hands off, to Austria and he
thought that he had done good by so doing.
He is equally ready to say hands of" to Russia,
if in his opinion she should be encroaching upon
the rights the liberties and privileges of the Bal
| kan States
| I arrived in the German capital this morning
| after long railway ride through thunderstorms,
| midnight darkness and glad spring sunrise, which
| has left me somewhat tired. But before opening
the German chapter of my journey, must devote
brief letter to an account of my pleasant sojourn
at Liege at the hospitable home of NJ. de Laveleyc
| From Paris to Berlin, even ordinary through
train will take you first-class for five guineas in
twcnty-four hours. The attempt to make the
| Journey in Imperial style IN 1870 cost the Third
| Napoleon his throne France her miards and her
| two provinces while the Germans, even, with all
their unprecedented victories, were more than
al Lt ba md 1thi in
of peace every traveller skins across in single
day. The road from Paris to Berlin lies through
Belgium. Right in the heart of the open road
through which the opposing hosts may rush, and
which may become the arena Of the great combat
to the death, stands the ancient and famous town
of Liegc on the river Meuse. 1t is peculiar good
fortune that so sagacious and observant pubicist
should have been planted as it were in o watch
tower midway between the opposing Powers NJ.
de Lavcleyc, although still in the prime and vigor
of life is quite patriarch, and l revelled in
romp with his five pretty grandchildren almost
as much as l enjoyed the walk through the town
with his charming daughter, and listening to the
discourse of NJ de Laveleye on the prospects Of
European peace
"Not this year." said NJ dc Laveleye thought
fully; 1 don't think it will come this year.
Prince Bismarck will not go to war and in France,
as you have found it, they will not, in reality
cannot attack with any prospect of success. The
deciding voice is at st. Petersburg. If Russia
sends an army into Bulgaria 1 fear that it will be
almost impossible to avoid war with Austria. But
even then 1 do not think the relations between
France and Russia close as to lead France
to attack Germany because Russia is at war with
Germany's ally in Southeastern Europe. / do
not see how the war is to come about even in that
All fhara ic in luI ria floro
seems little chance of the peace being disturbed
As we were walking through the streets from
the station we met many persons, women and arti-
sans carrying guns and gun-barrels in various
stages of completion. Liegc is a great centre of
the gun trade and business is looking up just
The local makers have Just dispatched an order
Lon million for the Rnlr rims