The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-03-22
Must Be Granted to Clear
Off EngIand's Deep Stain.
A LETTER FROM Mr.. GLADSTONE
Deals with Affairs Of the Past, Pres
ent and Future-when Ireland's
Demands Are Met the Empire VIII
Attain Maximum Union and Power.


LONDON, March 2o-Mr. Gladstone
recently received an address from his con-
btituents in Midlothian, In which he was
requested TO continue TO represent that
parliamentary borough in the house Of
commons. Replying to this address, Mr..
Gladstone has written a letter declaring
that his chief desire will be to follow the
wishes of the constituents and the
borough he represents
He adds: "There will naturally be
change in my attendance at parliament.
cannot yet Judge how far my sight and
hearing will disable me from performing
parliamentary duties"
The letter continues: Whatever the
merits or demerits Of my career, and
certainly i have been chargeable with
many errors Of judgment, / hope it at
least has been governed by uprightness OF
intention and desire to learn"
Proceeding to review his public life OF
90 years, dating from Lord Derby's reform
act. which he describes as the political
birth of Scotland and the beginning OF
duty which has been solemnly recognized,
Mr. Gladstone says that his career has
been a history of political economical,
social, moral and intellectual emancipa-
ton. He adds that in all the mum berless
causes that had been brought forward in
this time, Scotland has battled for the
right.
A New Era.
Another period has opened, possibly of
greater moral dangers and certainly as
great an ordeal for those classes who are
now becoming conscious of their power,
and who have never heretofore been sub
iected to its deterorating influences Now
is the time for the true friends OF the
country TO remind the masses that they
owe their political elevation to broad,
noble principles, love of liberty for all,
without distinction of class, creed or
country, and q resolute preference for the
interests of the whole TO an interest of
narrower scope.
"I am sanguine," Mr. Gladstone further
says that Scotland will continue TO
cherish lawful and enlightened sense of
duty, and that undou btedly she will be
able TO obtain without difficulty every
satisfaction of her own special wants.
For myself, L carry out of Office the same
political opinions professed while in it.
1T is indeed satisfaction to me,
after more than 60 years OF highly con-
tentious life, that can honorably be re-
lieved from some active participation in
political conflict, but recognize the great
and growing demands OF these countries
for the satisfaction of their legislative
wants, and / lament that the discrepancy
of sentiment between the two houses of
parliament has reached during the past
year such development as to raise Ques-
tion between the chamber, in the main
responsible, and the cham Der totally IRE
sponsible to the nation, in such form as to
early necessitate q conclusive judgment
from the country.
III am deeply convinced that not until
The just demands Of Ireland are satisfied,
as the house Of commons tried to
satisfy them. will the legislative wants
of any portion of the United Kingdom be
adequately met, nor will the empire
attain its maximum union and power,
nor British honor be efeotually cleared
of the deepest historic stain ever attached
TO IL ~