The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1896-10-10
EARL R0SEBERY SPEAKS.
Why He Resigned the Leadership
Of the Liberal Party.
THE DEPOSITION OF THE SULTAN
Would Not, He Says, Remedy the Turkish
Atrocities-Dangers of q Possible War
with Russia-Urged to Retain the Lead
ership, Rosebery Refuses.


Atrocities-Dangers of a Possible War
with Russia-Urged to Retain the Lead
ership, Rosebery Refuses.
EDINBURGH, Oct TO-. The Empire
theatcr here was packed with 4, 900 auditors
last night to listen to the Earl of Rose
berry, the retiring leader of the Liberal
party. 1t was his agreement to speak at
this meeting which precipitated Lord
Rosobery's action In resigning. In his
letter to Mr., Ellis, the first Liberal whip,
Lord Rosebory said in explanation of his
resignation: "When speak, which do
this week, must speak my mind without
reference to party"
Tremendous enthuiasm greeted Lord
Rosebcry upon his appearance before the
audience, the whole assembly singing:
Hes a jolly good fellow"
Sir Thomas Gibson Carmichael, MEM
ber of parliament for the Midlothian di-
vision of Edinburghshire (Mr. Gladstone's
old constituency presided at the meeting.
In opening the meeting he said that Lord
Rosebery was their chosen leader and
they were in no hurry to desert him.
The Earl of ROsebery was pale with sup
pressed feeling when he arose to make his
address He said in part that he had re-
signed because he could not sacrifice ma
tional interest to personal ambition He
welcomed the national agitation in Great
Britain on behalf of Armenia, because 1t
would convince foreign governments of
Great Britians unseliishness and integ-
rity, and would strengthen the hands Of
the government.
But the present agitation, Lord Rose
Eery pointed out differed from Mr.. Glad
stones Bulgarian agitation. Then Great
Britain was supported by Russia. Now
we have Russia and her armies against us.
Russia's declarations on this point are
absolutely conclusive.
Moreover then we had to force the
hands of TN unwilling government, while
now tho government is animated by the
same wishes as ourselves. They possessed
unprintable details, the speaker said, of
crimes in horror surprising all he had
ever read. Their ferocity and cruelty
seemed to transcend the Imagination Of
very tlends. by advice Of the powers they
had first doubted these massaCres but the
more recent Constantnople massacres
made it impossible to deny them.
After referring to the unspeakable gov
ernmcnt of Turkey, Lord Rosobery pointed
out that partial measures would not suf-
flee The whole eastern question, he said,
was raised. In dealing with the various
remedies proposed his lortlship said:
The nero deposition of the Sultan
would be no remedy as the system, and
not the man, must be tackled. More, this
would be impossible without concert Of
the powers, and if the latter were attained
it would be better to call on it to deal with
the larger issue involved. The proposal to
withhold tho Cyprus tribute is implucti-
cable, AS this is paid to the sutan's crcdi-
tors and not to tho sultan and 1t would
lie like tickling the tortoise's back to make
it laugh
Regarding the proposal to place the
Dardanelles or Turkey in the hands of
tuSsia, Lord ROsebery pointed out that
neither of these was Great Britain's to
dispose off, and Russian methods, he said,
were not so ideal as to warrant us in
acquicscing He also differed with Mr..
Gladsltone's proposal to cut off diplomatic
relations with Turkey, but they differed,
he added, as friends.
After eloquently reminding his audience
how Bright and Gladstone had been pub
licly revled for the advocacy of an un-
popular peace policy, Lord Rosebcry de-
carcd:
although | am aware that it is un-
popular to advocate diplomatic methods,
| shall never cease to exert my voice and
strength against England engaging in
such dangerous war, of which you can
sec the eloquent commencement, but no.
body living can see the catastrophe of tho
eIsl."
The speech was often interrupted by ex-
CARNATIONS and the desire of the audience
that Lord Rpsebery should retain tho
leadership When ho sat down the entire
audience rose and chccrcd vocferously.
Augustine Birrcll, member Of parlia-
meht for tho west division of Fife then
moved resolution requesting that Lord
Roscbcry should reconsider his resigna-
ton. This was carried unanimously. Mr.
Asquith strongly supported the resolu-
tion, Lord Ro@bery replying, said that
his decision to retire was the result Of |
mature reflection, was absolute, and was
taken under Il conviction of necessity