The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1896-09-30
Stirs the British Heart
Gladstone's Grand Plea for
Honor and Humanity.

LIVERPOOL, Sept. % -Four thou
sand persons were present at the
mass meeting held in Heng!er's cir
Gus this afternoon under the auspices
of The Liverpool Reform club to pro-
test against the rule Of the Sultan of
Turkey aud the massacres of Arme-
mans in the Turkish empire. The
gathering included well known men
of all political parties. and the au-
dience which greeted Mr. Gladstone,
who was the principal speaker. was
a most enthusiastic one The meet
ing was presided over by the Earl of
Derby. Mr. Gladstone was excel
lent health and voice, and was notice
ably active in hos movements. Pre-
facing his address, Mr. Gladstone
proposed a resolution setting forth
that the meeting trusted that the
government realized the terrible con-
dition in which their follow Chris
tians in Turkey were placed, and
that they would DO everything pos
sible to obtain for them a full meas
ure of security and protection. The
resolution also declared that the gov.
eranent would have the fullest pub
lie support in whatever steps they
might take to put stop to the afro
cities which were being committed
in Turkey. Mr. Gladstone, as be
stepped forward to begin his re-
marks, was cheered for many min
utes.
Mr. Gladstone said the Turkish
government in 1876 denied that mas
sacres had occurred, but that those
massacres had since passed into his
tory as facts The same system of
depials is practiced now, and will be
practiced so long as the power of
Europe shall tolerate it. 1t is to be
hoped, Mr.. Gladstone declared, that
the weakness Of diplomacy would be
strengthened by this strong nations
voice. The diplomatic representa-
tives j., Constantinop!e of six great
powers, after the massacre in the
Turkish capital, brought their cour-
age to the sticking point and address
ed note to the sultan, informing his
majesty that the atrocities must
cease, or that otherwise prejudice
would be created against the Turkish
government. 81" continued Mr.
Gladstone, "ask what would the
guilty author of these massacres
want more than to confine the matter
to a paper war ?" Loud cheers
The tx-premier proceeded to in
stance occasions when England has
acted outside of concert with the
European powers He had seen, he
said, the liberation Of $1,000, 900 to
10000 900 of people from the domin-
ion rf Turkey. Chow" he asked, !,
chad This liberation been effected. in
the cases of Greece and Bulgaria ?
Not hy the concert of Europe. for
several of the great powers looked
askance at our action What is it
WORT, to pay in order to attain the
concert of Europe ?'
MIR Gladstone concluded his ad-
dress by. expressing the opinion that
the time had arrived to strengthen
the hands of the executive branches
of the government by an expression
of the nations will. This declara.
ton was received with cheers and
cries of cob! oh ~ Mr. Gladstone
said that the six great powers of
Europe represented at Constantinople
had failed to make the sultan fulfill
his treaty obligations. The continua-
ton of diplomatic relations with the
sultan had not prevented the horri-
BILE massacres at Constantinople. but
It had permitted the sultan to remain
a recognized ally of England. "The
resolution which | have proposed OBJ.
serves the rules of prudence, and
does not require, even for the sake of
a great end. that we place ourselves
in state of war with united Eu.
rope"
Continuing. he ridiculed the idea
that a state of war would be the re-
suit of consequences of EngIand's
acting alone in giving an ultimatum
to the porte. He would not be the
one to plunge England into war but
England would not make OF herself
slave to be dragged by the chariot
wheels Of the other powers Of Eu.
rope (Cheers
England" he said, chad a just
right to coerce Turkey and the first
sten mnst he the recall of our ambas