The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-06-16
THE NEW HOLY ALLIANCE.

As it was the Holy Alliance of nearly
three quarters of century ago that
gave rise to the Monroe doctrine in
this country, the characterization, by
Mr.. Gladstone, of the present European
concert as the New Holy Alliance, is
of interes. to Americans in particular
This letter, written during the recent
bye-election canvass in Hampshire, is
as follows:
Hawarden, May %, 1897.
Dear Colonel Hanna: When L was
the leader of a political party / always
regarded interference in local elections
as an extreme measure. Now that l
am outside of parliament and of politics
l think it still less within my COM
petence. 1 need not, however, assure
you that my opinions are unchanged
and that all my best wishes are with
you. There is also a special subject
which 1 think il right to mention. The
Liberals of your constituency will have
noticed that the electors of Crewe have,
after a vacancy had been decided on
in full agreement with the govern
ment, been deprived of their right to
exercise the franchise, and remain rep
resented only. 1 believe, by an alb
sentee member. About the cause of
this unexampled proceeding there is,
apprehend, no doubt or question. The
local Tory leaders had found that,
apart from their ordinary political
opinions, the electors of Crewe were
determined that their representative,
whoever he might be, should be no
party to the continuance of the present
policy in eastern Europe, where the
Holy Alliance, so detested in my youth
by the people of England, has been re-
newed under the name of the concert
Of Europe The difference is this-Rus-
STA, Germany fthen only Prussia), and
Austria constituted the Holy Alliance,
and constituted it alone. France was
no party to it, Italy did not exist. and
England under MIR. Canning vigorously
protested and would have none OF it.
The three first named-Russia, Ger
many, and Austria "a much weaker
state)-are at their old trade again as
the foes of liberty and justice. But
France is tongue-tied by subserviency
TO the views of Russia, Italy is par
alyzed by internal embarrassments,
and this country, which ought TO have
been acting on her own convictions. is
content to sit at the table of the three /
emperorS and to register their DEGREES. !
To such a point indeed, that, if we
are rightly informed. the great guns /,
of British ironclads have been en- 1
ployed to shed the blood of the Cretans
Struggling against Ine IuFhSn ~ /
ranny for freedom. And the blood of |
100000 Christians has drenched the soil (
of Armenia without any penalty on 1
the great assassin who shed it, or any
security against his repeating his /
crimes when he finds it convenient TO
do so. Every one knows that all this is |
execrated by the people of Great Brit .
ain The electors of Crewe manifested /
their determination 10 act upon this /
knowledge and were accordingly |
gagged. But the electors of your di-
vision have had their mouths opened !
by death, liberator whom the gov
eminent could not sag. The electors
Of your division have now to show
they are or are not content to
be tools and slaves of the new Holy
which has outstripped the old
one in the baseness of its deeds. I re-
main faithfully yours.
W. Z. GLADSTONE.
It seems impossible that there could
be any circumstances at the close Of
the nineteenth century which would
,all forth such a letter and that would
Justify it, yet there are. The real
progress of mankind towards civiliza-
ion and humanity is wonderfully