The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-03-23
GLADSTONE'S PROCLAMATION.
Washin gtOn Post.)

minister constitutes one of the finest and
noblest utterances of modern times 1t
is momentous, not only as an exposure
of the selfshness and cruelty practiced in
the name of what is known as European
concert" but in revealing to us the CON
trast between the rapacity and meanness
of England's foreign policy and the good
feeling and manly instincts of the Eng
lish people This contrast has always,
been visible. 1t explains the fact that,
while Americans nearly always like and
fraternze with the individual English
man, we invariably distrust the British
government and shrink instinctvely from
entering into any international compacts
or entanglements. That we are wise in
this Mr.. Gladstone himself sufficiently
establishes. We need only accept his es-
| innate of Great Britain's policy in
| EOropean affairs to be convinced that it
| is a policy of cowardice, hypocrisy, and
| wickedness.
Mr.. Gladstone's picture of the con
| cert" its actuating forbes. it's achieve
ments, and England's contemplate and
humiliating part therein, must make the
| whole nation blush:
| AT this moment two great States, with
Il European population of one hundred
| and forty, or perhaps one hundred and
| fifty millions, are under the government
of two young men, each bearing the high
/ title of Emperor, but in one case wholly
| without knowledge or experiences; in the
| other. having only such knowledge and
experience, in truth limited enough, as
have excited much establishment and
| some CONSERVATION when an linking of
| them have been given to the world. In
| iS nd
| perfect despotism, and in the other equiv
alent to it in matters of foreign policy.
| so far as it can be understood in land
| where freedom is Indigenous, familiar,
| and full grown. These powers, so far as
| their sentiments are known, have been
| using their power in the concert to fight
| steadily against freedom. But why are
| we to have our government pinned to
| their aprons? The sense of this nation
| is for them nOn-existent, and the German
Emperor would lie well within his limits
| should he deign to say to us: Turkey |
| know, and the concert | know. but who
are We? At the heels of this concert
are ye?'
AT the heels of this concert we have
| plOdded patiently for two years. and
| what has it done for us-done for us, not
in promoting justice and humanity, for
| that question has long ago been answer
ed. but in securing peace? / affirm
that with all its pretension and its power
| it has worsened and not bettered the sit
uation. When we pointed to the treaty
obligations and treaty rights which sol
EMMY and separately bound us to stop
the Armenian massacres, we We're threat
ened, by the credulity of some, and the
hypocrisy of others, with a European war
| as a certain consequence of any coercive
| measure, however disinterested, which
we might adopt for checking crimes suf
tcient to make the stones cry out"
| This is the concert from which, two
years ago. England had not the courage
| or the wish to detach herself Although
| bound by every consideration of honor
| and good faith to arrest the tragedy of
Armenia, she turned her back upon sol
emn obligations, deliberately assumed,
and took her place with the other powers
where they sat, thumbs down, watching
| the dire progress of determination. How
can any sensible human being imagine
for one single instant, that the United
States will advance the cause of civiliza-
ton and Christianity by entering into
treaty with such nation? THE English
people are our brethren" they say;
let us seal the compact of fraternity"
|
the English government? Mr. Gladstone
| emphasizes the difference:
LET it be borne in mind that in this
unhappy business all along under the
cover of the concert of Europe power
and speech have been the monopoly of
the governments and their organs. while
the people have been shut out. Give
us ut length both light and air. The
nations of Europe are in various stages
of their training, but l do not believe
there is European people whose judg-
ment, could it be had would ordain or
tolerate the infiiction of punishment
upon Greece for the good deed she has
recently performed. Certainly it would
not be the French, who so largely con-
tributed to the foundation of the king
dom, nor the Italians, still so mindful Of
what they and their fathers have under
gone; and, least of all, l will
say, the English, to whom
the air of freedom is the very
breath of their nostrils, who have already
shown in every way open to them how
they are minded, and who, were the road
now laid open to them by dissolution
of Parliament, would show it by return
ing Parliament which, upon that ques-
ton, would speak with unanimty."
1t is good for the world that Mr.. Glad
stone has lived long enough to bestow
upon it this lofty and high minded utter
ance 1t is we'll that some one, speaking
by authority, should have drawn for us
this picture. Look at those enlightened
powers, those Christian Kings and EN-
perors and potentates, countenancing
murder, pillage, barbaric oppression, ev-
erything brutal, savage, and degraded,
declaring that no one shall raise a hand
for mercy and humanity, because Mich
olas wants Constantinople because Fran
els Joseph wants Salonica, because Will
liam wants to throttle human liberty, and
because France and England are afraid
Yes, that is the word-to uplift a dis
senting voice. Does anyone believe that
the people of Europe if permitted to ex-
press themselves, would sanction the CO.
ercion or the punishment Of Greece? is
1t not only too plain that this combina-
ton of robbers, oppressors and traitors