The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1897-03-27
MR. GLApsroNE's MESSAGE.

The worlds first citizen has spoken.
and the whole world has heard, says
the New York Tribune. Scarcely in
our day has there been an utterance
more impressive. in all its circumstan-
ees, than that Of Mr. Gladstone on the
Eastern question. The occasion is
most august. All Europe is in arms
and trembling on the verge Of univer-
sal cataclysm over question in which
not only the highest International mo-
rality. but the supremest interests Of
humanity itself are involved Selfish
ness, greed. eowardice and time-serv-
ing are the ruling passions OF the
hour. Among them all a man Of
well nigh ninety years. who for more
than half century has been the fore
most man in the foremost nation of
Europe. steps forth from the we'll
earned retirement OF his venerable age
and sounds the one clear, convincing
note in the whole Babel-tumult of the
powers. II is an incident without a
parallel.
Nor will ii be easy to find a parallel
to the utterance itself. apart from the
unique circumstances OF its making.
Perhaps the first impression received
by the reader of it is one of surprising
eloQuence. Such an impression has no,
usually hitherto been received from
reading of Mr.. Gladspone's utter
snces. His eloquence has been re-
nowned. but it has consisted more in
the majesty of his face, figure and
action. in the sonorous music OF his
voice, and in the intellectual and
spiritual elevation of his thoughts,
than in his words and phrases. He
has not been a great master Of Eng .
lish style, as was Bright, nor a bril-
liant artfficer Of phrases and periods,
as was Disraeli. His speeches have
not read well; they were seldom to be
quoted TO advantage But in this latest
utterance We have a model Of terse.
lucid, epigrammaic speech, a master
piece OF controversial English. to com
pare which with "Junius at his best
would be high praise to the memory
of Sir Philip Francis. There are par
agraphs in it that will serve as studies
for rhetoricians. logicians and orators.
and phrases that will be incorporated
into the intellectual equipment Of
worldwide scholarship. i
Nor will the impression Of temper
ateness and sincerity lag behind. There
is little Of the fire and fury OF the
Bulgarian atrocities crusade and
few Of those perfervid epithets which
only year ago were launched against
the butcheries of Armenia The whole
is so studiously calm and
judicial In tone that it might have
been written upon events of a thou
sand wears ago, instead of a burning
crisis of the present day; or it might
have been uttered by someone beyond .
the border line so close to which its
actual author is standing; someone (
forever removed from worldly motives |
and devoid Of carnal passions. And I
.b,s wsrv cadmness and dispassiOnate- :
ness. instead of emasculating the mes
sage. give 1t it's most convincing vigor.
The sentences sound not like the voice
of a polite statesman seeking the ad-
vantage of his own country or striving
20 keep the peace among the powers
hut rather like that Of a seer TO whom
an things are vanity save Eternal
Truth. There is no use in trying to
answer ID with words and phrases.
II Is addressed to the conscience: It
must be answered by the soul.
And it is true; every recollection Of
the past and every Characterization
Of the present It would be impossible
20 describe the European concert"