Okolona messenger., 1904-10-12

i lA~ W "AA~A "AN =
yX - ford another valu-
able uuwritten page Of civil wal
history. Il concerns the now com
paratively forgotten tentative prop
OsitiOn Of Premier Gladstone, al
the heighth OF the war between the
states, to let the South 60 in peace
and smerge the Northern states
With Canada. The exact nature
Of the proposed union is not made
clear, since Mr.. Smith relies upon
his memcry Of a letter written
bin on the subject by Mr.. Glad.
stone, long since destroyed. II
would seem preposterOus that the
great English statesman should
seriously propose the surrender
Of republican autonomy by the
North for the cOlORian status that
Canada maintains toward Great
Britain, and eqRally improbable
that, as the most powerful indi-
Vidual force in the British gov
ernment, he should put himself in
the disloyal attitude Of encOurag-
ing Canada to separate from the
mother country to become a part
Of an American republic.
Goldwin Smith says, referring to
an editorial ia the OttOwa Free
Press:
lam glad to see that you re.
iect the inVidiOus construction
placed in some quarters on Mr..
Gladstone's letter to me suggest
ing that the Northern states, If
they would let the South 60, might
find compensation in union with
Canada. Nothing in the slightest
degree dispsCaging or offensive to
Canada was said or in any way
implied. The union for which Mr..
Glad stone locked was evidently
one voluntary on both sides. The
letter was destroyed with the rest
of my private correspondence
when [ left England, bat 1 have a
clear recollection Of its contents.
There could be no more objection
to my recording what Mr.. Glad
stone said to me in writing on a
public matter than to my record
ing from memory anything which
be said to me in conversation.
The opinion Of great statesman
on matters Of a public interest are
history. The event upon which
Mr.. GladstOne's suggestion was
dependent not having taken place,
the suggestion may be regarded
with dismay. Mr.. Gladstone s
name suffered in the United
States on account Of his supposed |
unfriendliness. Ny reminiscence
shows that be was not unfriendly. |
This serves TO revive q matter
discussed with much heat and
much resentment toward Mr.. Glad.
stone at the North just after the
war. That the great liberal leader
favored some kind Of uniOnbetween
the Dominion and the Northern
states, contingent upon Southern
secession, is generally acknowl.
edged By those who still remember
the incident. The pity is, for the
perfection OF written history, that
Mr.. Gladstone dad not see flt to
make his position more authentic
than through private correspond
snce and in private conversation. /:
The existence Of the lOst letter to
3oldwin Smith caanOt be doubted,
lOr can the ature Of it's contents
De much in doubt MOrley's re.
sently published biography OF s
gladstone, which is so largely au- 3
obiOgraphy, makes it perfectly 2
lear where the statesman stood in :
lis opinions and sentiments as to 3
ur civil war. C
ANY one familiar with the life :, Z
nd utterances Of Gladstone is &
ware that be was a sympathizsr
{ the South in her attempt to es-
abliah an independent republic :
trough peaceful and constitution :,
! secession. he was at least a sym p
athizer to the extent Of believing
aat the invasion Of Southern ter g :,
Ikorv n aoaroa tha aaooao1 akakaa