The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1910-01-11
MIR. GLADSTONE AND THE SOUTH.


scholar. statesman, lay leader IN the
head and shoulders above his fellows.
Mr.. Henry Clews has contributed a
letter written him by Mr.. Gladstone.
which says tie English government
never at any time dealt With the sub
ject Of recognizing the Southern states
in your great civil war, excepting when
it learned the proposition OF the En-
peror Napoleon III. and declined to
entertain that proposition, without
qualification, hesitation, delay, or dis
sent"
The New York Times quotes this ex-
tract and says:
Nv Will may find the truth
about this matter lIcidly and authori-
tatively set forth in John Morley's
Life Of Gladstone" 1t was in Sep
TENDER, 1862, two weeks before Glad
stones wel-rememhered Newcastle
speech, that Lore Palmerston wrote to
hum to say that he, Palnlerston, and
Lord Russell thought the time as fast
approaching when an offer of media
ton ought to be made by England.
France and Russia; Russell was going
rlNately to instruct the ambassador a.
Paris to sound the French govern
ment; if both beliigerents should &C
cept the offer, Lord Palmerston wrote.
an almistlce would follow, and nego-
tiations on the basis of separation" At
Newcastle, Q n October Z, Mr.. Gladstone
declared that there IS no doubt that
Jefferson Davis and other leaders OF
the South have made an army, they
are making, it appears, q navy, ana
tnty have made what is more than
/ ct hl J-tt n ava 1l2d u nation g.
Upon this Mr.. Adams, our minister, in
tinated to Lord Russell, that, if he had
accepted tne construction given 10 tnat
speech, he should have begun TO think
about packing his carpet bag ana
trunks.
ms shows what three cabinet min
listers thought about the war cfWcc
the North and South. \ few weeks
later MI. Gladstone circulated 4 writ
ten document arguing for representa-
ton to the two combatants from Eng
land, France and Russia repre-
sentation with moral authority and
force, Of the opinion of the civilized
world upon the conditions Of the case
Now We come to the cabinet meet
ing. In November Napoleon III. re-
neWed his proposals of Joint media
ton. Mediation, Of course, meant
that the three powers concerned, 60
ing beyond the limits Of neutrality. de-
sired to put a stop to the war, and to
put a stop to it upon the basis of the,
dissolution of the Union. The French
Emperor pressed England and Russia
to join him in that undertaking. Rus
STA declined,' says Mr.. Morley curtly,
the motive and the name Of that
G~eclination will be much more fully
disclosed to the world if the archives
OF Our State Department are ever pub
lished. The cabinet considered the
proposal Of Napoleon III. at its meet
q NJ
vember II Mr.. Gladstone, in writing
home, as was his almost daily CUSTOM,
alter saying that the cabinet was to
meet again on the next day, added:
I am afraid that we shall do little or
nothing in the business Of America
But | will send you definite lntelli-
gence. Lords Palmerston and Russell
are right We quote from his letters
Of November II and November IS:
Nov. 12.-Thc United States
affair has ended and not we'll.
Lord Russell rather turned tail.
He gave way without resolutely
lighting out his battle. However,
though we decline for the mo-
ment, the answer is put upon
grounds and in terms which leave
the matter very open for the fu-
ture. November Isl think the
French will make our answer
about America public; at least it
is very possible. But I hope they
may not take it as a positive re-
fusal, or at any rate that they may
themselves act in the matter. It
will be clear that we concur with
them, tbs the war should cease.
Palmerston gave to Russell's pro-
posal a feeble and h~alf-hearted
support.
Eight months later, in June, 1868,
Mr.. Gladstone declared in the House
of Commons that the public opinion OF
England was unanimous that the res
torat.en Of III American Union by
lforce was unattainable.'
these opinions and these expres-
Si0ns Mr.. Gladstone. as is well known,
reDentet late in life. ti0Gc~-Ni"~ =
as IAN undoubted error, the most sim
yular and palpable, ] may add. the