Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1921-06-26
VOICE OF THE PEOPLE
ON TOPICS OF THE DAY
Correspondent Gives Light on Some
British Political
History
To tho Editor of The Times Dlspa,cl

To tho Editor OF The Times Dispatch:
Sir.-ln regard 10 the article in
last sundays issue by Lady Ronhnm-
Carter. would like TO say, in the
frs; PLACE. that Iady Violet is not the
daughter OF Mrs. Margot Asquith, as
you state hut Of tho Honorable Her
bert Asquith By his first wife. and has
been prominent in English politics
for a long time. She Is "a faithful!
follower OF her fathers political
views. and he, In turn. was "A protcgc
and disciple u the late MIR WIN. T.
Gladstone. /. is curious TO note in
this connection. how tho Gladstone
policies lead To more serious Canse-
quenccs To Great Britain, in several
instances. than those Of any states
man since Disrcalli. whom he sue
cecdcd. ana whose cniucntIy success
full foreign policies ne reversed
Gladstonc's altru!stic theories Of gov
eminent caused the delay In moving
to relieve General Charles (Chincsc)
khartun. His government lost
months in debating the merits and
dcmcr!ts Of sending force To re-
i!evc him. during which the Mahdi
gradually ovorcamc his defense. aud
the expedition finally arrived. JUS, In
time to ilnd him slain.
The outcome OF this vas the ncccs-
sity for kitchcncr's expedition to re-
licvc the Sudan from the oppression
Of the Mahdi, at trcmc ndous cost to
the empire. Next came the MajUba
liill incident whore the Doors shot
down the British like p.st!ferous
beasts as they withdrew from the hill
Here. again. the Gladstone govern
mcnt stopped 10 question whether the
English were justified in being where
hey were. and its conclusion was
that the Doors were in the right. and
me incident was allowed I" pass with
out protest, with the result that
thencciorth the British were held in
the utmost contempt by the Roors,
nd hy others az well. especially Ger
many.
The talk at that time was that the
Hritish could not stand up against an
army OF white men modcrniy
equipped. but aga inst half naked saw
ages only. The Boor war was the di-
rect fruit OF this incident. a bloody
and costly sacrifice To- idcallsm.
Mr.. Gladstone also took a very
similar attitude toward Ireland and
10 his policies. it is not hard 20 trace.
in part At least, much OF the deplor-
able condition In that unhappy country
at present And this brings lis TO the
eist of the question Mr.. Asquith was
Il devoted follower Of Mr.. Gladstone
during all this time. and was, OF
course. thoroughly imbued with his
ideas. and. no doubt, still is.
This it was which unified him for
leadership in such a crisis ms the
world war. and which lead to his re-
tircment at that time.
The Lady Violet Bonham- Carter
having been born and bred in this
school. and hating the present gov
ornmcnt with tho implacahlc bitter
ness usual with English opposing 20
iitical parties. she went to Ireland
VIC may reasonably conclude, alert
90 see the mistakes and abuses which
the government has permitted there
and little else These she secs as the
acts of good servants OF n had gov
ernmcnt."
The meaning OF this is that she
cordially hates the existing govern
m'nt, and would put II out Of Office
| tomorrow. If she could, regardless OF
Ireland. G. l.. HARRISON
TunStall, Va, June .. 1921.