登陆注册
19464300000083

第83章 RECOLLECTIONS FROM ABROAD(3)

The period of Mr. Gladstone's reign as prime minister was one of the most interesting for an American visitor who had the privilege of knowing him and the eminent men who formed his Cabinet. The ladies of the Cabinet entertained lavishly and superbly. A great favorite at these social gatherings was Miss Margot Tennant, afterwards Mrs. Asquith. Her youth, her wit, her originality and audacity made every function a success which was graced by her presence.

The bitterness towards Mr. Gladstone of the opposition party surpassed anything I have met in American politics, except during the Civil War. At dinners and receptions given me by my friends of the Tory party I was supposed as an American to be friendly to Mr. Gladstone and Home Rule. I do not know whether this was the reason or whether it was usual, but on such occasions the denunciation of Mr. Gladstone as a traitor and the hope of living to see him executed was very frequent.

I remember one important public man who was largely interested and a good deal of a power in Canadian and American railroads.

He asked a friend of mine to arrange for me to meet him. I found him a most agreeable man and very accurately informed on the railway situation in Canada and the United States. He was preparing for a visit, and so wanted me to fill any gaps there might be in his knowledge of the situation.

Apropos of the political situation at the time, he suddenly asked me what was the attitude of the people of the United States towards Mr. Gladstone and his Home Rule bill. I told him they were practically unanimous in favor of the bill, and that Mr. Gladstone was the most popular Englishman in the United States. He at once flew into a violent rage, the rarest thing in the world for an Englishman, and lost control of his temper to such a degree that I thought the easiest way to dam the flood of his denunciation was to plead another engagement and retire from the field. I met him frequently afterwards, especially when he came to the United States, but carefully avoided his pet animosity.

One year, in the height of the crisis of Mr. Gladstone's effort to pass the Home Rule bill, a member of his Cabinet said to me:

"We of the Cabinet are by no means unanimous in believing in Mr. Gladstone's effort, but he is the greatest power in our country.

The people implicitly believe in him and we are helping all we can."It is well known that one after another broke away from him in time. The same Cabinet minister continued: "Mr. Gladstone has gone to the extreme limit in concessions made in his Home Rule bill, and he can carry the English, Scotch, and Welsh members.

But every time the Irish seem to be satisfied, they make a new demand and a greater one. Unless this stops and the present bill is accepted, the whole scheme will break down. Many of the Irish members are supported by contributions from America. Their occupation is politics. If Home Rule should be adopted the serious people of Ireland, whose economic interests are at stake, might come to the front and take all representative offices themselves.

We have come to the conclusion that enough of the Irish members to defeat the bill do not want Home Rule on any conditions.

I know it is a custom when you arrive home every year that your friends meet you down the Bay and give you a reception. Then you give an interview of your impressions over here, and that interview is printed as widely in this country as in the United States. Now I wish you would do this: At the reception put in your own way what I have told you, and especially emphasize that Mr. Gladstone is imperilling his political career and whole future for the sake of what he believes would be justice to Ireland. He cannot go any further and hold his English, Scotch, and Welsh constituencies.

He believes that he can pass the present bill and start Ireland on a career of Home Rule if he can receive the support of the Irish members. The Americans who believe in Mr. Gladstone and are all honest Home Rulers will think this is an indirect message from himself, and it would be if it were prudent for Mr. Gladstone to send the message."On my return to New York I did as requested. The story was published and commented on everywhere, and whether it was due to American insistence or not, I do not know, but shortly after Mr. Gladstone succeeded in carrying his Home Rule bill through the House of Commons, but it was defeated by the Conservatives in the House of Lords.

His Irish policy is a tribute to Mr. Gladstone's judgment and foresight, because in the light and conditions of to-day it is perfectly plain that if the Gladstone measure had been adopted at that time, the Irish question would not now be the most difficult and dangerous in British politics.

I had many talks with Mr. Parnell and made many speeches in his behalf and later for Mr. Redmond. I asked him on one occasion if the Irish desired complete independence and the formation of an independent government. He answered: "No, we want Home Rule, but to retain our connection in a way with the British Empire.

The military, naval, and civil service of the British Empire gives great opportunities for our young men. Ireland in proportion to its population is more largely represented in these departments of the British Government than either England, Scotland, or Wales."Incidental to the division in Mr. Gladstone's Cabinet, which had not at this time broken out, was the great vogue which a story of mine had. I was dining with Earl Spencer. He had been lord lieutenant of Ireland and was very popular. His wife especially had been as great a success as the vice-regent. He was called the Red Earl because of his flowing auburn beard. He was a very serious man, devoted to the public service and exceedingly capable.

He almost adored Gladstone and grieved over the growing opposition in the Cabinet.

同类推荐
  • 易纬坤灵图

    易纬坤灵图

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 正一指教斋仪

    正一指教斋仪

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 最上大乘金刚大教宝王经

    最上大乘金刚大教宝王经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 麻平晚行

    麻平晚行

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 唐朝名画录

    唐朝名画录

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 做个不差钱的生意人

    做个不差钱的生意人

    本书通过实例、分析、论述阐述了经商谋业需熟知的经验和策略,作为一个成功商人需要具备的能力和素养。
  • 只为途中与你相见

    只为途中与你相见

    该书以文化散文笔触记述西藏见闻、复原文化旧貌、自身感官体会为主,以此来讲述和剖析西藏这片土地和藏文化的博大精深与源远流长。该书不同于以往的游记类书籍,单纯从视觉感官上以“记流水账”的形式,来直观讲述西藏的风景以及自身的经历。作者更多想要表达的是以一种文化人的视角来感触西藏,探寻藏文化的精神内核和藏族人民的文化生活。除却迷人的风光、神秘的宗教和古建筑遗址,还有藏族同胞的精神文化和藏文化的独特与伟大。
  • 蔷薇学院:专属你的黑蔷薇

    蔷薇学院:专属你的黑蔷薇

    她,14岁,在学校里被朋友背叛。本来生活就不幸福的她,又一次受到打击,她开始变了。15岁,她决定离开,独自一人去国外。两年后,身边多了一个在异国他乡跟她相依为命的她,和这两年在黑道上跟她出生入死的他们。在冰夜酒吧碰见了哥哥跟他,又一次在蔷薇学院里碰见了他,这是巧合,还是命中注定。他可以让她,变回原来的她吗?
  • 风魔记

    风魔记

    二十一世纪,他是耀眼璀璨的明星亦或是令各国闻风丧胆的双重间谍。他聪明坚韧、狠辣果断,对待敌人毫无怜悯之心。在重重的阴谋、机缘巧合之下来到了一个未知的大陆,从此开启属于他的风魔记。
  • 夔州卧龙字水禅师语录

    夔州卧龙字水禅师语录

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 中宗祀昊天乐章·豫

    中宗祀昊天乐章·豫

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 舞女王在上,爱卿们在下

    舞女王在上,爱卿们在下

    舞艾卿,T国军部权势倾天的唐家三小姐,怎么也该是个大家闺秀,偏偏修长微向上挑的眼角,生生改变了她的气息,成了一个妖颜媚世的妖女。双面娇娃,改不了爱钱如命的癖好,偶尔迷糊、脑抽、没心没肺,还有点二,令那些个美男是又气又无奈,抽搐不已。。总之,本文剧情老套,就是有那么些狗血,狗血+狗血+。。=一盆狗血,嘿嘿,话说到这,就让我们来看看舞“女王”是如何令各位“爱卿”们臣服于她的一双脚丫之下,嘿嘿。。奸笑中飘走。。
  • 像狗一样奔跑

    像狗一样奔跑

    「ONE·一个」常驻高赞作者,萌怪青年里则林的首部作品集,当中有与众不同的独特视角,有叛逆不羁的雷人行径,有年少生活的种种记忆,有迷茫,有思考,有成长。你有可能被他的冷酷不羁所折服,也有可能因为他的种种恶搞捧腹大笑,然后在紧接着的下一秒,得到长足的温暖与感动。一直在遇见,也一直告别。看一个昔日荒诞不羁的少年,如何在经历和思考中成长为一个平和宽容的青年。或许从中,你可以看到过去和现在的自己。
  • 网游之破晓神归来

    网游之破晓神归来

    傲娇少女VS鬼畜教授,正义PK邪恶,凤凰律师事务所带给你热血沸腾的游戏体验……在这个大神泛滥的时代,只有你,是我心中不灭的信仰。用不妥协换取胜利,所到之处皆是DPS,破晓之后,再无传说。
  • 画落月

    画落月

    一直处于第一杀手佣兵团团长兼第一杀手的她没想到在一场任务中穿越!看她如何在陌生的世界风生水起,顺便捞一个妖孽美男和一屁股的烂桃花。