登陆注册
5145700000083

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
  • 旧五代史

    旧五代史

    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。
  • 两晋秘史

    两晋秘史

    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。
  • 杂纂续

    杂纂续

    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。
  • 佛说伅真陀罗所问如来三昧经

    佛说伅真陀罗所问如来三昧经

    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。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 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。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 东唐我说了算

    东唐我说了算

    东土之上,繁荣大国名唤大唐。偶然回到东唐,竟然醒来就被祭天,大难不死得元灵,从此开启了开挂的人生。皇帝要和我结拜?我考虑考虑吧!什么竟然让我娶公主?我才不要娶公主呢!东唐我罩着,谁敢不服?我有特种兵,有飞机分分钟炸了你。蛮族之人也敢跟我叫嚣?让你尝尝炮弹子弹的味道!!让你知道什么叫血色浪漫!!神挡杀神,佛挡杀佛。动了我的人就让你痛不欲生。别跟我扯什么梦回东唐,就要听话上朝。这地方我说的算,让我上朝,我看是你不想当皇帝了吧!
  • 暴君嗜宠之妃不妥协

    暴君嗜宠之妃不妥协

    本文一对一,男女双洁,男主暴躁喜怒无常,女主性格活泼气死人不偿命,剧情欢乐无极限。因为阎王的粗心和爱喝酒的毛病,让本来还可以活好多年的张二丫提前死亡。为了掩盖阎王犯错的证据,张二丫只能魂穿在一个古代女子沈清幽的身体里。穿来就是有夫之妇,可怜张二丫现代十八岁的年纪还没嫁人,还没体会过婚礼。夫君极其不友好,经常暴跳如雷,还经常惦记她的小命。“你是谁?谁准你爬到孤的屋顶的?还从孤的屋顶摔下来,想死的话,孤成全你。”额头暴起的青筋在述说着主人的坏脾气。“你吓到我了,你知道吗?”“我想杀你,你信吗?”语气很不友好,可以说是恶劣。“信。”眨眨眼睛特诚实的回答。沈清幽穿着太监的衣服,跟着王爷出宫的随行队伍,一起出宫。本以为从此天大地大,天高任鸟飞了。没想到一声“皇弟,孤有家事要解决,你先等等。”上前揪出沈清幽,“皇弟慢走,孤就不送了。”拎着沈清幽的小领子就给抓了回来。“宇文昊天,我警告你,快放手,你这样拎着我,很不舒服,还很没有面子。”宇文昊天一路拎着沈清幽的领子,路过的人都在看着。“你穿成这样,混进孤的皇弟队伍里,你把孤的面子放哪里了?”听她这么一说宇文昊天转头就怼了沈清幽一句。“我只是想出宫。”“皇宫里有茅厕,不需要去皇弟府上。”什么鬼?简直就是在对牛弹琴嘛!“你是孤的女人,孤不准你出宫,你就老老实实在宫里呆着。”“你侵犯人权,非法拘禁,我可以告你。”宇文昊天用看白痴的眼神看着被自己拎在手里还活蹦乱跳的女人。沈清幽的表情也尴尬的空白了一下。这不是坑人吗?忘了这个天下他最大了。沈清幽心中的小人咬着小手绢哭唧唧。简介无能,请你移驾正文
  • 卑微的智者:诸葛亮

    卑微的智者:诸葛亮

    《卑微的智者:诸葛亮》以大量翔实的史料为依据,用幽默诙谐、活泼晓畅的语言,分析诸葛亮生平的重要事件,抽丝剥茧,拨开近两千年的历史面纱,还原一个出身卑微、有血有肉的真实诸葛亮。
  • 兽王·金乌战神

    兽王·金乌战神

    兰虎与龙原乘坐从梦幻星人手中抢来的宇宙航空母舰回到了后羿星,并攻占了一座被梦幻星人霸占的四级城市,以此为基地,开始发展自己的势力。不久后,龙原的部队强大的作战能力和快速的发展势头引起了后羿星皇族的注意。后羿星皇族派来使者,一旦验明龙原的皇族身份。就正式册封他为“义王”……一次,基地遭受袭击,兰虎追踪袭击部队而去,发现了梦幻星侵略者在后羿星上的一个重要的军事堡垒。军事堡垒附近是众多的羽人小镇。兰虎在与隼儿合体后,混入了羽人小镇,不断打探军事堡垒的虚实。羽人族是一个孱弱的种族,经常遭到梦幻星人劫掠杀戮。兰虎开始有计划埔传授羽人族孩子们技击之术……
  • 螭时之茧

    螭时之茧

    这天窗外大雪纷飞,K大学图书馆报刊查阅室里,却与往常一样的有序安静,只听得到那一片笔尖在笔记本上划过“沙~沙”声。但不久后,一个学生立起并猛然发出了可怖的尖叫,使在场许多学生都不禁惊讶地抬起了头,大家开始窃窃私语,猜测着他究竟怎么了。他是新闻系的学生张文栋,今天本是来为毕业论文查资料的。他借来一套旧报纸,认真摘抄了许久的笔记后,有些疲惫,就胡乱地翻看着当时的各种新闻报导当做消遣。随后,泛黄的报纸一角跃入了他的视线。
  • 奇葩萌宠:君少,请入怀

    奇葩萌宠:君少,请入怀

    君亦:“我是不是你主人?”姬如千妤:“是是!”君亦:“还找不找美男子?”姬如千妤:“不找不找……”君亦:“你叫什么名字?”姬如千妤:“君……千妤。”(没有一次蜕变成就的人生,成长是一次又一次艰难的改变,且行且至。)
  • 社会政策与社会管理:理念与实践

    社会政策与社会管理:理念与实践

    本书内容分三个方面:一是阐明社会政策与经济政策、公共政策、社会管理之间的关系;二是介绍西方国家两种社会福利模式及其理念的来源和演化,以及社会政策的主要实践方面,即社会保障政策;三是在回顾我国1949年以来社会政策的基础上,探讨我国社会政策和社会管理的完善和创新,阐明了追求社会公平和坚持把保障人民生活放在最重要地位的理念,正是我国社会政策、社会管理得以不断完善、不断创新的重要原因。
  • 津梁寺采新茶与幕中

    津梁寺采新茶与幕中

    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。
  • 重生之豪门少夫人

    重生之豪门少夫人

    前一世,她和襁褓中孩子,死于非命,连凶手是谁都不知道。这一世,侥幸重新活一场,她要好好保护她的孩子,保护自己,和老公幸福的生活下去。
  • 老婆,我们复婚吧!

    老婆,我们复婚吧!

    在童音的眼里,连靳除了那张脸之外,一无是处!嘴巴贱,招蜂引蝶,就是一个人见人恨的花花公子!在连靳的眼里,童音除了那张脸之外,一无是处!爱乱想,口是心非,就是一个让人厌烦的疯婆子!他们互相厌恶对方,但他们却又是夫妻,共同拥有着一个三岁的女儿!★“我受够了!我们离婚!”两个人爽快的签了离婚协议,从此是路人。他被女人追,她到处黑他,她被男人追,他到处搞破坏,童音怒了,“准你到处留情,就不准我找男人?连靳你够了,你也只不过是前度,ex懂不懂?!”连靳笑了,“怎么了?怎么?我怎么了?我就不准你勾三搭四怎么了?”童音真想一刀劈死这不要脸的男人!“老婆,我们复婚吧!”“你丫的给我滚远一点!”