MR. BALFOUR'S ABERDEEN SPEECH.
[TO THE EDITOR OP THE "SPECTATOR."] SIR,—I find that quite a number of people have never beard of Gladstone's speech in Aberdeen in 1871, in which he banned Home Rule absolutely. The coincidence of Aberdeen being again the point of interest might possibly make it worth while
for you to reter to it.—I am, Sir, &c., Z.
"This United Kingdom, which we have endeavoured to make a United Kingdom in heart as well as in law, we trust will remain a United Kingdom. . . . And although, as human beings, the issues of great events are not in our hands, but are directed by a Higher Power, yet we intend and mean, every one of us, both high and low, not those merely who meet within this hall, but those who crowd the streets of your city, and every city from the North to the South of this island—we intend that it shall remain a United Kingdom. . . . You would expect when it is said that the Imperial Parliament is to be broken up, that at the very least a case should be made out showing that there were great subjects of policy, and great demands necessary for the welfare of Ireland, which representatives of Ireland had united to ask, and which the representatives of England, Scotland, and Wales have united to refuse. There is no such grievance. . . . What are the inequalities of England and Ireland? I declare that I know none, except that there are certain taxes still remaining which are levied over Englishmen and Scotsmen and which are not levied over Irishmen, and likewise that there are certain purposes for which public money is freely and largely given in Ireland and for which it is not given in England or Scotland. That seems to me to be a very feeble case indeed for the argument which has been made by means of which, as we are told, the fabric of the united Parliament of this country is to be broken up. . . . Can any sensible man, can any rational man, suppose that at this time of day, in this condition of the world, we are going to disintegrate the great capital institutions of this country for the purpose of making ourselves ridiculous in the sight of all mankind, and crippling any power we may possess for bestowing benefits through legislation on the country to which we belong ? "—Mr. Gladstone at Aberdeen in the autumn of 1871.
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