VICTORIA’S REIGN

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVIII, Issue 45, 21 January 1928, Page 9

VICTORIA’S REIGN

QUEEN’S’ DISLIKE OF GLADSTONE

ADVANCE OF DEMOCRACY RESENTED.

LETTERS CAUSE COMMENT.

(By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.)

Received January 21, 9.20 a.m. LONDON, Jan. 20. “I have a great deal to say. Only one side has been given, but as regards the other side time has not. arrived tor me to speak about my father.” This is Viscount Gladstone’s reply to an invitation to comment on the references to William Gladstone that were contained in the Letters of Queen Victoria.

Sir Almeric Fitzroy, who has been in the closest touch with the Ministries since 1885, stated that he was surprised at the publication of the letters. He w.as not prepared for such a candid revelation of Queen Victoria’s private views. The Queen’s dislike for Gladstone was never concealed. She showed him no consideration and hardly courtesy. She never became reconciled to him. Gladstone’s eastern policy first aroused Queen Victoria’s resentment.

“It. must be said to Gladstone’s credit that he never commented on the Queen’s attitude and always showed the greatest respect and courtesy for the monarchy,” added Sir Almeric Fitzroy. The Evening Standard editorially states:. “We knew before that Queen Victoria was hot tempered and stubborn, but we did not know the full extent of her fears and dislikes.

“It w.as entirely natural that a woman of Queen Victoria’s character and upbringing sliouid regard the advance of democracy with fear and resentment and should oppose it with all the strength at her command. “The most surprising thing of all is that, notwithstanding her determination and prestige, she rarely got her own way.

“The more one considers this aspect of her reign the more natural it is for one to admire the statesmen who so stoutly resented the powerful force. “One is impelled to ask whether we have any such remaining with us.” The Star editorially says: “The present monarch is constitutional in fact as well as in theory. We are not satisfied that it is a good thing to bring these letters into the limelight. They might arouse some future monarch to impossible ideas.—A. and N.Z. cable.

When Queen Victoria heard that Khartoum had fallen she sent the afterwards famous telegram to the Ministers stating: “To think that all this might have been prevented and precious lives saved by earlier action is too frightful.” She wrote on one occasion: “Gladstone and the Government have Gordon’s innocent noble and heroic blood on their consciences. It is awful. May they feel it.” Queen Victoria so distrusted the Government that she wrote to Lady Wolseley intending that the remarks should be passed on to her husband who was then commanding in Egypt: “In strict confidence I must tell you that the Government is more incorrigible than ever. Your husband should hold strong language to them and even threaten to resign if he does not receive support and liberty of action. Wolseley must not let out a hint of this, but J really think that the Government must be frightened.” Queen Victoria repeatedly bitterly criticised Gladstone, notably when Lord Bcaconsfield’s Government was defeated in 1880. She declared: “Gladstone’s conduct for four years has been violent, with passionate and invective abuse against Beaoonsfield, and has been the cause of the TurcoRussian war. I could not have a particle of confidence in Gladstone after his violent, mischievous and dangerous conduct and offensive language against myself.”