The second speech in the Corn Exchange was a general
de- fence of the action of the Ministry since 1880, and was very heartily applauded. We have given its substance elsewhere, and need only add here that Mr. Gladstone intimated, what only diplomatists at the time knew, that the combined action of Europe to free Theisaly in the terms of the Berlin Treaty was secured with the greatest difficulty. He also commented with bitterness on the "gross failure" of Conference to set Egyptian finance straight, as they could easily have done, and took occasion to make a rather important state- ment about Germany. He utterly repudiated the " mean- ness " of supposing that Englishmen were jealous of German projects of colonisation. So long as the Germans did not claim territories previously appropriated, and remembered aboriginal rights, their entrance into the work of colonisation would be welcomed by the English with "joy." That state- ment has been received by the German Press with ridicule and suspicion, for which it is difficult to account, unless Prince Bismarck, for some purpose of his own, is anxious to cultivate ill-feeling. The English do not even object to. French colonisa- tion, which is simply conquest ; and why should they object to German, which would be in the main a formation of new trading depots ? The truth is, we suppose, the Germans are so pleased with the notion of having colonies, which they regard as estates, that they think the English must be envious of their new properties. When they have half-a-dozen on their hands, and have had a few insurrections to put down, they will understand the matter better.
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