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Constructing Ionian identities: the Ionian Islands in British official ...

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Gladstone, now Chancellor of <strong>the</strong> Exchequer, had failed to br<strong>in</strong>g about a fair and<br />

reformed government <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Islands</strong>. 97<br />

Gladstone believed Brita<strong>in</strong> should not abandon <strong>the</strong> Protectorate but should<br />

offer “a really free Legislature and really free <strong>in</strong>stitutions” to <strong>the</strong> <strong>Islands</strong> with a<br />

“large and ultimately a command<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong>fluence over <strong>the</strong> composition of <strong>the</strong> Executive<br />

government, personal liberty, and with <strong>the</strong> adequate means of br<strong>in</strong>g<strong>in</strong>g public<br />

functionaries, to justice <strong>in</strong> case of malversation”. 98 Gladstone publicly contradicted<br />

Storks’s belief that <strong>the</strong> <strong>Ionian</strong>s had been “given more liberties than England”. He<br />

noted <strong>the</strong> political situation <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Islands</strong> was “a strange and extraord<strong>in</strong>ary mixture<br />

of <strong>in</strong>congruous elements that are … hopelessly <strong>in</strong> conflict with one ano<strong>the</strong>r”. 99<br />

Although it was claimed <strong>the</strong> <strong>Islands</strong> enjoyed freedom of <strong>the</strong> press, Gladstone noted<br />

<strong>the</strong> editors of radical newspapers were arrested and exiled for pr<strong>in</strong>t<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong>ir political<br />

views. 100 Nor did <strong>the</strong> <strong>Ionian</strong>s have an extended franchise; while <strong>the</strong> population<br />

numbered around 250,000, <strong>the</strong> electorate did not exceed 8,000 because of property<br />

and education restrictions. 101 In addition, <strong>the</strong> Lord High Commissioner was still<br />

granted <strong>the</strong> “despotic” power of <strong>the</strong> High Police. 102 As for <strong>the</strong> Assembly, it did not<br />

have free <strong>in</strong>itiatives concern<strong>in</strong>g f<strong>in</strong>ancial and legislative matters and a “free<br />

government as we understand it, does not exist <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Ionian</strong> <strong>Islands</strong>”. 103<br />

97 Hansard T. C., Parliamentary debates, 3 rd Series, CLXII, 7 May 1861, p. 1681.<br />

98 Ibid., p. 1694.<br />

99 Ibid., p. 1690.<br />

100 Ibid.<br />

101 Ibid., p. 1691.<br />

102 Ibid.<br />

103 Ibid.<br />

340

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