University of Warwick institutional repository: http://go.warwick.ac.uk ...

900
of reconquering the Soudan. "
(1)
A Leeds constituent of
Herbert Gladstone was probably typical of a good many
Liberals,
- he wrote "I an sorry to aoy that the conclusion
forced on my mind in that the Government in thin Egyptian
business started wrongs and they have continued to go wrong
ever since.,. x am a oupporter of the Government pained at
being compelled to take strong exception to their action on
so grave a matter an thinºº We have forced on Egypt "a Khodive
whom they hate, and when a national movement was struggling
into life, wei in the most ruthless and despotic manner,
stamped it out, ºº (2) Gladstone in replying could only admit
"the extraordinary diversity of views in the Liberal Party no
to what ought to be done, from first to last. "
Evan in 1885 it was thought ",, *eminently unpatriotic
to embarrass the government at such a point with adverse
criticism.
" (1
This attitude was boned on the realisation
that the only alternative was a hated Conservative Government;
"always in the background has appeared the figure of Lord
(1) Granville MSS. Public Record Office} 3n 29,1ý521 T. m. Potter
to Granville 11th February 1884,
(2) Norbert Gladstone NOW, Arien. l+6,040, James Goznoy to
Herbert Gladstone, 27th Aprils +.
(3) %, Herbert tlladotona'a note on back of lettor0
(4) Frees cuttings relating to Handauorth political associations,
Birmingham Deference Librarys local History Collection,
extract frog irnin hnn Drily Pott! 11th February 188 5.
(3)