Gladstone, William Ewart Gladstone (1809-1898), The Scramble for Africa

William Ewart Gladstone (1809-1898).
- The Scramble for Africa

Gladstone

William Ewart Gladstone was one of the most extraordinary statesmen of the nineteenth century. He dominated British politics in the heyday of classical liberalism entering Parliament at age 23, first held a cabinet post at 34, and delivered his last speech as a Member when he was 84. He served as Prime Minister four times.

Gladstone's most glorious political campaigns came late in life: to stop British imperialism and to give the oppressed Irish self-government. To Gladstone, imperialism and the Sramble for Afirca inevitably meant more burdens on British taxpayers and more risks of war. On May 7, 1877, he declared: Consider how we have conquered, planted, annexed, and appropriated at all the points of the compass, so that at few points on the surface of the earth is there not some region or some spot of British dominion at hand. Nor even from these few points are we absent . . . . And then I ask you what quarrel can arise between any two countries or what war, in which you may not, if you be so minded to set up British interests as a ground of interference.

Gladstone went on to warn against the arrogance of good intentions which end up squandering blood and treasure in foreign wars. His most famous opponent was Benjamin Disraeli, the Tory who promoted higher taxes, more powerful government, and imperial conquest and the Scamble for Afrcia. Gladstone wrestled with the consequences of Disraeli's reckless commitments around the world. Turks disregarded terms of the treaty which Disraeli helped broker with Russia. Boers battled British soldiers in South Africa. Arab nationalists revolted against the Egyptian government, and the popular British adventurer Charles Gordon was killed in Khartoum. Afghanistan became a quagmire. Although Gladstone withdrew from Afghanistan, overall he failed to reverse Disraeli's imperialist policies.

East Africa Askari Colonial Soldier Collection

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