The Last Speech of William Gladstone: A Plea for the Armenians

History, People

William Ewart Gladstone (1809-1898) was one of the most influential and respected statesmen of the Victorian era. He served as the prime minister of the United Kingdom four times, and as the leader of the Liberal Party for over thirty years. He was known for his eloquence, his reforms, and his moral convictions. He was also a champion of human rights and justice, especially for the oppressed peoples of the world.

One of the causes that Gladstone passionately advocated for was the plight of the Armenians, a Christian minority in the Ottoman Empire, who faced persecution, discrimination, and massacres under the rule of Sultan Abdul Hamid II. The sultan, who was also known as the Red Sultan or the Great Assassin, feared the rise of nationalism and separatism among his subjects, and tried to suppress them with brutal force. He also promoted a pan-Islamic ideology, which alienated the non-Muslim minorities in the empire.

The worst atrocities against the Armenians occurred between 1894 and 1896, in a series of massacres that are collectively known as the Hamidian massacres, after the sultan’s name. The massacres were carried out by Ottoman troops and Kurdish irregulars, who killed, raped, looted, and burned Armenian villages and towns. The exact number of victims is disputed, but estimates range from 100,000 to 300,000. The massacres also left thousands of orphans, refugees, and converts to Islam. The massacres sparked international outrage and condemnation, and prompted humanitarian relief efforts from various countries and organizations.

One of the most prominent voices that denounced the massacres and called for action was William Gladstone, who was already retired from active politics, but still commanded respect and influence. On September 24, 1896, at the age of eighty-seven, he delivered his last great public speech in his native city of Liverpool, in front of a crowd of more than 6,000 people. The speech lasted an hour and twenty minutes, and was later described in the House of Commons as “one of the best speeches of his long career”.

The speech was titled “The Armenian Question”, and it was a powerful and passionate plea for the protection and liberation of the Armenians from the tyranny of the Ottoman Empire. Gladstone denounced the sultan as a “bloodthirsty monster”, and accused him of committing “crimes against humanity” and “crimes against civilization”. He also criticized the European powers, especially Britain, for their indifference and inaction, and urged them to intervene and stop the massacres. He appealed to the moral and religious duty of the Christian nations to help their fellow Christians, and to the principles of justice and humanity that should guide the international relations. He also praised the Armenians for their courage, their culture, and their history, and said: “…of all the nations in the world no history has been so blameless as the history of the Armenian people.”

The speech had a profound impact on the public opinion and the press, and raised awareness and sympathy for the Armenian cause. It also inspired many people to join the Armenian relief efforts, and to pressure the government to take action. However, the speech did not have much effect on the official policy of the British government, which was reluctant to intervene in the Ottoman affairs, and preferred to maintain the status quo in the region. The speech also provoked the anger and resentment of the sultan, who banned Gladstone’s name and writings from the Ottoman Empire, and ordered the destruction of his statue in Istanbul.

The speech was the last major act of Gladstone’s long and illustrious career, and it showed his enduring commitment to the cause of liberty and justice. It was also a testament to his remarkable oratorical skills and his moral authority. The speech is regarded as one of the finest examples of British rhetoric, and as one of the most important speeches in the history of the Armenian question.

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