Mr.Gladstone had retired from the Liberal Leadership early in 1875 and was deeply occupied in literary work; and Lords Granville and Hartington, on whom devolved the duty of leading the Opposition, had been very sparing of criticisms on the foreign policy of the Cabinet.

They, as well as Mr.Gladstone, had merely stated that the Government, on refusing to join in the Berlin Memorandum, ought to have formulated an alternative policy.

We now know that Mr.Gladstone left his literary work doubtfully and reluctantly[105].
[Footnote 105: J.Morley, _Life of Gladstone_, vol.ii.pp.

548-549.] Now, however, the events in Bulgaria shed a ghastly light on the whole situation, and showed the consequences of giving the "moral support" of Britain to the Turks.

The whole question ceased to rest on the high and dry levels of diplomacy, and became one of life or death for many thousands of men and women.