The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1886-04-10 00:00:00

THE IRISH PROBLEM

AND THE

ENGLISH MINISTERIAL CRISIS.

The Times Dublin correspondent writes: The heavy
shock which the Home Rule project has given to the
Cabinet, the threatened disruption of the Liberal
party, and the significant indication that the tide of
public opinion is setting in more strongly against it
have 'visibly damped the spirits of the Nationalists,
and the tone of confidence--almost exultation—in
which they have hitherto spoken on the subject is
now changed to that of doubt and misgiving as to the
prospect of Mr. Gladstone's measure being carried in
the House of Commons. The change of front which
the leading Scotch journals have felt it necessary
to make under the pressure of a formidable con-
demnation of their previous attitude by the people of
the north is a sign of the times which the Homo Rulers
fully understand. They are disappointed and vexed at
it, but cannot conceal their apprehensions that it bodes
no rood for them. But they still rest their hopes on
Mr. Gladstone, and discounting the probability that
his first attempts to establish an Irish Parliament in
College-green of a revolutionary character, or at least
out of harmony with the Imperial constitution, may
be defeated, they are encouraged by the reflection
that once a British Minister has declared in favour of
Home Rule, the demand is sure to be successful in
the end, although Parliament may be dissolved and
members put out before victory can be achieved. The
Loyalists are taking advantage of the short time left
to them to express their hostility to any measure cal-
culated to impair the union between the two countries,
and are holding meetings and passing resolutions in
various parts of the country. The Loyal and Patriotic
Union are establishing branches in every county and
extending their organisation.
Lecturing on Sunday night before a crowded
gathering in the Hall of Science, Old-street, City-
road, London, on "The Ministerial Crisis," Mr. Brad-
laugh observed that until they had the statement of
Mr. Gladstone as to his dealing with the Irish ques-
tion, clearly and definitely expounded from his seat
in Parliament, he did not think it was wise, desent,
or prudent of any politician or publicist to express an
opinion upon the one side or the other. Notwith-
standing the many rumours in the press he did not
believe that Mr. Gladstone, at the close of his grand
and honoured career as a statesman, intended in the
alleged expropriation of the Irish landlords to put an
intolerable burden upon the taxpayers of the British
nation for the sake of a class to whose acts much of
the crime, mischief, discontent, and crime of Ireland
for the last quarter of a century was undoubtedly due.
He had faith and confidence in the genius and leader-
ship of Mr. Gladstone that in his treatment of the
Irish question he would succeed in effecting a final
and satisfactory settlement of a most difficult and
knotty problem.
A largely attended meeting of the electors oft the
Cisy of London took place on Friday afternoon in
the Guildhall, to protect against the establishment of
separate Parliament in Dublin. The Lord Mayor
occupied the chair, and explained that the meeiting
had been called in pursuance of a requisition Very
numerously signed by the bankers, merchants, land
traders of the City. Sir John Lubbock moved I the
first resolution as follows: "That this meeting i re-
presenting the merchants, hankers, and trader i of
London, is of opinion thet the establishment of a
separate legislative body in Dublin will be highly,
injurious to the interests of both Great Britain and
Ireland." Alderman Sir R. N. Fowler seconded the
resolution. Mr. George Potter then rose to move an
amendment, but was received with such a storm of
disapprobation that his voice was quite inaudible.
After endeavouring vainly to make himself heard ;for
some minutes, he sat down, after handing his arnelnd-
ment to the reporters. It ran as follows: "That
this meeting of the electors of the City of London,
having the fullest confidence in the statesmanllip
and sense of justice of Mr. Gladstone, and believing
that his proposed legislation with regard to Ireland
will be based upon a desii e to do justice to all parties,
refrains from any expression of opinion upon the pro-
posed bills until they are placed before Parliament."
Mr. M. Ilanly seconded the amendment. Mr. R.
B. Martin spoke in support of the resolution, which
was carried with only some 50 dissentients._
The writer who has been contributing to the Tirs
a series of letters, in which be has endeavoured to
afford Mr. Gladstone certain "indications that go to
the heart of Irish affairs," closed his contributions
on Saturday with a summary of what recent persoeal
inquiry among all classes of the people in Ireland
has distinctly shown:
(1.) That Parnellisin is an ephemeral power, a mere
"temporary combination of otherwise hostile elements,"
these elements being Roman Catholicism, land-grab-
bing, blind patriotism, industrial depression, protec-
tionist selfishness, proletariat greed, and Irish-
American political Schemes—all aided by skilful
electioneeriug tactics, the widespread ignorance :of
a new stratum of electors, the pressure of organiia-
tions not known to the Constitution, and the popular
dread of a secret and irresponsible despotism. (2.)
That the powers represented by the defunct Land
League, the living National League, and the ndw
House League, and assisted and supported by boY-
cotting in all its forms—from social avoidance to the
maiming of cattle and assassination of men and
women—have placed the Queen's authority in abey-
ance in many relations of life and many districts in
Ireland. (3.) That a movement to make rents in
Ireland illegal and impossible has found countenance
and support in Mr. Gladstone's Land Acts, and, if it
succeeds, will, for a time, altogether prevent any land-
owner in Ireland, great or small, from allowing any
others to use his land on payment. (4.) That the
chief foundations of Irish troubles are economic and
not political. That the one crying need of the popu-
lation is profitable employment; that the natural re-
sources of the country are great, but for the most part
not utilised ; that political agitation prevents their
being utilised; and that the true remedy is to make
Ireland a place where men will come and live and
work and invest and spend. That this is to be secured
not by severing but by drawing yet closer the ties
that bind her to over-populated, busy, wealthy, and
generous Great Britain. (5.) That Ireland does not
contain the necessary elements of a separate
nationality—for among the inhabitants there is no
unity or individuality of blood, religion, laws, occupa-
tions, sentiment, history, or even traditions. (0.)
That Ireland has large manufacturing classes as well
as agricultural; that to injure these !and to abolish
landlordism is to banish the classes that chiefly pay
local rates, employ labour, find capital, and support
churches, chapels, and charities. fhat in material
welfare Ireland has advanced enormously in recent
years. That Ireland enjoys to the full as large a
measure of local self-government as England or Scot-
land. That Ireland bears less than her proportionate
share of the burdens of contributing to the State
revenues. (7.) That of the " settlements " now in
the air, the Irish-Americans wish for none of them;
the Parnellites only for those which directly or
indirectly lead to separation; the Home Rulers for
those which history tells us are of no avail. Mr.
Gladstone has schemes of his own, the pivot of which
is providing a remedy for his fiascos in land legislation
which must burden either Ireland or Great Britain
with a great new public debt.

A consultation of the Conservative Leruiers took
place on Monday at Lord Salisbury's residence in
Arlington-street. No definite course of action wai
decided upon. A meeting of the Party will probably
be held on Tuesday nest.