The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1886-04-17 00:00:00

BRITISH AND FOREIGN OPINIONS OF Mt
GLADSTONE'S SCHEME.

The London Press, with the exception of the
Daily News, is unanimously hostile to Mr. Gladstone's
scheme, whilst the English Liberal provincial papers
are favourable to it, though some of the more im-
portant organs speak with reservation. The Liverpool
Mercury, Liverpool Pest, Manchester Examiner,
Newcastle Chronicle, Newcastle Leader, BroeVord
Observer, Bristol Mercury, Leicester Post, Nottingham
Express, Sussex Daily News, Eastern Morning News,
York Herald, South Wales Daily News, and Western
Daily Mercury are, however, decided in their
spproval. The Nottingham Journal is the only pro-
vincial Liberal paper which is decidedly hostile. Of
Scottish Liberal organs the Glasgow Mail is the only
one which gives the scheme a hearty support. The
Scotsman, the Glasgow Herald, and the Aberdeen Free
Press are hostile. The Dundee Advertiser and the
Edinburgh Daily Review are, on the whole, favour-
able, but speak with doubt of certain leading features
of the scheme. The Irish Press is divided, the
Parnellite journals applauding, and the Conservative
denouncing the proposals. The Conservative Press,
with the exception of the Yorkshire Post, is unanimous
in its denunciation of the scheme.

The suggestion made in reference to Mr. Glad-
stone's scheme, that Englishmen will not refuse to
listen to a plan, over which so much pains have been
spent to meet criticism, is discussed by the Saturday
I?eview. To the argument.—" Surely there is still
virtue in compromise," it replies by saying that
there are two entirely different kinds of compromise.
There is the compromise which is fought out between
honest and avowed partisans of two different ways
of proceeding. But it adds, Mr. Gladstone's plan
has been an almost avowed and a certainly known
trap to catch votes. As to his scheme, the Saturday
I?eview shows how some of the remaining members
of the Cabinet hung on, extorting certain alterations
as the price of their adherents. It is added : "It
has the very least chance of being workable, the
very utmost chance of discontenting Ireland without
contenting England, that any plan can have. it is
all but certain beforehand to need eking and adding,
to lead to hitches and dew Hocks. It abounds
especially in the paper checks and safeguards
which are as useless to those who impose as they are
irritating to those who undergo them. Now almost
the whole argument of the Gladstonian or English
Home Rule party is that their way is the only way
out of the deadlock; that, whatever the difficulties of
Home Rule, they are well compensated by getting rid
of the Irish trouble. If, therefore, the getting rid of
the Irish trouble becomes unlikely; if, either by not
contenting the party it is designed to content, or, by
containing incongruous and awkward provisions, in-
tended to content this and that other party or other
person, it creates instead of obviating difficulty, the
sole inducement for adopting it is gone. And that it
must do this, that any measure of such a kind with
such a genesis must do, this, is very nearly as certain
as anything in the uncertain region of politics can be.
It is acknowledged by the Spectator that whatever
may be said of the wisdom of Mr. Gladstone's policy,
his speech ccntains a sincere policy which might, had
Ireland been in a totally different stage of develop-
ment, have given peace and prosperity to that country.
But it finds fault with the speech because it shows
Mr. Gladstone's tendency to ignore the actual moral
condition of the Irish majority. It urges that "to
pass at one bound from democracy in the United
Kingdom to a separate democracy in the least en-
lightened and most wretchedly-governed part of the
United Kingdom, is to give up the only security for
justice which that unfortunate fraction of the king-
dom still retains. There may be a very strong case
made out for giving Ireland a firm Irish Government
and a truly Irish Statute-book—as the only 'possible
preparation for a future Irish democracy. But to
hand over all power to the present Irish democracy—
and this is, as we show elsewhere, in spite of the sup-
posed guarantee of the upper - Order,' what will really
be done—is like deliberately casting the reins on the
neck of horses already tearing away at the tep of their
speed towards the precipices down which they must ------
PROFESSOR HUXLEY ON THE CRISIS.
inevitably plunge. Again and again Mr. Gladstone
The Central News is authorised to publish the fol-
has been wrecked in his Irish legislation by too san-
lowing letter addressed to a friend by Professor
guine a view of the Irish character and of the matus
Huxley, from Bournemouth, a fortnight ago: "I am
rity of its political sagacity. That mistake ie the one
as much opposed to the Home Rule scheme as any
terrible blot on the otherwise most powerful and
one can possibly be, and if I were a political man I
statesmanlike speech of Thursday night—a blot
would fight against it as long as I had any breath in
which is destined, we fear, to turn all its good to
me. But I have carefully kept out of the political
evil." . field all my life, and it is too late for me now to think
It is held by the Economist that the worst fears
of entering it. Anxious watching of the course of
entertained regarding
_xi:. Gladstone's scheme have
affairs for many years past has persuaded me that
'been realised by the speech of Thursday evening. It nothing but some sharp and sweeping national inis-
is. it urges, a scheme which, while professing to main fortune will convince the majority of our countrymen
'lain the unify of Ilie enipire, makes directly towards
: that Government by average opinion is merely a
disintegration. It proceeds: "Well might Mr. Glad-
circuitous method of going to-the devil, and that those
stone say that it would require broad and solid who profess to lead, but in fact slavishly follow
grounds fel: the introduction 'of such a measure. But
this average opinion, are simply the fastest run-
ean it be said that any such groundwork was estab-
ners and the loudest squeakers• of the herd
lished ? It was not contended that the present con-
which is rushing blindly down to its de-
dition Of Ireland calls for such heroic treatment.
struction. It is the electorate, and chiefly
Everyone knows that since the Union was established
the Liberal majority, which is responsible. It cone
Ireland has made great progress in material prosperity
founds party warfare with poliSics. It believes in.
and Mr. Gladstone himself bore testimony to the great
shibboleths and sentimental blague: and it is too ,
diminution that has taken place in the amount of grossly ignorant of the elements of political science to '
serious agrarian crime. Of such crime there is still,
have anything worth calling a conviction outside
unhappily, far too much, and it is true that our con-
parochial and trade questions. Hence it falls a ready.
stantly repeated measures of repressive legislation
prey to every copious fallacy-monger who appeals to
have not wrought the improvement that was expected.
its great heart instead of reminding it of its weak
For their comparative failure, however, Mr. Gladstone
head. Politicians have gone on flattering and cajoling
gave a very adequate reasofi. 'The coercion we have this chaos of political incompetence until the just
hitherto employed,' he said, 'has been spurious and penalty of believing in their own fictions has befallen'
ineffectual coercion.' And the fact that we have
them, and the average member of Parliament is con-
hitherto used inefficient instruments in our efforts to scientiously convinced that it is his duty not to act for
repress crime can hardly be regarded as a sufficient his constituents to the best of his judgment, but to
reason for now abandoning Ireland to her fate." do exactly what they, (or, rather, the small minority
In' considering the details of Mr. Gladstone's which drives them) tell them to do. Have we a real
scheme, the Statist says: "We venture to think,
statesman? Is there among us a man of the calibre
however, that it is a mistake to go farther than the of Pitt or Burke, to say nothing of Strafford or
necessities of the case require, and that it would be Pym, who will stand up and tell his countrymen
much better to retain Irish members in the Imperial that this disruption of .the Union. is nothing but
Parliament, though, of course, Ireland under the a cowardly wickedness, an act base in itself, and
altered condition of things would not have a right to fraught with immeasurable evil, especially to the
as many representatives as she now has, -Still, we people of Ireland; and that if it cost his political
grant that the proposal will be received faveurably by
existence, or his head for that matter, he is prepared
many persons in this country who, indeed, can be
to take any and every honest means of preventing the .
brought to agree to Home Rule only on condition that mischief? I see no signs of any. And if such a man ,
it shall for ever put an end to all danger of obstruc- should come to the front, what chance is there of his
Lion. With the removal of the Irish members Eng-
receiving loyal and continuous support from a
land and Scotlawrrecover full control of their own majority in the House of Commons ? I see no signs
legislation, and the danger of obstruction entirely of oily.
There was a time when the political mad-
disappears." ness of one party was sure to be checked by the
." Mr. Gladstone's Last Chance" is the head- sanity, or, at any rate, the jealousy, of the other. At
in' g of an article in the Bullionist, in which it the last election I should have voted for the Con.
is urged that "the ruling principle of the, , servatives for the first time in my life had it not
scheme is the assumption that England is ' foreign been for Lord Randolph Churchill; but I
to Ireland, and that law, coming either in the legis- ,
. thought that by thus pimping out of the
lative or executive shape, must be obnoxious because Gladstonian 'frying - pan into the Churchillian
it is 'foreign.' Mr. Gladstone would strip law of its fire I should hardly mend matters, so I ab-
' foreign garb.' Mr. Gladstone has come under the stained altogether. Mr. Parnell has great qualities.
influence of the Nationalists, and .is thoroughly
For the first time the Irish malcontents have a leader
Imbued with the animus and spirit of their party. it - who is not eloquent and is honour, who knows what
was only the other day that the Prime Minister he wants, 'and faces the risks involved in getting it.
denounced those 'who wished to march through Our poor right honourable rhetoricians are no match
rapine to the disintegration and dismemberment of for this man, who understands realities. I believe
the empire, and even to the placing of different parts that be will succeed, and that success will destroy
of the empire in direct hostility to each other.' This him. lam sorry for it, for I respect him. I believe '
disintegration and mutual hostility constitute , pre- also that his success will destroy the English politi- ,
cisely the goal to which the bill would lead us, though cians who permit themselves to be his instruments as
Mr. Gladstone refuses to see it, and ushers in his soon as bitter experience of the consequences has
paper scheme of Irish independence with the accom. 'brought Englishmen and Scotchmen, and, I will add, .
paniment of loud vociferations to the effect that the . Irishthen, to their senses. I suppose one ought not,
integrity of the empire must not be imperilled." i to be sorry for that result, but there are men among
The New York correspondent of the Daily News them over the cutting short of whose political life all '
says that the morning papers gave many will lament."
columns to Mr. Gladstone's Home Rule scheme, in- .
eluding the speech entire, and long descriptions of the . PAPAL EDICT ON THE BILL.
scene in Parliament. The Times deviated its entire The Pope has instructed the Sacred Congregation
first page to the subject. The herald gave 10 columns, of Extraordinary Ecclesiastical Affairs to study the
and the 'Tribune seven. All the newspaper comments Irish question, especially, in connection' with Mr. ,
on Mr. Gladstone's scheme are favourable. The cor7 Gladstone's Home Rule Bill. The Irish Catholio
respondent has had conversations with representative bishops will be consulted on the subject.
Irishmen, and found among the Conservative and Lord Elgin succeeds Lord Morley as First Coin- •
anti-dynamite element hearty unanimous approval of , missioner of Works.
the plan. Major John Byrne, the Irish leader in the I
West, says: "No set of Irishmen in America can die- 1 . ORANGE MANIFESTO.
turb the even current of this measure. We have said ' At a meeting of the Special Council of the Grand
to Mr. Parnell, We have faith in you. Mr. Parnell's Orange Lodge of England, called to consider Mr.
views will be ours. He and his followers shall have Gladstone's proposed Scheme for the future govern-
all financial support needed till the end be reached, meat of Ireland, it was resolved: "That the pro- ,
be the amount what it may." Among the dynamite posals therein are calculated to uproot and destroy
faction I find dissent and rage. Mr. Patrick Ford's the Protestant interest in Ireland and to hand over
representatives in the _Dish World office say: "We do our English interests there to England's implacable ,
not see how the scheme is going to accomplish what and hereditary foes, a breach of faith with the
some people hope.. Mr. Gladstone is a good lawyer, Royalists of Ireland, a direct blow at our Protestant
rind made a lawyer's speech. He said yes when he Constitution in Church and State,:and a retrogressive
meant no, as Ireland's friends will discover later.- revolution, which ought to be met by the most deter-
-Who ever heard of a country supposed to govern mined resistance on the part of every lover of justice,
itself which had not power' to appoint police- of progress, or of liberty. That it appears from the
rnen, collect taxes, or enforce the law? i correspondence with the Provincials of the Jesuits
Under the scheme England holds power and in England and Ireland, recently published by Lord
the purse. What Ireland wants is the sort of liberty 1 Robert Montagu, that the tendency of the scheme is
England grants Canada. We want the substance as I obviously injurious to the Protestantism of this realm,
well as the show andezio not, find it in the proposed ! and subversive of the Act Of Settlement, whereby the
scheme about which so much fuss is made. When the Crown is settled upon Sophia, Electress of Hanover,
bill is framed it may change our views; but, judging and her descendants, being Protestant, the • rnainte-
from Mr. Gladstone's speech, the bill will present nance of which is the main object of our Institution,
nothing over which Ireland need rejoice or England and it therefore calls for the most strenuous oppo-
wail."—O'Donovan Rossa has expressed his views sition of all true Orangemen, even to the extent of
(the Standard's correspondent says) on Mr. Glad- treating the movement,
aiT
Castle, and keep the Lord-Lieutenant in it, to govern . if successful, as a dissolution
stone's Home Rule Bill n the following document
of the compact between the Crown and the peoplo Of
bearing his signature: 'England will keep Dublin .
this realm. We therefore call upon all our brethren
to remember their special obligations, taken tinder
Ireland. England will not give the Irish the 'charge circumstances of great solemnity, and to make all
of the Irish police, though she will make the Irish pay
necessary preparations to prove their loyalty to those ,
for their maintenance. England, for the imperial principles which stand higher in authority than the ,
connection of Ireland with England, will charge Ire-
will of any' Minister or party. That we learn from
land with thirty-five millions. The whole thing
history that the first evidence of the decadence of the
looks like a bauble fp amuse children.' In the Irish
Roman 'Empire was the withdrawal of her support.
World the scheme is condeinnedas granting only the ,
freen her colonies, and we do not- doubt, that the pro-.
show of power, and there is said to be no cause in it
posed step,. if taken, would be 'inevitably followed
1 for Irish rejoicing. by the separation from this country of Canada ,
In . Paris the clerical and Radical newspapers ap-
Australia, India, and outlying . dependencies
prove the . scheme. The- Clerical Univers remarks whose inhabitants, witnessing our base desertion of
, that it responds to the hopes of the friends of Ireland.
the Loyalists of Ireland, would no longer have any
The Radical France speaks of Mr. Gladstone as a
confidence in our steadfastness, or trust. in our
patriot as enlightened as would be a German
support. The result of this action on our part would
Minister proposing to restore Alsace, or a Russian
be to cripple our trade, to narrow our bounds, and to
• Ministeeendeavouring to reconstitute Poland. The •
4aitetrottrs.decline and:fall. We therefore earnestly__
Z;nps spp it is to 11 feyed that if the scheme be ,c,all
.1 -. ,
,% 11,4-40; 4, c 0,,,,
~,Q4 to„.thms,
ma. the
'idolise:el; to daY triay'efieedily come when England
bill in t . .:. t' ninnistke-able nianner„and . noon ;Al
will find herself planed in the alternative of having to
loyal citizens who fear Goa, and who loved their
recommence the conquest of Ireland, or spontaneously
country, forgetting party politics and ties, to stand
to sever the last ties that itsill exist between the
togetherin defence of a United Empire. That it is part
sister island and the British monarchy. ,The
of the scheme to expend many millions of English
Bepubhque Fran galas remarks that the Irish will
money in partially indemnifying the Irish landlords
continue the Separatist camnaign either under Mr.
for the loss proposed to be inflicted upon them—a
Parnell or another leader, if he allows himself to he
plan which would, on the one baud, enable a few
surpazsed. The struggle will not be ended. No .

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