The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1886-03-20 00:00:00

THE CABINET AND THE HOME RULE
SCHEME.

The Cabinet met on Saturday afternoon at the
Prime Minister's official residence in Downing-street,
all the members being present, including Mr. Glad-
stone. The Cabinet sat three hours and a half, the
Ministers separating at half-past five. The Press Aso-
ciation says: "It is understood that the Irish question
formed the main topic of discuesion. Mr. Gladstone,
we believe, made an important statement to his col.-
leagues in regard to this subject. No detailed scheme
was submitted to Ministers, but there is little doubt
that the Cabinet are now in possession of the general
outlines of the proposals of the Prime Minister, and
we have reason to believe that Home Rule is the
basis of those proposals. The sitting was a pro-
tracted one, but it is stated that the discussion
partook more of the nature of interrogation than
criticism, and the matter was left open for detailed
consideration at Councils to be held next week. The
communication from the Premier took none of the
Ministers by surprise, as the general drift of the pro-
posed legislation had been suggested to several of
them in the course of recent private interviews." Tile
Observer says: "We understand that at the meeting
of the Cabinet Council the first portion of Mr. Glad."
stone's proposed legislative scheme for the settlement,
of the Irish difficulty was submitted to the Ministrl;
the printed draft having been previously forwarded
to the members. This portion deals exclusivelf
with the land question. Mr. Gladstone, we are in-
formed, proposes a wholesale measure for the pa'
chase of landed estate in Ireland, at the cost in the
first instance of the Imperial Treasury. The out-
lay required for this purpose is found on
vestigation to be enormously in excess of previous
calculations, and amounts, if we are rightly informed,
to a sum of colossal proportions. The administra-
tion of the fund thus to be provided is to be ea'
trusted to an Irish local body, whose constitution
is left completely in blank in the part of the scheme`
yet presented. The members of the Cabinet were,
however, given to understand that the body would he'
of the character of an Irish Parliament. The re'
ception given to the scheme at its first production on
Saturday was such as to lead to the conclusion that'
the project would either have to be withdrawn, Of
that, if persevered with, it would lead to the disrair
tion of the Cabinet.'

At Oxford last night Mr. Michael Davitt was invited
to address a meeting of the Russell Club on Soul
Rule; Mr. Elton president of the society, presided'
Mr. Davitt proceeded to give an outline of wham
Home Rule should be, and how it would be adminir
tered by the National Assembly, say of 300 meniberer
with a representative of the Crown, whether the latter
was called lord lieutenant or not. They would requil
to have control of the police, customs, and excise, Ett!`;
if there should be religious persecution there wouir
be the Imperial Parliament to withdraw the Conetr
tution which had been granted. Mr. Davitt coo'
duded by replying to recent criticism, and appealeci
to his hearers to support Mr. Gladstone in his ender
your to bring peace to Ireland once and for all.