The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1886-02-06 00:00:00

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 6th, 1886.

THE IRISH PROBLEM.

IN the midst of the political excitement en-
gendered by a change of Ministry, the cen-
tral point of attention still remains that sore
problem of state, the Irish question. In point
of fact it was that thorn in the flesh of our
legislators that overthrew Lord Salisbury's
Administration, though literally speaking
they were defeated by the amendment of
Mr. Jesse Collins to the Address on the
subject of allotments. The announced in-
tention of the Conservative chiefs to move
for the suppression of the National League
brought the followers of Mr. Parnell as one
man into deadly opposition to the Govern-
ment, and the fate of Ministers was thence-
forth sealed. As the House of Commons ie
at present composed, the united Irish nation-
alist party are "masters of the Parliament-
ary situation," and will continue to rebel
against any legislation designed in the di-
restion of ccercion. Mr. Gladstone's chief
difficulty will be that of dealing with the
demands of the Irish representatives. While
he is by declaration opposed to the pro-
gramme put forth by his predecessor in the
Premiership, his own alternative proposals
.are as yet not specifically defined; though
it is clearly known that the
.member for
Midlothian differs widely in his views from
a number of prominent Statesmen who have
hitherto followed his lead. Hence the task
of carrying on Government will be a harder
one for Mr. Gladstone than any he has
hitherto had to face during his exceptionally
long Parliamentary career. It is much to
be regretted that the now powerful Parnell-
ite party do not come forward with an ex-
plicit statement of their own platform with
regard to the vital parts at issue. We have
no intelligible and authoritative contribu-
tion to the solution of the perplexing prob-
lem from Mr. Parnell nor any of his ac-
credited lieutenants. So far they have been
content to maintain an attitude of deter-
mined opposition to every Act of Parliament,
initiated by either Liberals or Conservatives,
which has not met with their approval.
Crying loudly and withal vaguely of griev-
ances under which they claim that Ireland
is suffering, the Nationalists have nothing
to say seriously as to what they would do
to straighten the air ooked path. Hitherto
their demeanour in Parliament has been
that of obstructive irreconcilables—they
have bemoaned a disease which they have
refrained from any statesmanlike attempt
to define. There has been noise and lament-
ation enough, but no honest endeavour to
apply or even intimate a remedy. Now we
are given to understand that Mr. Parnell
and his supporters would have the whole
matter left to themselves to settle. It is
hardly likely, however, that the Parliament
of the United Kingdom will consent to such
a proceeding undcr such conditions. The
nation is entitled to expect evidences of
capacity- and integrity from the Irish leader
before it hands him a political blank cheque.
Let him prove his patriotism and his
sincerity. The magnitude of his following
is such as would amply warrant Mr. Parnell's
appointment to a responsible office in the
Imperial Government, were his public action
of that sterling character which alone can
inspire the confidence of the people of the
United Kingdom, of which Ireland is, say
what you will, an inseparable part. Why
does not Ireland furnish the man or men in
whom the wisdom of the realm could repose
the necessary trust ? Mr. Parnell or others
of his party may have the qualifications for
a position so weighty, but where is the
earnest of their fitness and reliabilty ? We
do not doubt that the Parliament which
would reject coercion unless unwillingly
driven to its adoption would gladly welcome
and that with the widest impartiality, the
genuine interpretation in its counsels of the
Irish will. Mr. Parnell, it is understood on '
the highest authority, to adopt a phrase now
' current, would hold decisively aloof from
any overtures for his inclusion in a consti-
tutional British Government. Is not such
an attitude a plain confession of insincerity,
proof positive of the falsity of the position he
claims as chief of those who would have
Ireland happy, peaceable, and prosperous?
'We hold that it is; for no unprejudiced
mind can honestly conclude that separation
would be for Ireland's good. And if the
action of the Nationalists is not a deliberate
and stubborn contention—all undefined and
undeclared as its lines have been—for sever-
ance from the British Empire, it is nothing
at all. It is needless to set forth the feces-
siti s quite as vital to Ireland as to the rest
of the kingdom. The union must be pre-
served at any cost, that principle is patent
to all who will examine the problem with-
out bias. The integrity of the Empire must
be the cardinal point from which any reme-
dial legislation for the reduction of real
grievances in Ireland must converge.
Whether Mr. Gladstone or Lord Salisbury
or any other statesman head the Government
we are convinced that a satisfactory solution
of this vexed question will never be arrived
at on any other basis; and if Ireland will
honestly aid in an earnest endeavour to
bring about the end desired, the difficulty
will b all the easier of solution. It is to
be fervently hoped that the prsblem will be
approached forthwith with wisdom and
determination, and in a spirit of strict
justice; alien ise the future will be dark
with the shadows of coming calamity to
Great Britain. We stand, indeed, at a
sup; erne moment in our history; and only
a:& unflinching resolution on the part of the
nation to adhere to that divine law of right,
w;:ich reduces the most complex problems
ts simplicity,(lts prevent disaster. That
the All-wise will endue our legislators -with
the wisdom that their heavy task demands
is the prayer of every true patriot.

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Singing willow. titwillow, thwilln y.
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