New-York tribune., 1877-08-29
BRITISH TOPICS.
HOME RULE. BRIGHT AND PROTECTION.

ON GOVERNMENT SUBSIDIES.
lfRoh THE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUNE ]
LONDON, Aug. S.-The Home Rule Conference on
Monday broke up in a wrangle. Only some twenty
members attended. resolution Of censure upon
the obstructionists was proposed by Mr.. Mccarthy
Downing and amendment to it offered by Mr..
Shaw, to the effect that action the subject
called for. Mr.. Butt spoke at some length, con-
tending that the Home Rulers constituted party
formed to act By Parliamentary methods; that the
proceedings OF Messrs. Parnel 81 Co. were not Par
liamentary. but revolutionary, and that he, as a
leader of the party, was held responsible for
them, although they had been taken without
consulting him, and against his wish the
result being that his control was disputed
and the party brought into discredit. There
is no answer to these propositions; unless, indeed
Mr. Parnelps assertion that his performances were
sot obstructive be deemed an answer. There was
good deal OF rather hot talk and the Chairman, Mr.
Delahunty, yindca.ed his nationality by adjournng
the meeting without putting either the resolution
or amendment TO vote. This satisfies nobody, but
II points plainly enough 70 the dsorganiZatiOn into
which the Home Rulers have fallen. and to the
strong expressions of sympathy wiz. the obstruc-
tives which understood to lave reached
some of the Notwithstanding members from their
constituencies. The whole Home Rule organi-
Zation is thrown into confusion and discOTd.
The natural fondness of Irishmen for a row
has been intensely gratifed by the shindy in
the House Of Commons. They are grateful to the
author OF it. and it is a question whether Mr. Butt
may not have to resign the leadership of the party,
indebted as it to him for whatever reputation and
position it possesses. Mr.. Butt has proved himself
capable of acting on well-cOnsdered policy-for
calculation, not passon-and it may be that no such
-. n
and explosive populace across the Channel. Even
OCOnnell, Mr. COwen has reminded us, was
thrown over at last, and went to his grave broken
hearted by the ingratitude of his countrymen. Mr..
Butt is not an OConnelI but he is the only living
Irishman who has proved himself the possessor Of
any part of O'Connells ability as po-
ltical leader. In Intellectual capacity he
towers far above the crowd of fluent
mediocrites who surround him, and have thus far
followed him. 1t is reported he will resign his seat
for Limerick, and Immediately offer himself a
candidate for the same constituency; this with a
view test the question which his colleagues in the
House seem no longer able to decide-whether he or
the obstructonists are to lead the Home Rule party
If defeated. he would retire from politics. But it
does not follow that if he is reelected, his opponents
will take themselves out of the way, or party dis
cipne be restored. The Home Rule League in Dab
lin has taken sides, but pronounced in favor of
national conference to be held during the Parliament
airy recess.
One Of the few English members Of the House of
Commons who have lent their support to the cause
OF Home Rule is Mr.. Joseph Cowen of Newcastle a
man of exceptional ability and force of character,
the owner and editor of the most powerful journal in
the north of England, The Neccdsiie Chronicle With
equal sincerity and courage, he has advocated the
most unpopular cause in England. But hessrs.
Parnell aud O'Donncl are too much for Mr. Cowen.
He abandons party which accepts, or will not re-
iect, such leadership as theirs Such take to be
the meaning of an elaborate leader in to-
days issue of his paper-an article which
certainly expresses his views, and is pre-
sumo. from his own hand. "Those Englishmen,"
writes Mr. Cowen, "who gave it the Home Rule
movement) their adhesion have seen the principle
so outraged that they can scarcely any longer sup
port it. Nothing is more unwise than to alienate
political friends by political extravaganza" The
account he gives Of the object Of the Home Rule or
ganzation is the same as Mr.. Butts-it rose out of
the ashes of the Fenian conspiracy, and commended
itself to like Mr.. COwen by substituting Parlia-
monary action for treason. When the Parliamentary
principle is repudiated, il is in fact repudiated
by Mr. Parnell and those who act with him, Eng
lshmen must withdraw their cOuntenance The
priest has stepped in as usual, and as usual, his
meddlesomcness mars all. "Can men whose policy
is dictated by a foreign priest be considered gen.
uine Home Rulers ~ asks Mr.. Cowen The question
is the less unanswerabe because it cOnceas an
epigram. 1t is rather late for Englishmen who
have supported Home Rule to be recalling the
fact that Mr. Gladstone's Irish University Bill was
rejected by Ireland at the bidding of Rome. But
better late than never.
Il fLa Tris trup
all more sensitive to opinion than they are willing
to admit. They glory in what they call the abuse
bestowed on them, but there is a point at which
they draw the line. Sir James Elphnstone, NJ. z.
for Portsmouth, has called them "rufians," and to
this they object. The word not used by the gal
LIANT Admiral in the House, but on convyial occa-
sion at farmers club dinner-n fact, away down III
Aberdeenshire, of which county he is resident
and Deputy Lieutenant Mr. A. NJ. Sullivan has
taken the matter up as q breach of privilege; ap-
nearing thus not for the first time as advocate
of the seven with whom he does not openly act No
doubt Sir James has made slip, and Will have to
retract his word "ruffians." The expression is dis
tinctly unparliamentary. A., moreover, the Admi-
raj is a member of the Government an effort may
be made to saddle the responsibility for this too out
spoken sailor his colleagues. But that will fail.
Nobody takes Sir James ElphinstOne very seriously.
He is, perhaps the finest surviving specimen of the
British tar as he fourshed half century ago. not
in the forecastle but on the quarterback, and he
has never quite made out why he may not use in the
House the language which he found expressive and
congenial to his feelings when in command Of a
ship.
Mr. John Bright has thought it necessary to re-
affirm once more the infallibility of his dogma OF
Free Trade His letter is called out by a statement
from Sir Charles Gavan Duffy, Speaker of the Vic
toria Assembly, to the effect that Mr. Bright once
said to him, with reference to Australia:
II there particular industries that can flourish in