Omaha daily bee., 1881-06-24
AN IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

AN IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.
The subject Of an Imperial parlia-
mept for Great Britain in which every
colony while enjoying self govern
ment shall have a representation, to
discuss measures Of common interest,
is attracting considerable attention.
In its present form, as has been well
said, lthe English parliament reure-
sents, not so much the people of Eng
land, as ;customs, traditions, vested
rights, small monopolies and large
landed interests. A true parliament,
representing the English speaking
world would be an imposing body. 1t
would represent all English countries
and colonies upon the American prin.
ciple of representation and would sf.
ford independence to the separate
countries in all that pertains to home
Iulc, Wnlle IL WOuiu also IuTH1s all
the advantages of q union of imperial
interests.
The topic is particularly interesting
in its relation to the condition of Ire
land at the present time. Indepen-
dence is the ultimate aim of the land
league, and the hope for his country
of every Irishman. Ireland will never
BIO satisfied until she has home rule
and a national parliament meeting in
Dublin. Most of the prominent leaders
of Irish opinion are said to be earnest
ly in favor of the adoption of the plan.
Parnell, Dillon and other leaders have
been privately discussing the plan,
but had some idea of postponing an
earnest agitation of the subject until
1888, the centennial anniversary of
the old Irish parliament. Justin Nc
earthly is enthusiastic in his support
of the project, and thinks that no
better time than the present
could be found to urge the idea
of q national and imperial parliament.
O'Donnell says that in his opinion a
just and honorable confederation
would insure self.government to Ire
land, and with the passage of the
land bill restore prosperity to the
country. Even the extreme nation
alists are inclined to look upon the
plan with favor because, under such a
system, Ireland would enjoy home
rule and practical independence.
Many Irishmen would prefer it to alb
solute independence, because, while
it could guarantee home rule to the
fullest extent, it would afford a wide
scope to the intellectual classes, by
permitting them to take part in the
good government of a vast empire.
Mr.. Mccarthy says the scheme would
strengthen and consolidate the
empire, which, in the case of war with
any strong maritime power, would UNI
dergo a great strain. He considers
that public opinion in England is be-
coming more favorable to some solu-
ton looking to the release of parlia-
ment from the work of local legisla-
ton.
"The New York Herald has been
urging this view of the Ease with a
great deal of vigor and ability. In a
recent edito rial it remarks:
"The English Parliament at pres
ent is simply an unwieldy body legis-
lating On British local affairs and
wasting its own time and the time of
the country by discussing trivial af-
fairs for Ireland, Scotland and Wales,
instead of being a body representing
the Empire and dealing with the
grander questions belonging to it as a
great European and imperial power.
England's power to-day is paralyzed,
and her influence in Europe is multi
fed by the Irish discomfort, and
she is quite incapable of as
sorting her dearest interests
so long as Ireland remains hostile.
Examples enough can be quoted of
wrong headedness in other countries.
Austria's weakness in the Italio- Prus-
sian campaign was in Hungary's disaf-
f~ection, and Francis Joseph apprecia-
ted too late the truth OF Franz Deak's
assertion; Forced unity will never
make an empire strong. The empire
would be weakest at the moment when
it would be in want of its united
strength and the full enthusiasm of it's
people. If, therefore, your majesty
wishes your empire to be free and re-
ally strong, your majesty can not at
tain that object by a compulsory unity,
but by a mutual und Outstanding arrived
at through the free consent of the ma
ton. A"
The current rumors respecting com
ing changes in the management of the
Union Pacific and which were alluded