New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-05-18
NOTES ON A CRISIS.
THE SURRENDER-MR. FORSTER AND MR.
HAMBERLAIN-PUBLIC OPINION.


Mr.. Parnell govern il. Having on due considera-
tion preference for governing it himself he locked
up Mr. Parnell as the readiest and most complete
means of preventing that gentleman from establish
ing his own authority over the island A good deal
has happened since, and once more the Same ques
tion presented itself for answer But this time the
answer was different. Mr.. Gladstone, whose duties
are certainly numerous finds the governing OF Ire
land too burdensome and on the whole decides that
it is better TO let Mr. Parne govern II. There, in
nutshell, is the whole of the new departure In
stead of discussing it further to-day will lcok AZ
one or TWO incidents of the surrender
On the matter of the understanding OF msnnder
standing misunderstanding between the Gov.
ernment and the Irish, am disposed TO select Lord
Hartingtons statement as the most informing and
the most conclusive. Lord Harrington is man OF
perfectly straightforward nature; with plain way
of putting things which plain men can understand,
and this is what he says:
I DO not apprehend that there Is any danger of q
ing whatever. We are bound by the declarations
we have made IN this House, and by no other un-
dertaking whatever; and the honorable member
for Cork lAlr. Parnelll and the other members VINO
have been in prison are bound by the statement
made of the honorable member for Cork In this
House, and by no other understanding whatever.
That is perfectly ntelgible and absolutely de-
csive: and it comes TO this: The Government have
released Mr.. Parnel and his colleagues IN circum-
stances which make it impossible 10 imprison them
again. Mr. Parncl and his colleagues have made no
promise, entered into no bargain. bound them
selves by no understanding express or implied.
Their hands are free Their policy is their own.
They are free TO support aud free to oppose the Gov
ernment. They are free TO advocate the payment OF
rent or the n0n-payment of rent They are free TO
counsel submission to the law or resistance TO the
law, to discourage outrages or 70 encourage them;
and so
What then is the real secret of the action Of the
Government the motive which led them to take
this momentous resoyeg This: that upon putting
themselves into communication with Mr. Parneu
they received information which induced them TO
believe that Mr.. Parnell disposed to accord his
support TO the Government ON terms which the Gov
ernment were able to grant. The moment their
minds part company, that moment the sole reliance
of the Government vanlshes; and there is nothing
to replace it.
Mr.. Forster's statement of the reasons for his
resignation deserves all the eulogies upon it as
manly candid and dignifed. Unhappily those
euloges proceed from Conservative sources. The
chef Liberal or perhaps one should now say Land
League) organ in London thinks it decent to say
that the ability and ingenuity of Mr. forsters
speech consisted chiefly in the elaborate art with
which he set himself to damage his old colleagues.
That is a piece of malignty which will mislead
those who do not read Mr.. Forster's speech; and
nobody else. Mr.. Gladstone spoke OF 10 in very
different terms. But what really matters is not
what is said of the speech, but the speech ITSELF
There is not a word III it to justify the comment
quoted above. From beginning to end 1t Is tao
speech OF an honest, able, devoted statesman; OF
deep conviction and wide knowledge of his subject;
unable 10 abandon all at once the principles on
which he and his colleagues have acted for
twelvemOnth past preferring to sacrifice himself
rather than his convictions; and manfuy declin-
ing to take part in a policy pregnant, as he be-
lieves with disaster to the codntry.
The whole history of this cSsis is not to be read
in the speeches of Mr.. Forster and Mr. Gladstone.
or in tie newspapers There is a personal element
in IT, and the personal element is the bitter enmty
of MI Chamberlain to Mr.. Forster 1t dates as lar
back as 1870 It's origin was, think. purely po-
lticai if the Education question is to be called
political. Mr. Chamberlain resented Mr.. Forsters
conduct of the great Act of 1870 and especially the
compromise by which the Church was allowed TO
maintain part of its influence in schools Years
afterward Mr. Chamberlain declared he had never
forgiven Mr. Forster and never would. When the
inventor of the Birmingham caucus accepted Office
in the same Cabinet with the late Chief Secretary
for Ireland his animosity continued He thought
il consistent with his duty to his colleague to assal
him and his policy Later he was forced TO defend
both; which did not augment his affection Tor
either Neither Mr.. Chamberlain nor any other one
man is the author Of the present crisis and II would
be q mistake to Overestimate the share any one
man has had in bringing about Mr. Forsters resig-
nation But it is safe to say that all which could
he done to promote it by the unchecked of very
considerable abilities and ingenuity and political
craft has been done by Mr. Chamberlain
The appointment of Lord Frederick Cavendish is
sharDly criticised. There is a chorus OF condemna-
ton all over the country. 1t Is perfectly logical
appointment He is the weak agent OF weak
noiicv. Shrewd Judgment of men has never been
MIR. Gladstones strong point. But Lord FREDERICK
Cavendish will be good a lieutenant to Mr. Par
nell a. anybody else. This is not saying that he Is
personally acceptable to the Irish leader IL ap-
pears he is net. The Irish party received bis name
when announced in Parliament with groans. IL
cannot be difficult to reassure them. Lord Fred
erick Cayendsh, they will perceive on reflection,
NAV be implicitly trusted to execute any surrender
Mr. Gladstone desires. He is Lord Hartingtons
hrotber but he is much misunderstood IL bis polit-
cal conscience be in the keeping Of any other than
the Prime Minister.
II is too soon to say what the effect oil the new
Irish policy may be the country. As yet the
country has but a vague notion what the new Irish
polcy is. The provincial papers give MIR. Glad
stones announcements but scant and cautious well
come. The most powerful of them all, the leading
journal of Scotland declares it to be IMP ossbe not
TO feel grave doubts as to the consequences, and
that the Ministerial resolution is one TO awaken
much distiust among their 6rnlest supporters. MI.
Joseph Cowcn cries out in irrcpressible exultation
that the Cabinet has capitulated aud the Land
Iaaouers have won all along the line. The chief
organ of Yorkshire and the Midland counties says
with bluntness that Mr.. Forster has been lied out