New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-12-30
1cprcrS mr. HOME RULE.


A., informal canvass of the Liberal members
of the new Parliament. indicates general reluc'
lance to accept Mr.. Gladstone's scheme Inc
replies to circular asking for explicit express
sions of opinion are evasve but show that 1t Is
hopeless to expect concessions that VIII oo
acceptable to the Nationalists. Mr.. Gladstone
Will have to create, rather than educate, parry
that will be prepared to deal with this question
on the broad lines marked out by him. Never
theless it is evident that great advance mas
been made. \ majority of the Liberal mem
bers are willing to invest the Irish people "ltn
legislative powers in matters OF local govern
ment. They are ready TO eoncede n Parliament
provided control of the police and economic
policy be reserved and safeguards for the unity
of the Empire are established. III Is IDLE 10
suppose that Mr.. Parnell will accept anything
less than the legislative independence when
every State in the American Union now
possesses He may consent to prohlDltloh Oh
secession, for no State in the Union can secede
without war; and he may acqulesce III inc
decision that the Irish Parliament shall not pass
tarih acts, for no State in the Union can do
this: but he will undoubtedly insist upon
absolute legislative independence IN reference
to the land the police, aud all questions OF local
government But it is certninly a great
triumph for the Nationalists that they nave
gradually forced English parties to take mp the
question of home rule and seriously discuss the
limitations under which it will be possible for
them to make so radical concession. Mr..
Gladstone may be tainted with breaking up
the Liberal party and instiGating civil war in
Ireland, but no reasonable Englshman can
hoO 10 lpuislutI 4
action npon his policy almost compulsory.
There is one important point which cannot be
left out of the discussion Of this question or
home rule. This is the question Of finance. ii
the Irish Parliament be restored the members
will nave to be paid adequate salaries. II the
Castle Government goes down and an Irish
Ministry responsible to an Irish Assembly takes
its place, the expenses of the new Adminstra-
ton will have to be met. If the hish Parlia-
ment enacts measures OF internal improvement,
such as land drainage on Il large scale. the
financial outlay must be provided for. If the
same Parliament takes mp the question Of the
land and settles it III the Irish way, landlo lis
will have to be compensated and great loans
will have to be negotiated. Home rule VIII
involve enormous expenditures. Both the
tenantry and the people will expect their
Parliament To do great deal for them ut once,
and large revenues will b. required. II may be
taken for granted that the first year of Irish
administration would witness the creation Of "a
public debt. Mr.. Parnclrs Chancellor of the
Exchcquer would be forced to borrow money on
a large scale for current expenses, and radical
treatment of the land question would carry him
to London, where alone he could succeed in
i l.. al Ia.
about the necessity OF imperial guarantees m
the condition of legislative independence. Let
home rule be- carried oat, and the question of
finance would eclipse every other consideration.
Mr. Parnclrs Government might have absolute
legislative independence, but 1t would IN
cvitably have to 20 To London for financial
supplies In the long rim the lrsh debt would
be a guarantee of imperial unity more stable
and permanent than any limitations defined III
a Parliamentary Act incorporating separate
Assembly.
There is another effect Of home rule well
worthy OF consideration. Mr.. PANEL Is
necessarily radical and aggressive n the leader
of n party of action AT Westminster; but rs an
Irish Premier in Dublin lac would be sObtred
by the responsibilities of administration. lie
would be- without rival mt the outset. and
would have the unbrokcn support OF the
Nationalsts but sooner or later there would
be breaches of discipline, disallectlon and
revolt against his leadership. The organization
| of new system of administration, the
financial difficulties of the situation and the
necessity for moderation in dealing with the
Ulster loyaists would tend to make Mr.. Parncll
cautious and conservative in his policy. The
more unreasonable paItisans of home rule
would be likely to oppose him and to cmbarraSs
him with radical proposals, and his political
! influence would naturally be eXcrtcd with
30 Scrful effect in restraining agralian and
political excuses. This conservatism OF the
Irish leader would be another strong guarantee
for the pcrmanencc of any compromise
measures TO winch the Nationalist may assent
! at Westminster.